Remembering the 96, 24 years on

24 years ago today, 96 Liverpool fans went to a football match and never came home. On the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, today they will be remembered.

As there is on this date every year, there will be a memorial service remembering the 96 people who died on that fateful day in 1989, but this year’s one will be more poignant than ever as it is the first since the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel absolved the Liverpool fans of blame and justified the sterling and ongoing efforts of the Justice for the 96 campaign.

It will also be the first since the death of Margaret Thatcher, who will forever be negatively associated with the disaster by Liverpool fans for her alleged role in the cover-up.

The Hillsborough victims are never far from the minds of the club and its supporters, but on the day of the anniversary they are remembered more than ever and it is no surprise that a picture featuring the faces of all of the 96 who died 24 years ago today is already trending this morning.

Pic via Twitter/Football Funnys

Gone but never forgotten.