I Was There

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster - a day where 96 football fans lost their lives. As a special episode of I Was There, this is a piece I recorded 2 years ago with interviews from 3 men who were inside the ground on the day in Sheffield in 1989. Thank you to Gary Fairhurst, Tim Crosse and Alan Parkinson for telling their stories. Justice for the 96.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to stay in the same hotel as a Premier League team? Eat breakfast and rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in world football? Well in 2009 John Larkin would find out when he took a trip to Liverpool to watch the Reds play Chelsea in a massive fixture at Anfield. Apart from the game being incredible and played under the snow, John had an amazing series of events happen to him that made this particular experience even more memorable.

The true definition of the phrase "everything that can go wrong will go wrong", what should have been a routine flight and trip to watch Australia play Denmark in Samara at the FIFA World Cup in Russia turned into a nightmare 24 hours for Alex that all started with a misplaced passport. Delayed flights, language barriers, Embassy visits and a last minute scramble eventually saw him make the match in time for kick off...but after hearing his story you won't understand how. The best example of not knowing what the person sitting next to you in the stadium has been through to make it to the game.

When you've got the gift of the gab, incredible things can happen to you...like watching Fulham at home from the most exclusive part of the ground - The Cottage Pavilion. A place in the ground that is reserved only for players' families, owners and other extremely exclusive VIP's, you simply won't believe how a young broke Aussie living in London ended up in this heritage listed building. Joel's story is hilarious, unbelievable and by far one of my favourite stories so far - enjoy!

Sure you've got an uber before...but have you ever got one in Russia? Mathew shares his brilliant story of being at the Russia World Cup in 2018 however it's what happened after the match between the Socceroos and Denmark that made this day so memorable.

Not many people have the fortune of being mates with a Premier League footballer...so when you are you hope they can sort you out for tickets! Having grown up playing with Harry Kewell, George remembers the incredible time he went to watch Liverpool take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2004 only for Harry to "misplace" the tickets he had set aside for him. This story is truly remarkable and you won't believe where he had to go in order to finally get hold of the golden tickets.

Imagine witnessing a 90th minute injury time winner in a cup final...from your favourite player...and you're standing next to the scout who discovered the guy! A guy who's stretched out right foot delivered Celtic their first domestic Treble in 30 years. Umberto Righetti was at Hampden Park on May 27 2017 when Tom Rogic became a Glasgow legend for life. While Umberto hadn't intended on going to the game at all, he would somehow get tickets and witness history standing next to the scout who first saw Tom play as a junior in Canberra.

A bet on The Ashes, a man dressed as a woman scalping tickets, a chance meeting at The Grand National and a sensational game at Anfield. All of these events are somehow connected in this hilarious and remarkable story of how Brian Murphy got to watch Liverpool play Manchester City in an enormous fixture in 2014. This story is an all time classic that will have you in stitches at times so sit back, relax and try to keep up!

After falling victim to an online ticket scam, Paul McCulloch shares the remarkable story that lead to him witnessing Liverpool beat Real Madrid 4-0 at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League of 2009. At 46, this was to be the first time Paul would get a chance to watch his beloved Liverpool play in the flesh. While Paul's story is a truly special sporting memory for him it has a bittersweet ending that will leave you with a broken heart.