Wembley derby memories: 1989

A goal from John Aldridge and two from Ian Rush won the game for the Reds on a poignant day for fans of both clubs as the final was played only five weeks after the Hillsborough disaster. 

Liverpoolfc.tv spoke to lifelong Red, poet and playwright Dave Kirby about his memories of the final.

The match came a month after the Hillsborough tragedy. How were you feeling about going to Wembley after what had happened?

Up to that point there was still a knot in my stomach. I couldn't eat properly and I still had that empty feeling. A few of my mates were Blues and them being there made it better. The comforted us and it was a big Scouse thing going down together. It was unbelievable the support we got from Evertonians after Hillsborough and us Reds will never forget that. I know I desperately wanted to win the cup for those who lost their lives, but if Everton won, at least the cup was coming back to the city and that would have been a tribute in itself. Since the memorial up in Glasgow (on April 30, 1989) I had been in a daze and I was very emotional but there was a sort of comfort zone down at Wembley that day. I remember it was a lovely sunny day and there were plenty of special memories.

Inside the ground, Gerry Marsden sang You'll Never Walk Alone. What are your memories of that?

My mates were in the other end of the stadium but where we were in the ground, there was no real segregation, so Reds and Blues all sat by one another. I remember there was a few Blues sat in front of us. I had this massive feeling of loss and yet this great sense of pride in our city. When Gerry sang You'll Never Walk Alone, people broke down around me. I'd sung it up at Celtic at the memorial but for other Reds, this was one of the first times they had sung our song since that day. The song took on a whole new dynamic when we sung it. You'll Never Walk Alone was something we used to sing together in triumph, but that day it became a hymn. The lyrics to the song took on a new meaning. I remember all the Blues around us were joining in and we sang it together. Lots of people had bottled it all up inside since the day but at Wembley we could all let it out. It was very, very emotional.

What do you remember of the match?

I'll never forget Aldo's goal because there was just a massive sense of relief around the stadium and for me personally. At the semi-final replay against Forrest at Old Trafford, it was the same sort of relief because we knew we had to get to Wembley for those who had lost their lives. But what I do remember is, once the whistle went at the start of the match, it was like a derby again - we were watching footy again like we used to. The events of the last month were put aside for a moment and we were all desperate to beat the Blues and win the trophy. Rushie's goal was fantastic but for me the highlight was Aldo's. I remember the final whistle and this outpouring of emotion. Everyone around us broke down in tears. Blues shook our hands. If they had of won it, I would have shook their hands because of what they did for us after Hillsborough.

What's the abiding memory of the day?

It's the most pride I've ever felt in my city. Ever. The 84 League Cup final was great for the togetherness. But in 89 it was something else altogether. Afterwards, with the Evertonians, it was all hugs and it was the most emotional I've ever felt at a football match. I've never felt like that since. I love Liverpool Football Club and I'm always proud of them. But that day, the pride I felt for the city and its people, I'll never forget.