Even at that game there were crowd problems at the Leppings Lane end. It was the first semi--final to be played at Hillisborough since the infamous Spurs v Wolves game six years before, when serious overcrowding at Leppings Lane resulted in about 40 spectators being injured. It would later prove that those warning signs should have been addressed.
Looking back now and after the disaster it didnt come as a suprise. As a Leeds fan in the Leppings Lane end directly behind the goal we were packed in like sardines, when Dave Rennie scored for Leeds from the corner the crush and mayhem was unbearable. My and my mates managed to move to the corner at half time to get out of the crush. Anyone reading this, I can tell you football fans during these times were treated like cattle by the authorities who were more bothered that the crowds were contained than anything else or arrested. The cup run that year was great, especailly beating QPR at Elland Road the atmosphere was unreal. The season finished at St Andrews getting beat by Charlton in the first play off final.
Im a Liverpool fan and I remember this being a cracking game. Coventry deserved the Cup that year, played some good stuff and knocked out United at Old Trafford. Classic days.
Back in the days when the FA Cup meant everything. Heartbreak for me as a young Leeds fan. Seeing video of the Leppings Lane end is quite chilling. It was a disaster waiting to happen.
When the fa cup meant something! I loved cup final day,the hotels players relaxing before the big match ,now it's on same day as a premier league game 😮 shocking
Queued overnight at Elland Road to get tickets for what was a truly memorable day even though we lost. I was in the Leppings Lane end about 15-20 yards behind the goal but I got in early and bagged myself a barrier. I just thought of it as a big day, big crowd and went with the ebb and flow of the fans without a thought that it would be the scene of a major tragedy two years later.
"bagged myself a barrier" ? I am guessing you mean you stood in front of one of the barriers that for most games would give you a little breathing room. I have watched several documentaries on the 1989 disaster. Seeing the photos of those bent and mangled barriers and trying to imagine the incredible amount of force it would have taken. The people trapped there would have had no chance.
@1234sunnny What can I say? It was crowded, fans were swaying to and fro, at times it was uncomfortable and we got squashed at times but there was no discernible sense of fear or panic where I was. Typical big game scenario in that era.
Ita such a shame the Hillsborough disaster wasnt avoid by adding more safety to the ground , what a magnificent stadium for big games , the noise is unreal
I was the York City fan who got to Keith Houchen first at the end of our FA Cup win over Arsenal with Keith's very late Penalty and stuck a big silly happy kiss on his cheek feeling totally delirious we then drew Liverpool (European Champions at the time)at home in the 5th round when he held them to a 1-1 draw we lost the replay 7-0 at Anfield we were robbed 🫣🤣 bizarre coincidence was that we again drew Liverpool in the following seasons 5th round tie at home and again we drew 1-1's each but this time we should have won the replay it was 1-1 but then our legendary Big striker Keith Walwyn put the ball in the net only for the linesman to disallow it even the Liverpool players said it should have stood anyway it went to extra time when the Reds scored 2 more goals. Our keeper Andy Leaning had an incredible match making many world class saves most in front of the Kop....
1:30 - Got to agree with Big Ron here. WTF was Leeds No6 thinking? This was also in the days when your GK could handle a back pass, so why not just play it to the goalie instead?
