LIVERPOOL supporter Eunan O'Kane said he would allow himself time to reflect after making his first visit to Hillsborough yesterday.

O'Kane admitted the disaster of 1989, when 96 people had lost their lives at the venue, had been uppermost in his thoughts ahead of Cherries' trip to south Yorkshire.

A lifelong Liverpool fan, O'Kane was born the year after the tragedy, which occurred during an FA Cup semi-final between the Reds and Nottingham Forest.

O'Kane told the Daily Echo: “Every Liverpool fan knows about Hillsborough and what happened. It was an experience to come here and to take in the surroundings.

“It was a grave tragedy and the first thing that comes into my head when I hear the word Hillsborough is what happened on that fateful day.

“When I walked on to the pitch before kick-off, I had a good look round and thought it must have been terrible to be here on that day.

“You have to get back into the frame of mind to play and it is something I will reflect on more when I get back home.

"It was good to come here for the first time and I am glad the whole situation is being resolved for the families and friends of all the people who were affected by it.”