The long-serving Everton chairman died on this day two years ago
Chairman Bill Kenwright of Everton speaks at the 24th Hillsborough Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield on April 15, 2013
Chairman Bill Kenwright of Everton speaks at the 24th Hillsborough Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield on April 15, 2013
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Bill Kenwright’s perfect song choice illustrated Merseyside’s solidarity in the fight for justice after the Hillsborough disaster. The Wavertree-born theatre producer, who died at the age of 78 on this day in 2023, was the chairman of Everton's board from 2004 until his death.
He had been a member of the board since 1989, before his 'True Blue' consortium bought a majority share of 68% of the club for £20m in 1999. He then became the club’s largest stakeholder in 2004 and was instrumental in Everton’s response to the Hillsborough disaster as the Toffees showed support for their neighbours across Stanley Park.
Mr Kenwright delivered a powerful speech at a memorial service at Anfield in April 2013, in which he praised the strength of the families of those who died. He said: "I hope since that day you have known the support of Everton Football Club for you.
"I saw your banner saying, 'You've taken on the wrong city.' Well, you've taken on the wrong mums too, because we all know about Liverpool mums and the way they fight for their kids and their family.
"I don’t know the pain but I appreciate the pain you would have felt on that day. We salute you. The door is always open for you (at Everton)."
The previous year, his choice of song for an Everton tribute became a lasting commemoration of those who lost their lives at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright pictured in 2014(Image: Lynne Cameron/PA Wire)
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Following the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report in September 2012, Everton paid tribute to the victims of the disaster before a home game against Newcastle.
Two children holding hands in the centre circle became another powerful symbol of Merseyside’s fight for justice. In her blue Everton shirt, Beth Garner-Watt, 11, wore number nine while seven-year-old Mikey Clare was Liverpool’s number six.
The names of the 96 people who had, at that time died, at Hillsborough were displayed on the big screen while The Hollies’ song ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ played over the speaker. The song - a perfect illustration of the solidarity shown across the city - was chosen by Mr Kenwright.
In December 2012, the chairman said of it: "Whatever anyone says, there has always been a closeness between Everton and Liverpool.
"Sure, there is a rivalry - we all know they want us to lose and we want them to lose - but there has always been that affinity.
"I was brought up on walking to Anfield or walking to Goodison with my mates in our different coloured scarves, and certainly the bond between Evertonians and Liverpudlians over the Hillsborough debacle, not only the disaster at the time but what happened since, was something everyone on Merseyside railed against.
"We were all euphoric at that moment when we heard that, at last, those families - people like Margaret (Aspinall) and Trevor (Hicks), who had fought and fought and fought - had an opportunity to say, ‘You were wrong, we were right and our families deserve more respect.’
"We talked about Everton playing You’ll Never Walk Alone at Goodison Park for the 96, which I didn’t believe would be inappropriate in any way, shape or form.
"I remember we battled with that one, and then all of a sudden I thought, ‘Hang on a minute - what about He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’.
The tribute at Goodison Park
The tribute at Goodison Park(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
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"The song just seemed to sum up everything about the relationship between Everton and Liverpool."
The song was later re-recorded by a group of musicians and celebrities under the name ‘The Justice Collective’, to raise money for charities associated with the families of the victims. It was released in December 2012 and became that year's Christmas number one.
Following Mr Kenwright's death, a memorial service was held at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral on December 18, 2023. Then-manager Sean Dyche and the club's first team squad attended the service, joined by former Liverpool FC players, politicians and actors.
A host of past Everton players were in attendance, including Tim Cahill, Duncan Ferguson, Graeme Sharp, Leighton Baines, Ian Snodin, James Beattie, Tony Hibbert, Joleon Lescott, Victor Anichebe, Leon Osman and Tom Davies.
Peter Reid, who played 234 times for Everton during the club's 1980s glory days, told the media outside the Cathedral: "My abiding memory (of Mr Kenwright) was when I signed for QPR and he took me for dinner. He said to me 'I'm so envious of you'.
"I said, he's an impresario, he's got a few quid, why (is he jealous?). He said, 'Because you played for Everton'.
"That says it all about him, he was a mad, mad Evertonian. He was a True Blue, towards the end it got a little bit sticky, but he always had the club at heart and he was a genuinely nice geezer."
Reid added: "He started off in the boys' pen at Goodison Park and he ended up being chairman of the club. It doesn't get any better than that - it's a fairy tale."