Hillsborough Memorial service to be held at Anfield for final time this year

The event will coincide with the expected conclusion of the inquest into the deaths of the 96 Liverpool fans

The Kop stand during the memorial service marking the 26th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster, at Anfield Stadium (GETTY IMAGES)

Anfield will host the Hillsborough Memorial service for the final time this year.

The event, marking the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans at an FA Cup semi-final, has been held at the stadium most years since the disaster in 1989.

The timing coincides with the conclusion of the long battled for inquest into how the supporters lost their lives. After the original verdicts from a 1991 inquest were quashed at the High Court the current hearing began in March 2014 and heard its final day of evidence earlier this week.

The unanimously agreed decision was taken by the Hillsborough Family Support Group who were responsible for organising the service.

Chair of the HFSG, Margaret Aspinall, said: “The 96 will never be forgotten. It is likely that the inquests will be concluded before the anniversary so this final memorial service will provide the families with some closure.

“We hope that the public and fans respect the decision of the HFSG and will continue to remember the 96 in their own perhaps more private way.”

Anfield quickly become the focus of grief on Merseyside after the disaster and the high-profile services at the stadium helped ensure the disaster did not slip from public conciousness and arguably assisted the families of the victims in their campaign for a fresh inquest.

Coroner Sir John Goldring is scheduled to begin three weeks of summing up later this month, with the jury of seven women and three men due to begin deliberations on 22 February. It is hoped a conclusion will be reached prior to the final service at Anfield, which will be held on Friday 15 April.