“We Never Want To Forget.” – Liverpool Unveil ‘Forever Bound’ Memorial To Mark Heysel Anniversary | OneFootball

Liverpool Football Club today unveiled a new memorial at Anfield to mark the 41st anniversary of the Heysel Stadium disaster, and to honour the 39 football supporters who tragically lost their lives on May 29, 1985. 

Entitled ‘Forever Bound’, the memorial now stands by the Anfield Road Stand, providing a more visible and accessible space for reflection and remembrance, replacing the original plaque located on the wall of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand.

‘Forever Bound’ was created in response to calls from fans to make the memorial more prominent and accessible, and it was developed in close consultation with supporters, in particular Spirit of Shankly, and former players. Plans were also shared with Juventus FC and those involved in the original commemorations to ensure the approach reflected a spirit of unity and shared legacy.

Speaking at the unveiling, Liverpool FC CEO Billy Hogan said: “I think clearly it’s an important day to remember. One that, as we said earlier, we never want to forget. To show respect to those lives that were lost 41 years ago. This is something that we recognise every year. And really, the conversation started over a year ago about trying to think about where we might have an appropriate place to potentially move the memorial. What the memorial might then look like and how it might be reimagined. That’s where Forever Bound came from.

“Huge credit to our supporters and our fan groups, who really approached us with the idea. I think what we see today is, number one, I think just a beautiful memorial and something that provides our fans and the fans of other clubs. And generally, a place to come and show their respect and remember those lives that were lost. To ensure, I think this was said earlier as well, to make sure that something like that never happens again.”

On the relationship with Juventus: “There’s a tremendous amount of respect for Juventus Football Club just as an institution, as a club, and what they’ve achieved on the pitch. I would say that there’s a very strong relationship between the two clubs. Peter Silverstone is here representing them, and I have known him for 15 years, working together in football. And we know the executives of the board at Juventus very well. So the relationship is very strong, and that’s developed, obviously, over time. As I said earlier, this difficult, terrible tragedy that the two clubs share, but that relationship now is very strong.”

On Liverpool’s involvement in fan safety moving forwards: “I think just generally speaking from our perspective, you know, obviously here at Anfield or anywhere that we may be travelling, that’s something that we take, you know, safety of our supporters is the number one issue for us. Our team here, our operations team, you know, does an incredible job of making sure that fan safety is at the top of the priority list. So, you know, whether it’s here at Anfield and obviously some of the improvements that have been made here over the course of the last 15 years with the expansion of Anfield, more people coming to Anfield, more people coming to the neighbourhood, wanting to make sure that we’re doing everything possible to ensure that safety perspective. And then obviously when we travel abroad, and ensuring that we’re working with whoever the relevant bodies are to ensure that, you know, our visiting supporters are well taken care of and looked after. That’s something that is a work in progress, to be fair. And so, you know, we continue to work with whoever, as I said, whoever the relevant bodies are to ensure that we’re doing everything possible to try and ensure not just our supporter safety, but everybody that might come to a match.”

Former Liverpool and Juventus striker Ian Rush also spoke about his unique connection with both clubs: “I think it’s important that both clubs are together. It’s been 41 years since it happened. Sometimes it feels like yesterday, but 41 years and two great clubs, it means something to me because I played for both clubs as well. It’s great to see Sergio Brio as well. I played with him when he was there. It just goes to show the bond that the two clubs have is something special.”

On the memorial itself: “It’s absolutely incredible. It’s the first time I’ve seen it as well. It just goes to show the bond between the two clubs. It’s very fitting. I think when people come, they’ll be coming to have a look at it as well. I don’t think you can ask for much more.”