Boss Jim Magilton has paid his respects to the victims of the Hillsborough Disaster on the 19th anniversary of one of football's most tragic days. Magilton, then a Liverpool trainee, was at the FA Cup semi-final between the Reds and Nottingham Forest as 96 fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane End terrace.

The Town manager told the club site: "April 15th, 1989 is a day that I will never forget. It's a day that football in this country is unlikely to forget either, nor should it.

"I was there at Hillsborough for what should have been a glorious occasion. Instead it became a tragic one. The biggest in our game.

"I went to the game looking forward to seeing two attack-minded sides going at each other full pelt for a place at Wembley, with the Liverpool players and fans hoping to face Everton in a Merseyside derby at the twin towers.

"I didn't go to the game to see people die in front of my eyes and the memories of that afternoon will live with me forever.

"I couldn't believe the way things unfolded that day and it's a horrendous thought to think that 96 fans went to a football match that Saturday and didn't return to their families.

"Those days after the tragedy were very difficult for everyone in the city of Liverpool, very emotional times with memorial services almost by the day.

"As a club, we all pulled together and the manager, Kenny Dalglish, made it clear that the players had a part to play in helping in whatever way we could.

"For most of us that meant attending funerals and memorial services and I went to Belfast where the Liverpool Supporters' Club from my home city had arranged a service to remember those who perished at Hillsborough.

"They were dark, dark days and I can remember hearing some of the first team players talking about never playing football again. It was the fans that got those players back on the pitch.

"Around the country today football will be paying its respects to those supporters who died that terrible day. My thoughts go out to the families of those who never came back from Hillsborough."

Photo: Action Images

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