Both Liverpool and Everton have or will pay tribute to victims of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster as the 35th anniversary approaches.
On April 15 1989, 97 Liverpool supporters were unlawfully killed in the Hillsborough stadium disaster.
Before their 1-0 victory over Burnley, Everton club ambassadors Ian Snodin and Graham Stuart joined West Derby MP Ian Byrne and Everton Fan Advisory Board Chair Dave Kelly to lay floral tributes at Goodison’s Hillsborough memorial plaque, located outside the stadium’s Sir Philip Carter Park End Stand.
They were joined by Evertonian Steven Kelly, who lost his older brother Michael at Hillsborough.
Steven is a member of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign and was a key figure in Goodison’s memorial plaque being installed in 2015.
Ahead of our closest home fixture to the 35th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy, we paid our respects to the 97 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives. 💙❤️
— Everton (@Everton) April 8, 2024
Ahead of Liverpool FC Women’s home fixture against Manchester City on Saturday, a period of silence will be held and the players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect.
The tributes will continue at the Liverpool’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Sunday April 14 at Anfield.
A mosaic will be displayed on the Kop prior to kick-off and a commemorative edition of the matchday programme will be available.
Liverpool academy players will take part in a range of events to mark the anniversary, including educational sessions and the annual Hillsborough Anniversary Football Tournament held in Kirkby, alongside visiting teams from Everton, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday.
On Monday April 15, players and staff across the club will fall silent at 3.06pm to observe a minute of silence in memory of the 97 men, women and children who lost their lives.
Support for those affected by the Hillsborough disaster is available from the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance.
(Featured image by Phil Nash from Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)
