Hillsborough: Everton's Tribute To Victims

Everton Football Club has held an emotional tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster in a show of solidarity with local rivals Liverpool.

A minute's applause took place before Monday night's Premier League clash with Newcastle United.

Two mascots were seen on the pitch wearing an Everton number nine shirt and a Liverpool top with the number six.

And all of the match ball boys wore tops bearing the number 96 - the number of fans who died in the tragedy in 1989.

The names of all victims of the disaster were then shown on the Goodison Park television screen accompanied by The Hollies' song He Ain't Heavy ... He's My Brother.

Everton manager David Moyes, in his programme notes, had summed up the feeling on Merseyside by writing: "I and everyone at Everton stands alongside the Hillsborough families.

"I am a football supporter and a father and I applaud the families who continued to fight for the ones they loved.

"The outcome (of the findings of the independent panel) was nothing short of disgraceful.

"We have all been brought up to believe and trust in authority ... the authorities who were responsible for the safety of supporters that day let themselves down."

The tribute came after the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel were published last week.

Its report revealed a cover-up by the authorities, which attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy from the police to the victims.

The report also concluded that 41 of the 96 lives lost during the crush at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium on April 15, 1989, could have been saved.