<P> Police presence at the previous year's FA Cup semi-final (also between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest and also at Hillsborough Stadium) had been overseen by Chief Superintendent Brian L. Mole . Mole had supervised numerous police deployments at the stadium in the past . In October 1988 a probationary PC in Mole's F division, South Yorkshire was handcuffed, photographed, and stripped by fellow officers in a fake robbery, as a hazing prank . Four officers resigned and seven were disciplined over the incident . Chief Superintendent Mole himself was to be transferred to the Barnsley division for "career development reasons". The transfer was to be done with immediate effect on 27 March 1989 . </P> <P> Meanwhile, Hillsborough was accepted as the FA Cup semi-final venue on 20 March 1989 by the Football Association . The first planning meeting for the semi-final took place on 22 March and was attended by newly promoted Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, not by Mole . No known minutes exist of this meeting . Although Mole could have been assigned the semi-final match's planning despite his transfer, that was not done . This left planning for the semi-final match to Duckenfield, who had never commanded a sell - out football match before, and who had "very little, if any" training or personal experience in how to do so . </P> <P> As is common at domestic matches in England, opposing supporters were segregated . Nottingham Forest supporters were allocated the South Stands and Spion Kop on the east end, with a combined capacity of 29,800, reached by 60 turnstiles spaced along two sides of the ground . Liverpool supporters were allocated the North and West ends (Leppings Lane), holding 24,256 fans, reached by 23 turnstiles from a narrow concourse . Turnstiles numbered 1 to 10, 10 in all, provided access to 9,700 seats in the North Stand; a further 6 turnstiles (numbered 11 to 16) provided access to 4,456 seats in the upper tier of the West Stand . Finally, 7 turnstiles (lettered A to G) provided access to 10,100 standing places in the lower tier of the West Stand . Although Liverpool had more supporters, Nottingham Forest was allocated the larger area, to avoid the approach routes of rival fans crossing . As a result of the stadium layout and segregation policy, turnstiles that would normally have been used to enter the North Stand from the east were off - limits and all Liverpool supporters had to converge on a single entrance at Leppings Lane . On match day, radio and television advised fans without tickets not to attend . Rather than establishing crowd safety as the priority, clubs, local authorities and the police viewed their roles and responsibilities through the' lens of hooliganism' . </P> <P> Three chartered trains transported Liverpool supporters to Sheffield for a match fixture in 1988, but only one such train ran in 1989 . The 350 passengers arrived on the grounds about 2: 20 pm . Many supporters wished to enjoy the day and were in no hurry to enter the stadium too early . Some supporters were delayed by roadworks while crossing the Pennines on the M62 motorway which resulted in minor traffic congestion . Between 2: 30 pm and 2: 40 pm, there was a build - up of supporters outside the turnstiles facing Leppings Lane, eager to enter the stadium before the game began . At 2: 46 pm, the BBC's football commentator John Motson had already noticed the imbalance of distribution of people in the Leppings Lane pens . While rehearsing for the match off - air, he suggested a nearby cameraman look as well . "There's gaps, you know, in parts of the ground . Well, if you look at the Liverpool end, to the right of the goal, there's hardly anybody on those steps...that's it . Look down there ." </P>

Fa cup semi final 1989 liverpool vs nottingham forest