Finding Eric - a Hillsborough story

Liverpool fan Cathy Long would love to be re-united with a Spurs fan who offered a moment of light in the aftermath of the Hillsborough Disaster of 15th April 1989.

As football fans across the country unite to remember those who died, Cathy, a Season Ticket Holder on the famous Kop, recalls the day she bumped into Eric, who travelled to Anfield to pay his respects.

Cathy, now Head of Supporter Services at the Premier League, told us about an incredible turn of fate that means she still thinks about that brief encounter to this day.

Here is the story in her own words - and the big question - can we find Eric?

"I was at Anfield, as were so many others, to tie my scarf on the Kop in memory of the friends we'd lost and to show support for those who had survived.

"A guy came over to say hello and apologised for the fact that he was tying on a new scarf, freshly bought from the LFC shop.

"He felt it didn't mean as much as our old, worn, familiar scarves but explained that he was a Spurs fan and so he had to buy one. His name was Eric and he told us that being a Spurs fan meant he understood what had happened.

"My friend and I told him that this meant a lot to us, just the fact that he had come all the way to Anfield and bought a scarf. I'm pretty sure now that he said he was in North Wales for a meeting at the time and took the opportunity to travel over.

"He decided to write a message on the scarf to personalise it.

"In the months afterwards, I began volunteering in the Hillsborough Appeal shop on a Saturday.

"LFC would send over enormous sacks of scarves and other items from Anfield to the shop for us to sell to raise money for the appeal.

"We'd upturn them and thousands of items would fall on the floor for us to sort out.

"The first scarf I picked out one day wound itself around my wrist and I couldn't shake it off.

"I still have it and it is one of my most prized possessions. I won't even wear it to a match in case I lose it!

"I have no doubt that this is the same scarf that Eric left as I instantly recognised the inscription. I've felt a bond with Spurs fans since the day I found it.

"It always seemed so extraordinary as there were tens or even hundreds of thousands of scarves left by fans from all over the world. I don't know what the odds were of that happening and I've often wondered what Eric is doing now."

Do you know Eric? Feel free to email us at this address - contactus@tottenhamhotspur.com

Fans showed their support in the weeks that followed Hillsborough with displays of scarves at stadiums across the world – including here at White Hart Lane - and Liverpool are encouraging sports fans to join hundreds of others from around the world in donating a scarf to remember supporters who lost their lives. More details here...

A reminder that Saturday’s Premier League fixture at West Brom will kick-off seven minutes later than originally scheduled at 3.07pm as a mark of respect to the fans who lost their lives, on the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster - full story...