Hillsborough 20 years on - Steven Gerrard

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has explained how he came to understand the full extent of the Hillsborough disaster. The Red's manager was coaching Real Madrid's youth teams in Spain when the tragedy happened on April 15, 1989, leading to the deaths of 96 Liverpool supporters. Marking the 20th anniversary of the disaster, Benitez said: "In Spain we didn't really realise the real problem initially, but after hearing the stories on the news we then realised the full extent. "But after I became Liverpool manager in 2004 I have received a lot of information from the people and staff at the club, so it has helped me understand just how important it is for the people here." One of those who died in the disaster was Jon-Paul Gilhooley, cousin of Liverpool midfielder and England international Steven Gerrard. "It was a difficult time to know that one of your cousins was at that game and had been crushed," he said. "Seeing his mum and his dad and his close family, the reaction on their faces helped to drive me on to become the player I am today." He added: "It's important that those people get remembered individually, not just as a number, as 96. This club has just fought for justice ever since, and will continue to do so." Defender Jamie Carragher, who along with Gerrard will present Liverpool's Freedom of the City to the bereaved families at the memorial, said: "It is essential that we don't forget that stuff. Obviously, we didn't want it to happen, and are obviously very sorry that it did for friends and family. "But, as it has happened, it's something that we've all got behind together and I think it's probably changed the face of football." He continued: "It's something, I think, we will never forget and we'll always hold a memorial at Anfield every season. It's essential we never forget the people involved and what it means to the club."

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ITN | April 14, 2009

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