LFCPoland.com proudly presents the next interview with Dominic Williams, the initiator of Hillsborough - Anfield Run, as a part of our media cooperation with Dom's action. So fasten your seatbelts and here we go!

-----

December is a special time of magic, gifts and surprises. Recently I received a late gift which was a mail from Dominic Williams. We mentioned about him at our website couple weeks ago. Just for the reminder: Dominic is an initiator of the great idea which is – without a doubt – a Hillsborough – Anfield Run. During the 70-mile run Dominic and his friends want to raise the funds for the Hillsborough Disaster famielies. Currently Dom is trying to get involved as many people to support, help and donate and our website established a contact with him. Couple of weeks ago, for the first time in Polish LFC media, we did an interview in which you could read a little more about the action (first Dominic’s interview for LFCPoland.com – just click).

However I didn’t expect the invitation for the meeting and it was a big Sundy surprise for me not only because of the cooperation between our portal and Hillsborough – Anfield Run – which will help both of us – but first of all because I faced a possibility of meeting this great person.

I booked the tickets from Crawley to London for next day, checked my GPS and here we go! Master is ready to go to London at the – surprisingly – quite warm and sunny afternoon. When I arrived to London, bad luck hit me: my GPS refused to work properly, so I had to trust my traveler ‘s instincts and local community. But I think “local” is too much to say. Before I found the person, who explained me, how to get from Victoria Station to the place of my meeting with Dominic, I asked around fifteen peope. The global village, isn’t it?

Finally I found the place. I shook hands with Dominic and Conor Brennan – who is responsible for PR and media in Dominic’s team and we could start to talk about the run seasoned with a pint of Guinness.

Of course the first question I asked was about Dominic’s condition and training. Right now it’s not so bad. Dom runs more and more every day with better times.

- Every day my conditions is improving – said Dominic.

- For the first time I ran around 7 miles and I tried to correct the time. Last Saturday I did 20 miles in 2 hours and 29 minutes. Maybe it’s not the best achievement, but I’m happy with that anyway. The most important thing is to be ready at April.

- Of course we would like to get the best possible time (Dominic’s team will start the run from Hillsborough on April 12, they are planning to finish it at Anfield on April 14, just before the kick-off against Fulham – ed.), but our goal is to teach the community about this tragedy – added Conor.

- We want the whole British society to get known more about the Hillsborough and the real truth, but, for now, it’s too early. We could go to the BBS, The Times and The Independent, but it doesn’t make sense now. The society focuses around Hillsborough around April, after the anniversary UK, excepting Liverpool, forgets about it. What is the sense if we will talk about the run if, for example, Man United fan will read it and forgets about it. Perhaps he will be on the run’s route with the “We remember” sign, but only when we remember about it just before the anniversary.

- For now we are focusing on the Merseyside. We did an interview in BBC Radio Merseyside. We are developing also our Facebook and Twitter accounts to catch the attention of local community. We had one mention in The Telegraph, but it’s enough info for nation for now.

- Conor has an idea to focus attention of the UK society after the New Year. We have connections with The Times, Guardian, The Telegraph and The Independent, they know, what we are going to do. In March we will drop a big media bomb to realize people about our campaign.

Conor admits that everything is in the hands of people. Everything depends from Liverpool fans that they can pass  the info about the run to their friends, families and colleagues. There is no problem to spend million of pounds for a media campaign, but Dominic and Conor don’t have money for it. They admit that this is a closed minority and in more Liverpudlians will know about the run, it’s better for the action.

- We’re doing what we can and we are trying to make sure it is done well. We are very pleased about your support in Poland, it’s wonderful to hear it – said Dominic. – But now we have to focus on our training, because we have to reach Anfield – smiled Dom.

The main task of Hillsborough – Anfield Run is to raise the funds for Hillsborough families. Conor admitted that Hillsborough Justice Campaign and Hillsborough Family Supporting Group supported this kind of action for the first time.

- When I mentioned about the run for the first time, they didn’t know who we are. But after the few conversations we managed to convince them about the sense of our action – said Conor.

- But as we said, beside the raising the funds, we want to educate people – added Dom. – As a massive Liverpool supporter I hate when people see no difference between the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies.

- The problem at Hillsborough were a terrible ticketing and the dreadful police. It’s incredible conspiracy and silence as well which is was completely unnecessary. This is the difference between April 15, 1989 and Heysel.

- We want to make people aware of the difference between these two tragedies – continued Conor. – We want the final justice. How is it possible, that victims’ families received 2,500 pounds of compensation. That’s nothing if you can compare it with the pain they still have to survive. And if we will compare it with the police salaries – 300 000 pounds – and they did absolutely nothing… It’s shocking.

After the Hillsborough tragedy the police statements were changed many times and the Officer Duckenfield could use the close-ups fro m CCTV. This didn’t happen.

- Why he didn’t use it? – Dom and Conor asked rhetorically. – We won’t find an answer for this question. The most embarrassing fact is that after the tragedy officer Duckenfield, at the age of 45 these times, retired and got fully-paid pension. Was it honourable? Certainly not.

- You all know who Jon Paul Gillhooley was. Can you imagine that this 10-year-old Steven Gerrard’s cousin after his death was tested to detect traces of alcohol in his blood. Every victim was tested, because everybody wants to blame the Liverpool fans. Taylor’s report didn’t mention about this, like about many other important things  - and that’s what is the justice all about – to show the real truth about April 15, 1989.

The important thing is also to clear the names of the victims after all lies in media after the tragedy in Sheffield. This year is a crucial point in the fight because of the MP Steve Rotheram’s speech in House of Commons few weeks ago.

- It’s one of those speeches, whci is impossible to pass by and it’s a massive turn-back point in our fight – said Dominic. – It was very emotional. Rotheram got a big applause for it. It was something beautiful.

- And we want to do exactly the same. We want to help Hillsborough families and if we can do it using our passion for run, so why not to do it? We came too far to give up and certainly it won’t be our last word.

- We also would like to thank all Liverpool fans for their support. You have to know that it is very important for us. We are very pleased that you, Polish fans are so interested in Hillsborough – Anfield Run. We will look for you on the route and until now fingers crossed for us! – ended Dominic.

After this very exciting conversation I wished Dominic and his team all the best. Stay tuned with LFCPoland.com and we will inform you as the fastest source about the further actions with Hillsborough – Anfield Run.

Dominic, we are with you! Fingers crossed!