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Hillsborough Anniversary: Church Bells To Toll 96 Times In Liverpool

Liverpool Ready To Remember The 96 At Hillsborough Memorial Service
The Huffington Post UK
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A silence will be observed across Liverpool and church bells will toll 96 times at 3.06pm, the exact time a quarter of a century ago that Liverpool and Nottingham Forest's FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough was abandoned.

Liverpool's first-team squad will be in attendance at Anfield for the annual memorial service 25 years on from the disaster, as the nation remembers the 96 supporters who lost thier lives in Sheffield in 1989.

Ninety-six Liverpool supporters supporters were killed at the Reds' FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in Sheffield in 1989.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will give a reading at the service, as will Everton coach Roberto Martínez on what promises to be a poignant day on Merseyside.

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Liverpool paid tribute to the 96 at Anfield on Sunday

With a first league championship since 1990 within their grasp, it proves to be a testing week for Liverpool ahead of the weekend's Barclays Premier League fixture at Norwich City.

A number of tributes were held prior to Sunday's seminal victory against Manchester City, and captain Steven Gerrard, whose 10-year-old cousin Jon-Paul Gilhooley was the youngest of the 96 victims, was in tears after his side's 3-2 win over one of their main title rivals.

Gerrard said: "The reason I was so emotional was because of when this game fell. It wasn't just because it was a big match in our season, it was because this week is always about more than football for everyone associated with Liverpool. It's emotional for so many people.

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A view of floral tributes laid in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster

"I'm speaking on behalf of everyone when I say the win was dedicated to the victims and families of Hillsborough. All the squad will be present at the service to pay our respects as we should."

During the service, the number "96" will be laid out on the pitch in large figures made up of scarves donated by fans of all clubs and from various sporting institutions.

Kenny Dalglish, manager at the time of the disaster, assisted in this initiative by writing to all 92 Football League clubs as well as the English, Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh national teams for support.

Hillsborough tributes
Soccer - Sky Bet Championship - Sheffield Wednesday v Blackburn Rovers - Hillsborough(01 of17)
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96 blue seats at the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough are replaced by 96 white seats to represent the 96 Liverpool fans who died at the Hillsborough disaster, during the Sky Bet Championship match at Hillsborough, Sheffield. (credit:PA)
Sunderland v Everton - Premier League(02 of17)
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SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: A floral wreath is laid on the pitch to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Everton at Stadium of Light on April 12, 2014 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Queens Park Rangers v Nottingham Forest - Sky Bet Championship(03 of17)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Players stand for a minutes silence for the victims of the Hillsborough disaster ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match between Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest at Loftus Road on April 12, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Luton Town v Braintree Town - Skrill Conference Premier(04 of17)
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LUTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Players pause for a minute's silence to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy, during the Skrill Conference Premier match between Luton Town and Braintree Town at Kenilworth Road on April 12, 2014 in Luton, England. (Photo by Tim Keeton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Luton Town v Braintree Town - Skrill Conference Premier(05 of17)
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LUTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Players pause for a minute's silence to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy, during the Skrill Conference Premier match between Luton Town and Braintree Town at Kenilworth Road on April 12, 2014 in Luton, England. (Photo by Tim Keeton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sunderland v Everton - Premier League(06 of17)
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SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Everton observe a minute's silence to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Everton at Stadium of Light on April 12, 2014 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Paul Thomas/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Fulham v Norwich City - Premier League(07 of17)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Fans display a banner to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and Norwich City at Craven Cottage on April 12, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Southampton v Cardiff City - Premier League(08 of17)
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Both teams observe a minute's silence to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Cardiff City at St Mary's Stadium on April 12, 2014 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League(09 of17)
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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: The West Bromwich players observe a minute's silence to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur at The Hawthorns on April 12, 2014 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa - Premier League(10 of17)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Players, fans and officials observe a minute's silence to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa at Selhurst Park on April 12, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Stoke City v Newcastle United - Britannia Stadium(11 of17)
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A minutes silence is observed prior to kick off to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster during the Barclays Premier League match at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke On Trent. (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Cup - Semi Final - Wigan Athletic v Arsenal - Wembley Stadium(12 of17)
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96 seats that are being left empty as a tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans that lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster, are seen before the FA Cup Semi Final match at Wembley Stadium, London. (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Cup - Semi Final - Wigan Athletic v Arsenal - Wembley Stadium(13 of17)
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96 seats that are being left empty as a tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans that lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster, are seen before the FA Cup Semi Final match at Wembley Stadium, London. (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Cup - Semi Final - Wigan Athletic v Arsenal - Wembley Stadium(14 of17)
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96 seats that are being left empty as a tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans that lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster, are seen before the FA Cup Semi Final match at Wembley Stadium, London. (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Cup - Semi Final - Wigan Athletic v Arsenal - Wembley Stadium(15 of17)
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96 seats that are being left empty as a tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans that lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster, are seen before the FA Cup Semi Final match at Wembley Stadium, London. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sky Bet League Two - Mansfield Town v Rochdale - Field Mill(16 of17)
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Mansfield Town perform a minutes silence in memory of the Hillsborough disaster (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Fulham v Norwich City - Craven Cottage(17 of17)
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The two teams observe a minute's silence as they remember those who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster (credit:PA)

The inspiration for the idea came from the 'mile of scarves' formed between Anfield and Goodison Park a week after the disaster in commemoration in 1989. More than 4,000 scarves were tied together.

Next week, a celebration of the lives of the 96 victims is planned with a charity match in support of the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

A team of UK and Irish Liverpool legends, managed by Dalglish, will take on a side of international Reds greats, under the charge of Gérard Houllier.

The commemorations come a fortnight after fresh inquests into the deaths of the 96 victims opened in Warrington.

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