Andrew Devine is to be posthumously awarded the Freedom of Wirral.
Mr Devine died last year as a result of injuries sustained in the Hillsborough tragedy.
His death prompted a wave of tributes and Wirral Council has now announced he will join the other 96 victims of the disaster in receiving the honour.
READ MORE: Parents of 97th Hillsborough victim 'proud' as he is awarded Freedom of Liverpool
Mr Devine died aged 55 in July, just over 32 years after he was seriously injured when the tragedy unfolded at Liverpool’s FA Cup semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest.
Aged 22 at the time, he was given just months to live but defied expectations for decades and continued to attend Liverpool games with the support of carers.
After Liverpool’s Champions League win in 2019, the team bus even made a detour to his home to show him the trophy.
Following Mr Devine’s death, Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello ruled that, like the other 96 innocent men, women and children who lost their lives due to the events of April 15, 1989, Mr Devine had been unlawfully killed.
The verdict was welcomed by his family, who said: “It is with great sadness and a sense of immense loss that we can confirm that Andrew Devine passed away yesterday at the premature age of 55.
“Our collective devastation is overwhelming but so too is the realisation that we were blessed to have had Andrew with us for 32 years since the Hillsborough tragedy.”
Mr Devine’s death prompted emotional tributes at Anfield.
At Liverpool’s opening game of this season, against Burnley, a minute’s silence was held, a mosaic depicting the number 97 was created on The Kop and captain Jordan Henderson laid a wreath dedicated to Mr Devine before kick off.
He has been awarded the Freedom of Liverpool and, at Anfield, 96 Avenue has been renamed 97 Avenue. Mr Devine’s name has also been added to the disaster memorial at the ground and at the club's AXA Training Centre.
Confirming that he will now be awarded the Freedom of Wirral, Wirral Council said: “The 97th victim of the Hillsborough disaster, Andrew Devine, will be posthumously awarded the Freedom of Wirral at a special meeting of the council on Monday, March, 21.
“Andrew sadly passed away in July last year due to complications resulting from the life-changing injuries he received at the Hillsborough stadium disaster in April 1989.
“His name will join the other 96 victims of the tragedy, who were posthumously awarded the Freedom of the Borough on September 15, 2017."
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