Hillsborough disaster memorial plaque to be unveiled before today's Merseyside derby

A memorial plaque marking the 1989 Hillsborough disaster is to be unveiled at Everton's Goodison Park ground before this afternoon's Merseyside football derby between Liverpool and Everton.

The plaque will remember the 96 victims who died at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield on 15 April 1989. The deaths occurred during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The plaque will be unveiled in the Park End Stand at Goodison Park before the 5.30pm kick-off for what will be the 224th derby between the two clubs.

The unveiling is to be carried out by Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright and the chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group Margaret Aspinall, together with other Support Group family members.

In a statement Aspinall said: "This is a really lovely gesture from Everton, paying tribute to the 96 who lost their lives at Hillsborough. I would like to thank Bill and everyone involved, not least the Everton fans who have provided great support to the families over the years."

The suggestion for the plaque came from Everton fans, including Stephen Kelly, whose brother Michael died in the disaster. He said on Everton's website: "As an Evertonian who lost my brother at Hillsborough, I have always been grateful of the support from the blue side of the city. I hope that when Evertonians look at this they will feel proud of the way we've supported our neighbours."

Mr Kenwright paid his own tribute in front of the Kop at Liverpool's Anfield ground in 2013. And on the 25<sup>th anniversary of the disaster last year, Everton manager Roberto Martinez said at Anfield: "Everton remembers – we always will."

Meanwhile, the inquests into the death of the Liverpool fans are continuing in Warrington. The current inquest began in March 2014. The verdict from the first inquest was quashed in December 2012 due to the emergence of new evidence.