Run For The 96 turns Stanley Park into a sea of red and blue

Melanie C, Les Dennis, Andy Burnham, Alan Kennedy, Graham Stuart, John Durnin, Darren Farley, George Sephton and Kurtis Stacey joined red and blue, young and old, to remember The 96.

Image: James Stratford Photography

Almost 2,500 walkers, joggers and runners wearing red and blue stood side by side on Sunday (19 April) for the inaugural Run For The 96 5K in memory of the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough tragedy.

The new community legacy fun run started and finished in Stanley Park, a fitting location between Liverpool and Everton’s football grounds, Anfield Stadium and Goodison Park.

The aim was to celebrate the lives of The 96, and to remember their families and the survivors of Hillsborough, which happened 26 years ago last week.

Everyone taking part was encouraged to wear their specially designed red or blue event T-shirts, which created a special display of unity as runners made their way round the 5K route, which took them past Anfield, near Goodison and round the park’s Isla Gladstone Conservatory.

The Run For The 96 5K has the support of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, and a number of families and survivors attended and joined runners and celebrity guests to take part.

As a mark of respect, the crowd joined together for a minute’s applause to remember The 96 before Hillsborough Family Support Group Chairman Margaret Aspinall officially started the fun run.

Margaret later congratulated runners as they crossed the finish line by presenting them with their special commemorative medals.

Margaret Aspinall, Chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said:

(Photo: Paul Francis Cooper)

“This new event to remember The 96 is a wonderful thing for the city. There are lots of Everton fans with Liverpool fans to run in their memory, and funds raised are going to two good causes so it’s brilliant. It’s also a great day to show the survivors that they’ve got our support and always will have. It’s great to see this unity.”

Run For The 96 5K is the brainchild of Liverpool fan Dom Williams, a dad of four originally from Liverpool who now lives in the South West of England.

Dom has organised the mammoth three-day Hillsborough-Anfield 96-mile team running challenge for the past three years. This year, Dom changed the format by also introducing the new 5K community legacy fun run as a way of engaging the wider community.

He approached race organisers BTR Liverpool 18 months ago to plan and deliver the event. BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for race events in Liverpool City Region, its portfolio includes the BTR Liverpool Santa Dash and BTR Mersey Tunnel 10K.

This year, the Hillsborough-Anfield running team took on a 79-mile challenge over two days on Friday and Saturday (17 and 18 April). The runners and support team lay a floral tribute at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough memorial before setting off. They arrived at Anfield on Saturday evening where they also lay flowers at Liverpool’s temporary memorial. However, just five miles before arriving in Liverpool, Dom fell damaging his ligaments, leaving him in pain and limping. The next day he completed Run For The 96 5K on crutches.

Dom Williams commented:

“The first Run For The 96 5K has been an outstanding success and it will definitely be bigger and better next year.

“When I first had the idea three years ago, I wanted to create something positive for The 96, a legacy to engage the wider community – and I feel that’s exactly what we have achieved. Everyone’s feedback has been fantastic and this is something we can definitely build on.

“To see almost 2,500 people taking part was breath-taking. It was very special to have some of the families and survivors join us on the day. It’s been a very humbling experience for everyone involved. Thank you to everyone who took part and for all the special guests who made time to be there to support the event.”

A whole host of familiar faces turned out to show their support. Spice Girl and Liverpool fan, Sporty Spice Melanie Chisholm, was the first to sign up when the plans were first announced 12 months ago. And true to her word, she took part.

Sporty Spice Melanie Chisholm commented:

Image: James Stratford Photography

“I’m very proud to be here – and I hope to take part on a yearly basis. We’re raising money for great causes in the local community, and all in memory of the people we lost that terrible day at Hillsborough.

“A 5K sounds a little bit daunting, but you can run, walk or take part with your kids, friends and family. It would be wonderful if this event could grow and in five years’ time who know where we could be.”

Merseyside football legends, Liverpool’s Alan Kennedy and Everton’s Graham Stuart, represented the event’s two official charity partners – the Liverpool FC Foundation and Everton in the Community.

Alan had to be at Wembley in the afternoon for Liverpool’s FA Cup semi-final game so instead pulled on his running shoes at 7am so he could still take part.

Coronation Street actor Les Dennis lined up alongside Labour politician and Hillsborough campaigner Andy Burnham, impressionist Darren Farley, former Liverpool player John Durnin, and former Emmerdale actor Kurtis Stacey.

Les Dennis commented:

“It’s such an exciting and memorable day to honour The 96. I’m so proud to be here and be part of it.”

Andy Burnham added:

“We want to keep bringing people together and for there to be a positive legacy. A positive is the solidarity that we’ve seen in the city. Finding ways we can continue to celebrate that is truly important so I’m pleased to show my support.”

And it wasn’t just families faces who supported the event – Voice of Anfield, stadium announcer George Sephton also turned out to cheer on the runners.

The event also attracted wheelchairs users, groups of families, fancy dress runners, and even some who ran with their dogs – making it a real inclusive event for all.

BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell added:

“Run For The 96 5K was a fitting end to Dom and his team’s fantastic achievement of running 79 miles over two days, what a phenomenal achievement. And Dom completing the 5K with ligament damage really is going the extra mile.

“I’m immensely proud of the overall event and the commitment of everyone taking part, especially those running in their first event purely in memory of The 96 is a fitting tribute. Run For The 96 5K really does have the potential to become a key date in the city calendar as people run to remember.”

The event’s official charity partners are the Liverpool FC Foundation and Everton in the Community, with all funds donated or raised being split equally between the two charities. Participants were invited to fundraise for the Liverpool FC Foundation and Everton in the Community, the charitable arms of the city’s two football clubs to enable them to continue their fantastic work across Merseyside. This is a key part of the event’s commitment to ensuring that local communities benefit from the legacy run.

The entry fee for Run For The 96 5K will pay to stage and deliver all aspects of the event.

The online giving page is still available, visit http://ift.tt/1OwNwbo for more details or donate direct to the joint charity fund via Virgin Giving.

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Brendan Rodgers: Fifth place and two semi-finals is “probably on par with where we are at”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists there is no-one better to lead the club despite a disappointing end to the season prompting questions about his future.

A dismal FA Cup semi-final exit to Aston Villa last weekend, after back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and Manchester United derailed their top-four chances, led to speculation about the Northern Irishman’s tenure – particularly in light of the availability of Jurgen Klopp who leaves Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

Sunday’s Wembley reverse meant Rodgers became the first Liverpool manager since Phil Taylor in 1959 to not win a trophy in his first three years in charge.

However, the 42-year-old, is adamant there is no-one who could replace him. “I don’t think there is anyone better, that is the reality of how I see it,” he said. “Whenever you are at a club like Liverpool you will have many names mentioned.

“There is absolutely no problem with that, it is something that happens all the time if you lose a couple of games.

“You had former managers linked with the job before and that will continue whether you are good, bad or indifferent.

“Three months ago I was a tactical genius and performing to a good level and we lost a couple of games, some important games, and maybe were not so good but I feel the same now with what I did back then.

“I have a strong relationship with the owners and the partnership who run the club.

“They understand, like when we spoke at the beginning, this was going to be a process, this is not a group of ready-made players who were used to winning.

“I’ve not taken over a machine that was winning trophies for 10 years.

“That is something we are clear on but of course we want to be better next year.”

Rodgers feels last season’s title near-miss was down to a number of factors aligning and their runners-up finish was actually over and above what had been expected.

He believes the current campaign is a more realistic representation of the level the club is at.

“If you take the emotion out of last weekend this was a team which overachieved last year,” he added. “We weren’t expected to get into the top four and that same team had a world-class striker (Luis Suarez) in it and someone on fire in terms of Daniel Sturridge, who has the potential to be that (world class) when when fit and playing.

“We have lost those players (Suarez to Barcelona and Sturridge to injury).

“We sit in fifth place, having reached two cup semi-finals, which is probably on par with where we are at.

“The ambition is to be much greater than that and we have to be planning forward and that means bringing in players in the summer, that is something which is well under way.

“This year was an opportunity, next year will be an even greater opportunity to kick on and keep improving.”

Worringly for Rodgers, there is still no sign of a return for Sturridge, who has been sidelined with a hip problem for the last two matches after missing the first five months of the season with thigh and calf problems.

“We are unsure. He is certainly not available for the weekend,” said the Reds boss when asked if there was a timescale for Sturridge’s comeback.

SEE ALSO: All the quotes from Rodgers’ pre-West Brom press conference

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Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool over-achieved last season

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Rodgers wants Ibe and Sterling signed up to Liverpool after new deal for Henderson

Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool are “delighted” to have signed vice-captain Jordan Henderson up to a new five-year deal, and hopes it’s just the start of more players committing to the club.

Rodgers hopes other players – youngsters Raheem Sterling (who has rejected a £100,000-a-week offer), Jordon Ibe and experienced defender Martin Skrtel are all currently negotiating new deals – will follow Henderson's lead.

"We are obviously delighted. It is great news for the club and Jordan that he will be spending best part of his career and development here at Liverpool and he is a big part of the plan going forward," said the Reds boss.

"I am delighted for him and the club and we can continue his development.

"The club paid big money for him at the time because he had big potential and that potential has been developed and he will go into the next phase of that.

"The likes of Jordan and Raheem are very important players and the club, behind the scenes, is working very hard to ensure we sign these type of players.

"The model is to develop young players and when they have improved it is important you nail them to the club and make sure they are here for the best part of their careers."

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Jordan Henderson eyes trophies with Liverpool

Almost three years after nearly leaving Liverpool Jordan Henderson has committed his long-term future to the club convinced he can win silverware at Anfield.

Late in the summer of 2012, just a couple of months into the reign of Brendan Rodgers, he was lined up as makeweight in a failed bid to sign Fulham's Clint Dempsey only for the midfielder to reject the move.

His determination to prove himself, and justify the B£16million price tag which came with him from Sunderland the previous summer, has been rewarded not only with a new five-year B£100,000-a-week contract but with the prospect of him taking over the captain's armband from Steven Gerrard when he leaves for the Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of the season.

But it is the unfulfilled potential which persuaded the 24-year-old England international to commit what should be the best years of his career to the club.

"A few years ago I had an opportunity to leave but I always knew how big this club is and I wanted to stay here for as long as possible – and nothing has changed since then," he told liverpoolfc.com.

"I feel as though I have got a good connection with the club now and there was no doubt where my future was going to be and it was just a matter of time for my agent and the club to sort it out.

"I have been through difficult times but I would never change that because I know there will be more difficult times ahead and I'll have to use that and I'll be able to handle it a lot better.

"Hopefully we've got many years ahead of winning trophies.

"I'm the same as every other player, I want to be playing at the highest level – in the Champions League, winning trophies and being very successful.

"I had good conversations with the manager about the future of the football club and it was very bright, I was very pleased with what I was hearing.

"I want to be a big part of that and hopefully I can.

"I feel there's a lot of potential, but we need to start turning that potential into winning things. I've got a good feeling that we can do that."

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[VIDEO] Throwback Pada hari ini di tahun 2011, Maxi Rodriguez menjaringkan ha...

[VIDEO] Throwback

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Liverpool team news: Lucas, Sakho and Sturridge out vs. West Brom

Liverpool will be without injured trio Mamadou Sakho, Lucas Leiva and Daniel Sturridge for their trip to face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

All three missed last week’s FA Cup semi-final and boss Brendan Rodgers told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon that they would all miss Saturday’s game too.

Rodgers said he was “unsure” of when Sturridge would be back available. The perennially injured forward has missed the last two games.

Sakho has a hamstring injury which is expected to keep him out until May.

One player back available is midfielder Adam Lallana, who has returned to training this week and will have a late fitness test.

Jon Flanagan has returned to training with the squad but remains a long way from match fitness.

Read all the quotes from Rodgers’ press conference, here.

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