European Cup finals tend to provide football fans with some of their finest memories, whether it be their side involved, a team they perhaps have a soft spot for, or even if it is simply the occasion itself which makes it a contest to remember. The 1985 final has since gone down in history for all the wrong reasons, though, on a day when the image of English football supporters - and hooliganism in general - reached an all-time low.
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Thirty-nine spectators lost their lives, with a further 600 left badly injured as a result of the incident prior to kickoff at Heysel, which saw Liverpool and Juventus fans collide. It was around an hour before the match was due to get underway in the Belgium capital, in a much-anticipated clash between two heavyweights of the game, when bottles and stones were exchanged between the two sets of supporters.
With just chain-link fencing to keep them apart, a group of Liverpool followers made their way into the Juventus enclosure, leading to many retreating as far back as possible. However, a retaining wall used as a divide collapsed under the pressure of those looking to escape from the perpetrators.
Among those to lose their lives at Heysel, on this day 30 years ago, were 32 Juventus fans and a further seven neutrals. The large majority of that 39 was made up of Italians, while four Belgians, two French citizens and a man from Northern Ireland were also caught up in the dark scenes.
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At the other end of the famous ground, which was soon rebuilt and now referred to as Stade Roi Baudouin, Juve fans began rioting with police officers for over two hours, unaware of exactly what had unravelled. The match went on as planned, with the Bianconeri winning 1-0 thanks to Michel Platini's second-half penalty.
The victory proved historic in a different sense, also, with Juventus that year becoming the first - and so far only - club to win all three major UEFA tournaments. However, events off the field very much took precedence, with the fallout from the scenes witnessed inside Heysel having a major impact on British football as a whole.
Governing body UEFA banned British clubs from competing in Europe indefinitely, a hiatus that was eventually called to a halt five seasons later, while Liverpool were expelled for a further three years (later reduced to one). Police went on to arrest 27 people for their part in the disaster; 14 of whom were given three-year prison sentences. Of those 14 convicted of manslaughter, each was of a Liverpool contingent.
Some blame supporters of the Italian club for instigating the violence by hurling stones, others suggest that a lack of efficient policing was ultimately at fault for the loss of so many lives. Claims were also put forward that the bad condition of the stadium itself and lacklustre organisation was at the forefront of the events which fast spiralled into tragedy in Brussels.
No matter which way you look at it, 29 May, 1985 will go down as one of the bleakest days in the history of the sport. A plaque to remember those who perished was unveiled at Anfield to mark the 25th anniversary in 2010, ensuring that this fateful day in history will never be forgotten.
