Thousands of people are to gather on Merseyside to remember the 96 Liverpool football fans killed in the Hillsborough disaster 20 years ago. The supporters were crushed to death on 15 April 1989 during Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest at the stadium in Sheffield. Victims' families, survivors and players past and present will gather at Anfield for a remembrance service. During the event candles will be lit for each of the victims of the tragedy. Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool's manager at the time, will give a reading and relatives of the victims will be given the freedom of the city by civic leaders. A spokesman for the club said: "We rely upon the eternal flame of the Hillsborough Memorial to burn some light into the darkest night." The service will begin at 1445 BST and a two-minute silence will be held at 1506 BST, the exact time the game was abandoned two decades ago. The same silent memorial will also be observed in the city centres of Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham. Liverpool Football Club said it will open the lower tier of the Centenary Stand to accommodate the huge number of fans wishing to attend. At the same event on the 10th anniversary, 10,000 fans turned out but many more are expected for Wednesday's service. On the day of the tragedy, Liverpool supporters were in the Leppings Lane end of the ground. Liverpool fan Trevor Hicks attended the game with this family. His two daughters Sarah and Victoria were killed in the crush. Since their tragic deaths he has campaigned for justice and is the chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group. He said: "We're sick of it, we wish it had never happened. Similarly, we're sick of all the backsliding, we're sick of all the lying and cheating, the unfulfilled promises from politicians, from organisations. "And really we have no option but to keep on doing what we're doing, because quite frankly a lot of people don't listen to us." South Yorkshire Police, which oversaw the event, opened a large exit gate which forced too many Liverpool fans on to the terrace, leaving the fans inside trapped between people entering the ground and the metal fences at the front of the stand. The families of the victims have kept up a campaign to have the events which led to the deaths fully investigated, despite previous inquiries. They were supported by former striker Ian Rush, who was in the Liverpool team at Hillsborough. He said: "I will be at Anfield to pay my respects to the 96 Liverpool fans who went to support their team and never came home, and I will also be there to show my support for the families and survivors of this terrible tragedy. "The build-up to this anniversary has brought back some really bad memories which have made my conviction even stronger that the fight for justice must go on. "The families deserve justice and I hope that one day they will finally get it." Davy Moyes, manager of Everton said;"...it is only a game we play and you go to matches wearing your colours. "I remember doing that with my dad as a young boy, a lot of parents take their children to games. "But that time they did not come home, and that is something that should never have been allowed to happen. Let's just hope that it never does again."   

If people can keep an eye on their watch and take a minute at 15.06 BST (21.06 in Th??) and remember the 96 that needlessly lost their lives and their families who are still fighting for justice...

You'll Never Walk Alone

RIP God Bless

A sad day in English football.

R.I.P

Such a sad day and hard to believe it was 20 years ago.....May the victims RIP and the families find the strength to continue their fight for justice as you mention.

Just read a large article in the german newspaper about it - good god, that was a sad day for football. And still there are senseless fences in european stadiums..

news to me

but sad

peace to them i hope

I think it was Ian Rush from an earlier video that said how do you come to terms with 96 people who went to watch a football match didn?t go home.

The videos from the last few days are very moving. Players, fans and families of those died.

For all the money, the fame, the transfer fees, the glamour, football is still the game of the ordinary man. Anfield was full of stars and ordinary men and women sharing the same grief. Liverpool will never forget and through tragedy comes companionship.

All Liverpool supporters lost friends at Hillsborough and these memorials show a true bond in something that is far more than a football team.

We will not forget and you will never walk alone

Thanks for the journal Ian

Never forget.

I can still remember the shocking events from that day....