You'll Never Walk Alone will be played before K.O today....

[cmonurz]

From a pure PR perspective, it was a great move. Lots of good feeling towards Reading FC as a result.

However, football clubs are not brands yet and I was a bit uncomfortable with what I felt was a bit brown-nosey and completely unnecessary. It had nothing to do with our club and felt it was a move that inspired my biggest hatred, forced grief sharing. Grief is a personal thing, dealt with in personal ways and I've got no feelings either negative or positive towards Hillsborough as I don't know enough about it. Now I'm being made to feel like I "have to" care about something I don't.

The other thing that irks me in terms of it being a PR stunt is the precedent it sets. Will we now play "glory, glory Man Utd" on the anniversary of Munich '58? Will we play the Italian national anthem on the anniversary of Heysel (which was more akin to "murder" than "incompetence/tragedy" at Hillsborough), Will we all wear the white flowers of Yorkshire to commemorate those that died at Bradford's Valley Parade in 1985? No.

You really need to see the difference between Hillsborough and some of those other events you mention.

None are more worthy than any of the others for remembrance, but the events of this week have brought the tragedy into the general consciousness, and there was no harm at all in marking once more those who lost their lives at that football match.

[The Goat was fed]

Completely hear what you're saying - but that is pretty much my issue with it. There are loads of equally worthy tragedies that aren't in the general consciousness that are worthy of remembrance. My issue is precisely that, only now, when everyone is talking about it have we decided to show solidarity. That's why, to me, it feels like a PR stunt.

I like that it has, on the whole, reflected very well on the club - but the bit that sits uncomfortably with me is that we will now only honour certain things if they've been on the news that week. Frankly, as "The Royals" we should be playing the national anthem in a show of solidarity with Kate Middleton's breasts.

[soggy biscuit]

From a pure PR perspective, it was a great move

[Royal Prince]

I found it strange playing another club's anthem, especially one miles away with whom we share little history. However, as a tribute to fellow football fans who tragically lost their lives I felt it was very fitting and well received.

Whilst I'm sure this was more than just a PR stunt (I like to think Reading are one of the more morally rounded clubs) it does make me wonder if we would have gone ahead with this gesture even if we weren't live on Sky?...

[PieEater]

Like it or not those events changed football forever. Specifically with all seater stadiums, but also lessons from crowd control and emergency services response.

I'd like to think if I go to a new ground that the ground will be safe, and that the guy in charge will know what he's doing.

[East Grinstead Royal]

I found it strange playing another club's anthem, especially one miles away with whom we share little history. However, as a tribute to fellow football fans who tragically lost their lives I felt it was very fitting and well received.

Quite. Whether you call it a tribute, a mark of respect, a sign of solidarity or whatever else hardly matters. The point is that for 23 years, "the authorities" have blamed "football supporters" for what happened. The reality is now revealed and the authorities have been shamed. As football supporters, we were all tainted with the blame in society's eyes. If I had lost a loved one at Hillsborough, I cannot imagine how bitter I would now be feeling towards the individuals and organisations that participated in the cover-up for all these years. Playing a 3 minute song beloved by those who lost their lives in such circumstances seems a small but entirely valid gesture.

The other disasters referred to earlier in this thread are not comparable. Dreadful, yes, but not the subject of a cover-up or shameful shifting of blame onto innocents.

[East Grinstead Royal]

Like it or not those events changed football forever. Specifically with all seater stadiums, but also lessons from crowd control and emergency services response.

I'd like to think if I go to a new ground that the ground will be safe, and that the guy in charge will know what he's doing.

Entirely agree. But it shouldn't have taken an event of such magnitude for those changes to come about.

[westongeezer]

I found it strange playing another club's anthem, especially one miles away with whom we share little history. However, as a tribute to fellow football fans who tragically lost their lives I felt it was very fitting and well received.

Quite. Whether you call it a tribute, a mark of respect, a sign of solidarity or whatever else hardly matters. The point is that for 23 years, "the authorities" have blamed "football supporters" for what happened. The reality is now revealed and the authorities have been shamed. As football supporters, we were all tainted with the blame in society's eyes. If I had lost a loved one at Hillsborough, I cannot imagine how bitter I would now be feeling towards the individuals and organisations that participated in the cover-up for all these years. Playing a 3 minute song beloved by those who lost their lives in such circumstances seems a small but entirely valid gesture.

The other disasters referred to earlier in this thread are not comparable. Dreadful, yes, but not the subject of a cover-up or shameful shifting of blame onto innocents.

Totally agreed, its a show of solidarity towards all supporters that where tarnished with the brush of lies covered up by the authorites, to claim it was a sham is a blatant disprespect to all supporters accussed of fuelling this event and being convicted by a corrupt polcie force to cover up thier inadequacy....

[melonhead]

fitting tribute, well supported by our fans- glad we didnt sing along though

[3 veesinarow]

Funny how "pwoper" Spurs fans weren't embarrassed to stand up and applaud, too. Didn't see anyone singing along, just respecting. For those questioning "why now", I would suggest that most right-thinking folk have always been in solidarity with fellow football fans, this was just a reinforcement of that sentiment.

Those espousing a PR "stunt" by RFC are way, way too thick to be taken seriously. Park yourselves over there, boys, in the too-laughable section with the MUST.

[Optimist]

fitting tribute, well supported by our fans- glad we didnt sing along though

I was singing
But don't worry, just quietly to myself.

[cmonurz]

When did this become our concern? This is a matter for LOLiverpooLOL fans, we have no part in it, and certainly shouldn't play their music before matches.

There's irony for you. You've seemed mightily concerned with the fortunes of Liverpool FC this season.

[melonhead]

When did this become our concern? This is a matter for LOLiverpooLOL fans, we have no part in it, and certainly shouldn't play their music before matches.

could have been fans of any club- as the new report cleary found
thats kind of the point.

soidarity among the football family and all that, against all those who chose to label us all with the same brush during the 80s

[SHORT AND CURLY]

IIRC we did the silence thing when it occurred all those years ago.

Why do it again? Are we going to do it every anniversary of a court ruling!

[Ian Royal]

From a pure PR perspective, it was a great move. Lots of good feeling towards Reading FC as a result.

However, football clubs are not brands yet and I was a bit uncomfortable with what I felt was a bit brown-nosey and completely unnecessary. It had nothing to do with our club and felt it was a move that inspired my biggest hatred, forced grief sharing. Grief is a personal thing, dealt with in personal ways and I've got no feelings either negative or positive towards Hillsborough as I don't know enough about it. Now I'm being made to feel like I "have to" care about something I don't.

The other thing that irks me in terms of it being a PR stunt is the precedent it sets. Will we now play "glory, glory Man Utd" on the anniversary of Munich '58? Will we play the Italian national anthem on the anniversary of Heysel (which was more akin to "murder" than "incompetence/tragedy" at Hillsborough), Will we all wear the white flowers of Yorkshire to commemorate those that died at Bradford's Valley Parade in 1985? No.

That's absurd. This was in recognition of the truth finally being publically acknowledged 23 years after the worst football disaster in the country. When that disaster was caused by huge incompetence by the people there to protect the fans, who were subsequently blamed for it with no truth whatsoever. It was current and it was relevant.

Something that happened to football fans just like you and me. Fair enough, you're too young to know much about it - hell, so was I! But I suggest you do learn about it because it's important. And once you know about it, I can't believe you would still not care. When it comes down to it, we are all football fans and we should remember that.

[Fox Talbot]

IIRC we did the silence thing when it occurred all those years ago.

Why do it again? Are we going to do it every anniversary of a court ruling!

Indeed we did - about 3000 at Elm Park v Wigan a few days afterwards and for me very very moving because if you were a fan in those days you realised there but for the grace of ...

As for Sunday, I wasn't sure what to make of it (YNWA). It's not as though RFC have been a big part of the struggle for justice but there again I s'pose somebody in authority has got to be seen saying the right thing. It would have been better coming spontaneously from the fans but some hope of that.

[BenReadingFC]

I sang along to "You'll never walk alone" yesterday, I thought it was a respecting touch. Like has been said previously, If it made just 1 person related/friend to any of those that lost their life that day feel slightly better, then it was worthy. Football is now a better breed in this country due to that tragic event. PR Stunt or no PR stunt, fair play Reading.

[buckingham royal]

Football is all about opinions.

Perhaps for those of us that grew up with the Hillsborough and Bradford tragedies to name but a few, we can understand. In particular, for the Bradford tragedy, if I recall, Bradford had previously played Reading at home.

Despite the rivalry between teams, we all have one thing in common – we are all football fans.

For me Reading did the right thing on Sunday and those who understood and respected the gesture supported the actions accordingly - well done. Perhaps those who have added such negative comments perhaps will understand one day…..lets hope so !

[Ian Royal]

Football is all about opinions.

Perhaps for those of us that grew up with the Hillsborough and Bradford tragedies to name but a few, we can understand. In particular, for the Bradford tragedy, if I recall, Bradford had previously played Reading at home.

Despite the rivalry between teams, we all have one thing in common – we are all football fans.

For me Reading did the right thing on Sunday and those who understood and respected the gesture supported the actions accordingly - well done. Perhaps those who have added such negative comments perhaps will understand one day…..lets hope so !

TBH I bloody hope not as it probably means they'll have had some sort of disaster a bit closer to home.

[creative_username_1]

I'm being a bit of a twat here but i'm guessing more than 96 people die a day from avoidable accidents