20 May 2010

Football stars unveil Hillsborough memorial

Liverpool FC and England star Jamie Carragher and former Everton player Graeme Sharp unveiled a Hillsborough memorial bench in a Seaforth park.

The bench features a plaque which reads: "In memory of the 96 who tragically lost their lives at Hillsborough."

The bench is also dedicated to Gary Church, a local man who was just 19 when he died in the tragedy 21 years ago.

Gary's family were guests of honour, and hundreds of local people turned out to meet Jamie Carragher and Graeme Sharp at the event in Bowersdale Park. Jamie paid tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives, and went on to talk about how the tragedy had united football fans across the city in their grief.

Karen Staniford, Gary's sister, said: "It was a really emotional day, seeing everyone gathered together like that in the park. We'd like to thank everyone who was involved for making it happen."

The bench was funded by Crosby Housing Association and the Regenda Group, through the Housing Market Renewal Living Through Change programme. Members of the South Seaforth Residents' Association led the project, working with local people to ensure a permanent tribute to the victims of Hillsborough was put in place.

Mandy Elliott, Chief Executive of Crosby Housing Association, said: "The Hillsborough tragedy affected so many people, and it is very important that we are able to work with the community to come up with a fitting tribute to the memory of those who died."