England host Albania in a World Cup qualifier this week, a game that brings to mind Gazza’s first international goal
English football was facing a period of introspection during April 1989. As the world tried to digest the full horror of the Hillsborough disaster, the future of the national game seemed at a crossroads. Surely this was the tragic tipping point for the sport, a time for English football to get its house in order.
For too many years the safety of spectators had been taken for granted. Crumbling stadiums, perimeter fences and poor facilities provided a hostile environment in which to attend matches. The shocking policing of Liverpool fans at Hillsborough, shamefully covered up for decades, combined with this disregard for safety, led to a tragedy beyond comprehension.
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