Dalglish reflects on final

Press, 19 May 1989, Page 40

Dalglish reflects on final

NZPA-AAP London Kenny Dalglish said the Hillsborough tragedy made this week-end’s F.A. Cup final at Wembley a fairytale end to the season for the two Merseyside clubs — Liverpool and Everton.

Often referred to as the iceman of soccer, Dalglish said he had thawed out substantially because of what both clubs and the city of Liverpool had been through since April 15 when 95 Liverpool fans were crushed to death against perimeter fences. He said Everton and Liverpool fans would transform Wembley into a shrine for the Hillsborough victims.

“It’s a fairytale really. We have been through so much and I’m so pleased that both clubs from the city are going to be playing together,” Mr Dalglish said.

He told “Today” newspaper he had been overwhelmed and transformed by the scale of the response to Hillsborough, and said he was not sure how he would cope with the emotion of Saturday.

“I do know it’s not we and them ... it’s us,” said Mr Dalglish who spent a dozen years as a player, and is now manager of one of the world’s bestknown clubs.

He said Hillsborough made him realise soccer was the soul of Liverpool.

“I realised that it meant a lot to a lot of people but even I underestimated how much it actually meant,” Mr Dalglish said. “I just don’t know how I will feel leading them out on Saturday.” In the days immediately after Hillsborough, Mr Dalglish was reportedly one of the leaders of the campaign to have Liverpool withdraw from the competition out of respect for the 95 dead. “The decision to carry on was made by the club with everything taken into account,” he said. "I think whatever decision was taken ■it _ was going to be the right one, as people realised the club acted with dignity and compassion.” There is a growing feeling on Merseyside that fate has taken control of Liverpool’s season, heightened by the presence of Everton in what will be only the second Merseyside final in the 117-year history of the Cup.