Dad and son walk from Hillsborough to Anfield in memory of 97

Steve Lamb, 60, who works as a quantity surveyor, is a keen adventurer and has taken on physical challenges throughout his life including cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

His son, George Lamb, 29 is also a keen sportsperson and has followed in his father’s footsteps completing marathons and raising money for charity.

Steve, who has had his right hip replaced three times during major surgery over the last 12 years, says he wanted to mark his 60 years by completing 'one last challenge'.

Steve told the Globe: “We’re both lifelong Liverpool fans and for me when I turned 60 this year, I thought there’s got to be one last challenge for me.

“At the time of Hillsborough, I was 28 and with George being at a similar age we thought we could do it as a pilgrimage to Liverpool fans whilst raising some money in memory of the 97.

“We had in our minds that we could do something as father and son as well as a making a great memory for us together.”

Steve and George set off on their 97-mile challenge on Thursday, September 2 starting their walk from Hillsborough stadium.

Steve outside Hillsborough stadium

Steve said: “It was quite emotional. I had never been to Hillsborough before but when we went to pay our respects, it was as though nothing had changed it looked rather decrepit and old.”

Steve and George at Hillsborough memorial

Steve and George then spent the next six days getting through the miles and routes each day.

Steve said: “Some days we’d walk 22 miles other days it would be 18.

“It was quite gruelling tackling the hills in the Peak District in the first few days but the scenery was amazing.

Walking through the peaks

He added: “Whilst we were on route, we met so many wonderful people and were greeted by really positive comments.

“We had our matching t-shirts on that said what we were doing so we managed to collect extra cash from strangers.”

During a break from their walk, Steve and George went to visit a pizza shop for a coffee and were greeted by a Manchester United fan.

“He said to us “I’m a Man United fan but here we go here’s a pizza for you both”.

“The response we received was just incredible!”

Despite his active background, Steve said he wouldn’t have been able to complete the challenge without George by his side.

Getting stuck into the 97 miles

Steve said: “When we got halfway through, I was thinking I’m never going to finish this because I couldn’t walk due to the pain I was in.

“It was so mentally challenging especially for me with my medical history, I had to monitor how my false hip was each day.

“It was sore, but I had that many pains elsewhere it all blended into one but without George’s motivation I wouldn’t have been able to complete it.”

Despite the aches and pains the pair experienced, Steve now says he will cherish the memories made forever.

Steve wearing his Hillsborough to Anfield t-shirt

“It’s something that I’ll cherish forever that we did together as father and son,” he said.

After completing the 97 miles both Steve and George said it felt emotional.

Steve said: “At the end of it all we acknowledged that we had gone and been able to come home and that’s how it should have been for the 96 and their families.

“It was very emotional when we contemplated that side to it.

George and Steve were greeted by four representations from Liverpool Football Club when they arrived at Anfield to complete their challenge.

Steve Lamb and son George Lamb

Steve said: “When we touched the memorial at Anfield we had time on our own to reflect on what we had done and achieved.

“There were all kind of emotions going through our minds in terms of the challenge but also keeping in our hearts and minds the Liverpool fans who didn’t return to their families.

“It made sense to us what we had done.”

Both Steve and George have managed to raise £2,500 for the Liverpool Foundation, a charity which helps under privileged children and young people across Merseyside.