Download the document (7.79 MB) - Hillsborough Independent Panel

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H M Webster Esq LLB
Head of Department
Sheffield City Council
Administration & Legal Department
To%m Hall
Sheffield Sl 2HH
For the personal and urbent attention of
Mr John Derricott
Dear Sir
HILLSBOROUGH FOOTBALL GROUND - THE NORTH WEST TEKRACE
11
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2._ C-4". /[ 23 November 1989
As you are aware, on the evening of 21 November 1989 Sheffield Wednesday played
Sheffield United at the Hillsborough Stadium. As a contingency the north west
terrace was taken into use to accommodate the Sheffield United fans. The present
capacity of this terrace is 2300 but, in the view of the officer in charge on the
night - Chief Superintendent Nesblt ’F’ Division - that number cannot be safely
accommodated. Approximately five minutes before the Pdch-off there were 200/300
people standing in the gangways and at the bottom of the stairwells, being unable
to gain access into this terrace. Having examined the situation, Chief
Superintendent Nesblt concluded that this number of people could not be safely
accommodated within the terraced area and made pleas to have them transferred to
another part of the ground. Whilst this exercise was being carried out it was
seen that a further 100/150 spectators were still outside in Lepplngs Lane
waiting to be admitted. These people, too, were accommodated in the north stand.
It will be seen that around 450 people could not be accommodated and this was at
a time when tickets had been sold which should have ensured that the capacity
would not have been exceeded.
It is the view of Chief Superintendent Nesbit that the capacity for this north
west terrace should be reduced, and he has held preliminary discussions with the
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club Secretary, Mr Graham Mackrell, who has agreed
that a realistic figure should be 1500 maximum.
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