Liverpool have announced they will pay tribute to Bill Kenwright and Sir Bobby Charlton in the club’s upcoming home fixtures against Toulouse and Nottingham Forest.
The Reds will use tonight’s Europa League meeting with Toulouse to remember long-serving Everton chairman Kenwright, whose death at the age of 78 was confirmed on Tuesday. Ahead of the 8pm kick-off with the Reds’ French opponents, The Hollies’ ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’ soundtrack will be played inside Anfield as a mark of respect. This song became synonymous with Liverpool’s fight for justice for victims of the Hillsborough disaster after it was played before an Everton home match in September 2012.
Kenwright was a vocal supporter of Liverpool in their campaign for the truth and took the decision for this track to ring out around Goodison Park following the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report.
Players, managers and backroom staff will also wear black armbands during tonight’s European fixture at Anfield, marking another show of respect for a well-respected figure in the city. A similar tribute will follow for Sunday’s home Premier League match with Nottingham Forest, this time in memory of Bobby Charlton. The iconic Manchester United striker passed away on Saturday morning, prompting countless messages of support to the family of the 1966 World Cup winner.
Charlton was a close ally of legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly and, similarly to Kenwright, showed his class on more than one occasion regarding the Hillsborough disaster. A period of applause will take place at Anfield before kick-off against Forest this weekend and black armbands will again be worn.
