Liverpool and Everton supporters paid a moving, joint tribute to James Bulger during Monday evening's Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Sunday marked 30 years since the death of James, who was tragically killed a month shy of his third birthday in a murder that shocked the city. The two boys responsible for this callous act, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, became the youngest convicted murderers in the UK for more than a century.
Eight days after James' murder, on February 20, Liverpool supporters showed their respect prior to a home match against Ipswich Town by holding a minute's silence and holding aloft a banner reading 'RIP JAMES'. The city once again showed tonight James' memory lives on courtesy of a new banner divided in red and blue, accompanied by the following message: '30 years and never forgotten. You'll Never Walk Alone.'
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A minute's applause in the 30th minute of the match was also carried out by supporters inside Anfield to mark the occasion.
Explaining to the the ECHO how putting a plan in place for James ahead of tonight's derby came about, Stuart Fergus - partner of James' mum, Denise, and charity manager of the James Bulger Memorial Trust, said: "We were together last night and saw the picture of the Kop holding the banner and said why didn't we think of this before? We thought it would tie together if we could get that banner in the Kop again. Denise has received so much support from all over the world, but none more so than here in Liverpool. This city holds onto each other and never lets go. That's what being a Scouser is."
In a separate interview with the ECHO released on Sunday, Denise described how she wants her son to be remembered "for the fun, loving little character he was". She said: "He could never keep still like most children are at that age. He loved listening to Michael Jackson with me, and getting him up in the morning and going through his breakfast routine will always be in my mind.
"He would come in the living room and point to the TV to be put on and then he could watch his favourite videos. When I'd ask him what he wanted to eat that morning, the way he used to say 'Frosties' and carry the last part of the word on."
She added the family would not spend the day thinking about what happened on February 12, 30 years ago. Instead, the family will be remembering "little James running around the house constantly giggling and dancing which he loved to do".
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