Remembering those lost at Hillsborough

Today marks 36 years since the Hillsborough disaster.  The thoughts of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) are with all those who were impacted, and continue to be affected by the tragedy.

Hillsborough was one of the worst tragedies witnessed at a football ground, with 97 lives lost. 

On this day, it is important to remember the message in Lord Justice Taylor’s report into the disaster: “complacency is the enemy of safety”.

Much has changed since that fateful day in 1989. Safer, modern stadiums have been developed with professional safety teams in place with in-depth crowd management knowledge and experience. 

For all of us working in sports grounds safety, we must always be alert to what may happen. The moment we close our minds to what is happening is the time we become complacent.

To heed the words of Lord Justice Taylor, and to respect the memory of the 97, we must always regard complacency as the enemy of safety.