S T A T E M E N T

of

WILL SAY AS FOLLOWS

I am employed as aI was born on the

supervisor for

I have been a steward at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club for

the last 5-6 years. I have always served as a steward in the

West stand.

I was a season ticket holder and my next door neighbour was a

steward. I used to talk to him during matches and the chief

steward one day asked me to stand in as a temporary steward.

The Chief steward, Stuart Thorpe, took my name and address and

asked me to be a reserve steward for the rest of the season.

I acted as a temporary steward on the odd occasion but after

the first season I became a regular or permanent steward.

As a temporary steward, I was told by the other regulars such

what to do. I was instructedas and

on where to stand and how to check the tickets.

At the start of every season there is an open night, or annual

meeting. There is an annual meeting for the gatemen,

turnstile operators, car park attendants and another meeting

for all stewards. At that meeting we are addressed by a senior

Police Officer, Doug Lock (the club security officer), a fire

service officer, and possibly someone from the Ambulance Brigade.

Instruction is given on any changes in emergency codes or

procedures. The evacuation procedures are explained. Doug

Lock or a senior Police Officer normally does this. This

season we have had two evacuation practices at Hillsborough.

- 2 -

I did not know when they were to take place, but I heard the

message over the public address system. The code for an

emergency evacuation is

As a steward in the West stand my duties alternate between

being positioned in one of the gangways to the seated areas, or

alternatively at the bottom of one of the two staircases

leading up to the seated area. During an emergency evacuation,

it is important if positioned on a staircase to ensure that the

gates at the bottom of the staircase are open and to make sure

that that area is kept clear. Similarly, if positioned on a

gangway, the steward's responsibility is to make sure that the

gangway is kept clear, and also the entrance or exit to the

gangway.

The gatemen are of course responsible for ensuring that the big

concertina gates are kept open. The emergency evacuation can

be called off by another message repeated on the public address

system which is

I do know that there is a first aid room under the North stand.

If someone is injured in the crowd, we can only carry them down

the steps onto the snack bar area, and we then have to carry

them down even further to the ground level where they can be

attended to. The alternative is to fetch a St Johns Ambulance

Brigade man but that can take a long time. It has occurred to

many of the stewards since the tragedy that it would be

advisable to have St Johns Ambulance men available in the West

stand, and not simply on the perimeter track.

I have not encountered any serious injuries to spectators in

the West stand . However, we might well face difficulties if

someone suffered a serious injury such as a heart attack. The

chief steward is not in radio contact with the Police, although

he is in radio contact with Doug Lock.

- 3 -

Prior to any big match, the stewards are normally briefed by a

senior Police Officer. For the last few seasjns^it has been

the same Police Inspector. He is known by his beard. This

briefing normally takes place before the turnstiles are opened.

The Police Inspector usually states how many people are

expected, and whether one or both staircases will be opened.

For most league games, there is only one staircase open behind

1^16 turnstiles. Noone is allowed up the other staircase and 6

stewards are deployed on that other staircase to prevent

access. The gates are shut but unlocked. This has to be

done in the event of any emergency evacuation. On these

occasions, the gate to the partition wall is also kept shut

and normally there are stewards or police on the gate.

Six stewards are normally deployed on each staircase. The

remainder are deployed on the gangways to the seated area and

on the emergency exits to the seated area.

It is normal practice for the Police at league games to put a

barrier across the South West corner. The North West pen is

kept closed and the gate to the partition wall is shut. This

means that any away fans coming through the A-G turnstiles are

channeled into the centre pens on the terrace. When these pens

become full, the Police then remove the barriers to the South

West pen. I have seen Police on occasion at the entrance to

the tunnel, and noticed quite a few directing fans to the South

West pen. I have not seen a barrier in place across the

tunnel, nor have I seen the doors closed.

This practice I have described has been in place all this

season. If _necessary, the Police open the gate to the

partition wall and allow access to the North West pens.

At those league games where large numbers are expected,

Police Officers are normally deployed at the bottom of the

- 4 -

staircases to assist the stewards.

I have never seen stewards on the terraces. There are stewards

on the Kop but they are safe there. I have seen Police in the

South West pen but not the centre pens, but it is important to

note that the West stand does overhang the West terrace, and

there may have been Police at the rear of the terrace. There

is a direct view of the centre pens from the Police control

box.

I have never been instructed by the Chief Steward or the Police

to direct or control fans. If, of course, I am approached by

any fan, I would direct that fan to either the tunnel or the

South West pen or indeed the North West pen if open.

The partition wall was originally built to segregate home and

away fans in the West stand. The away fans went through

turnstiles A-G to gain access to the centre pens and South West

pen and about one third of the seated area. A railing divided

the seated area which is still in place.

The remainder of course belonged to the home fans. Before the

partition wall was built, the home and away fans were able to

mix behind the stand. There may have been a bigger police

presence in those days to stop the fans from mixing and to

ensure segregation. I cannot really remember.

The Police system I have described of sealing off the South

West pen has been in existence for many seasons. The system

has changed slightly as the West stand became an away

supporters only area some three seasons ago.

The steel gates to the staircases are always unlocked for

matches together with every other exit or entrance to the West

stand. The gate in the partition wall is always unlocked. I

have seen Police Officers go round to check to make sure that

gates are unlocked.

When attending any game, a steward must hand over a ticket from

his booklet which is issued at the start of each season. The

ticket provided is used as a means of recording attendance so

that payment can be made before the end of the match. At the

back of this booklet there is a section entitled "Instructions

for match day staff". There is also a seperate document

recording the same information handed out at the start of each

season, and very probably at the annual meeting of the

stewards. I should also mention that any temporary stewards

are always placed with an experienced steward. The chief

steward receives the tickets and provides a steward's jacket

which is a yellow plastic covering. All stewards must wear

their photopass, and without this photopass, access to the

ground cannot be obtained. The photopass is normally issued at

the annual meeting.

Xt is impossible to ascertain the numbers of fans in the pens

on the terrace. It is not possible to see the full extent of

the terrace from the gangways in the seated area, and of

course it is impossible to see from the staircases at the rear

of the West stand. It has occurred to a number of stewards

including myself at matches that the pens may be full. Fans

have complained to us that they cannot see or cannot get

through as the pen is full. Although fans do complain, we are

not in a position where we can leave our posts. The Police

have on occasion asked stewards to direct fans from the back

of the South West area if full, or where fans have come out of

the centre pens as they cannot obtain a good view or the area

is too full.

Including this years semi final, there have been four FA cup

semi finals -since 1981. The first took place in 1981 between

Spurs and Wolves, and although I was at the match I was not a

steward. In 1987 a semi final took place between Leeds United

and Coventry. That was a morning kick off and the start was

delayed by half an hour to three quarters of an hour because of

- 6 -

traffic problems. For semi finals, the gate to the partition

wall is always kept open.

I now turn to my involvement in the events which took place on

the 15th April 1989 at Hillsborough. I arrived at the ground

at 11.00 am. I reported to Stuart Thorpe to hand over my

ticket and was given a jacket in return. I was told my

position in that I was deployed on gangway X. I was also told

that a temporary steward would also be with me. Stuart Thorpe

brought the temporary steward to me. I have forgotten his name

but I think his first name was John.

b/ .The Police Inspector, the same man with a fertg beard, gave a

briefing to the stewards. This occurred before the turnstiles

opened. He explained the three types of ticket by referring to

the colours. He told us to be vigulant and to look out for

forgeries. He took the names of the stewards manning the fire

gates. He told us that both staircases were open and that we

should make sure that fans do not jump over seats. He reminded

us not to get involved with any trouble. Reference is made to

this in the instructions to match day staff. If there is any

crowd misbehaviour, we must fetch a Police Officer.

He told us to keep the gangways clear. I did ask if a

programme seller could be deployed by the snack bar. Fans do

try to go downstairs in order to buy a programme and this can

cause confusion as we normally tear off the corners off the

tickets to prevent fans from throwing their tickets down to

fans below. The programme sellers are normally located on the

ground level. I thought it would save confusion if a programme

seller was put in the snack bar area. The only difficulty is

that programme sellers are normally put behind barriers or in

porta cabins as we have had instances of programme sellers

being mugged or hassled.

The Police Inspector told us to enjoy the match. I went to my

post. The turnstiles opened at about day. There was a

- 7 -

trickle of fans to begin with. They were very friendly. Many

of those who came in early were Liverpool fans but were not

from Liverpool. I remember chatting to two Liverpool fans who

lived very near the Arsenal football ground. Up to 2.15 to

2.20 pm there was a steady stream of fans coming into the West

stand. I remember passing comment to the temporary steward

that there was a good atmosphere, but I could not understand

where all the fans were. Normally, the seated area and the

terrace would be filling up but by 2.30 pm the seated area was

half full. This is very unusual for a semi final.

At 2.20 pm I went to the toilets in the snack bar area and from

that position I could see down Leppings Lane. I was surprised

by how many people were outside. I also noted that at last

years semi final there was a cordon of Police to the forecourt

area and by the edge of the road. On this occasion, the Police

appeared to be at the external gates before the turnstiles.

After I returned from the toilets, I noticed that the fans were

coming in a lot quicker. I noticed that many had been drinking.

Some of the fans were acting rather stupidly and were being

cheeky. They were not violent but there was a great deal of

abuse. This is nothing unusual.

At 2.50 pm, there was a big rush at gangway X. Some fans did

not have any tickets. Some had only a stub. I asked these

fans to wait so that I could check the tickets but owing to

the rush, I was knocked down the aisle and the temporary

steward was knocked sideways. Everyone charged in and

scattered. I suspect that some did not have tickets. The

stub part is in fact retained by the turnstile operator. Many

may have got through without showing their tickets and then

provided a stub to someone who did not have a ticket.

About 100 fans got through during this rush. I was knocked

over trying to stop them. When this subsided, I decided to

check the tickets again. By this time the seated area was

- 8 -

packed. Many of the fans were sitting or standing in aisles or

gangways behind the exit. I noticed that there were many fans.

two to a seat.

There were also fans who had seat tickets but could not get to

the seats. I then noticed people being pulled up at the

front of the seated area from the terrace just after kick off.

During this period, fans still came up the staircases and I

noticed more and more people going over the perimeter fence on

the terrace onto the pitch. At first, I suspected a pitch

invasion. At this stage, I was hemmed in by the volume of

people.

I then noticed Police Officers attempting to help fans on the

terrace up to the seated area. I saw the players taken off the

pitch.

The crowd quietened down. A woman passed up was unconsious.

Some of the fans took her down onto the landing where the snack

bar is situated. I went down to see that she was alright. She

was still unconsious and a Police Officer started to apply

first aid. I went back up the steps. By this time people were

being laid out onto the pitch.

The attitude of the fans changed. I was faced with abuse and

was thumped a few times. I was not frightened as such. I was

very wary of those around me. In fact, I could not get up to

the seated area as the steps were full of people. I could

smell drink from a few people.

I went to the snack bar area and was approached by a man and a

woman who said that they were a doctor and nurse respectively.

They wanted to know where to go. I took them down the

staircase to a Police Officer who directed us to the pitch. I

took them to the uncovered seats in the South stand from where

access could be gained to the pitch.

- 9 -

I went back to the West stand.

Many fans were walking about in a shocked state. I assumed

that these fans were those who had been pulled up from the

terrace. The girls from the snack bar were giving them drinks.

A crowd of Liverpool fans were shouting and fighting amongst

themselves in the snack bar area.

I looked at one person who was suffering from injured fingers.

It was not a serious injury. I should mention that I have

undertaken a first aid course as part of my job. I directed

them to the first aid room under the North stand. Some of the

fans were looking for their friends or relatives. I told them

to go to the bottom of the staircase.

There was still a great deal of abuse being suffered by the

stewards. Some fans were saying that it was our fault and

they should have had the other end, ie the Kop. I went over

to my brother-in-law who was in the next gangway. He told me

to take my jacket off. The Police told the stewards to take

off their jackets. By now it was about 3.30 pm. I put my

jacket in my pocket.

I went down the staircase and tried to help those people who

were injured and lying near the tunnel. As I say, I am a

first aider, but I did not administer any mouth to mouth

resuscitation or any other resuscitation technique. Around

this area behind the West stand, there were still fans walking

about being abusive but many were in tears. I noticed urine

cascading down from the West stand. The Liverpool fans in the

seated area were urinating at the rear of the stand. This has

happened before.

I then remember hearing an announcement to evacuate the ground.

I cannot remember the exact words. The Liverpool stewards

together with the Sheffield Wednesday stewards helped people

- 10 -

leave the ground. I was directing people out of the exits.

There were 8-10 Sheffield Wednesday stewards present .

including Albert Marsh. I left the ground at 5.45 pm. I hadp. ttj,

not realised the seriousness of the situation until I got home^ \ C \ v j_ /

and was told what had happened by my wife.VJKo Ko.«A o-Va ■*

This statement is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

DATED

SIGNED

Li/

WITNESSED

Incident IOE

/ *

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4*STATEMENT NUMBER S451(.''

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On Saturday 15th April 1989 at approx 10.50am my wife d r o v e .me' to\tH|

f ootbal1 ground, we were travelling from the direction.

Bridqe railway station towards f ootball ground, : as wev,apftr^ath#id^^S

on with Bickerton road I saw a man I beleived to be a t i c k e t ^ j

This man had several', ticke'ts in his hand and was, .walking up ‘'fvfj

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and down the

with short greyish hair, clean shaven

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balcony and into the seated area* These initial fans were dealt uii%p-V ig t

..by Police Officers. ' . ; M p m

As it approached kick-off time people were coming in, m larger *

numbers, some of the fans were getting aggressive and refusing to

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they passed me but I wouldn

came from the gangway and was carried forward down ‘the!^st«fxs, ';fI rwa’s^

- U'A^ not m lured at this stage and regained my f*et £nd w e n t : back % b > y ' i

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I then got onto the landing where I was approached by a woman who

stated she was a nurse and could she help, I directed her to the

bottom of the steps and advised her to ask the Police, I I- new at,‘thiis

staqe something serious had happened.

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can bea doctor

» was sitting he saw more than I did. I % scortedi,th'e(r4o^t|r

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started man handling the Policeman and shouting'at him "I X' fe %your£*id shouting .at him - "It s ■,yo.ur>;^|v

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■ ■ ■ - • - . ■ ■. 'Fans then started to leave the ground, I then heard broken glass a n d ;|i

'i ylooking up I saw fans punching the windows out in the upstairs W e s t -V

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Stand toilet windows, on the South Stand side. I then moved'.peopl'£^

away from underneath to prevent glass f al 1 i ng on 'them. $ ^ y ^ y y y ^ ^ M A■ :/-■'■:: yy^-w0§

At this stage some fans were, still .shouting^ abuse ;.at us t h s r s wers';|

thanking u s .

pf t. t.pft the oround'and the eme Irenes' 'Vehi

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‘ / ' - ' A l l the stewards then 'congregated , by ;the ,-s

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I believe that, the fans causing the surge on my

They would have entered into the area and f orcibly' -pas|,( >v

at the seating steps entrance up to ’S ’ stand.

problem b e l o w .

Also im rny opinion

gangway would have come from the crowd who entered after gate C ha'd/^j

been opened

through the stewards

Having spoken to the

Chief Steward was at

i njured by the surge

the day my first reactions

■ injured/ several days later the r

stewards after the incident I \now the * assistant

the bottom of the steps, was knocked over ’a n d ^

I would like to say that the major!

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C .H .P .KELLY .

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