A NEW plaque was unveiled as part of a memorial service marking a poignant year in the history of Bolton Wanderers.

The annual service held at the Macron Stadium was this year given added meaning, following the death of former club chairman Phil Gartside, as well as 2016 marking 70 years since the Burnden Disaster, which claimed the lives of 33 football fans.

About 300 people attended the service, which began with the unveiling of the new plaque, which was placed near the Nat Lofthouse statue outside the ground.

The plaque contains the names of all 33 people who died during the disaster, as well as an inscription declaring that they will never be forgotten.

It will serve as a memorial at Wanderers' home, in addition to the tribute in the Asda Burnden supermarket, the site of the club's former ground.

The Last Post was played by musicians from the band of the 103 Regiment Royal Artillery, with prayers being said and a minute's silence being observed.

The service then moved inside to the stadium's Platinum Suite, where the disaster was remembered through a monologue entitled Look After Your Brother, written by playwright and Wanderers fan Martin Thomasson and performed by an actor.

The names of the 33 who died in the disaster, which occurred before an FA Cup Semi Final match between Wanderers and Stoke City in March 1946, were read out alongside the names of loved ones with associations to the club who have died.

One of those was Phil Gartside, the club's former chairman who died in February aged 63, after a short battle with cancer.

Wanderers' annual memorial service offered another occasion to remember the life of Mr Gartside, following a public service held at Bolton Parish Church in March, with senior club officials including new club CEO Dean Holdsworth.

Mr Gartside's friend and former club vice chairman Brett Warburton was one of those present at the service, to remember his former colleague.

Club chaplain Phil Mason, who led the memorial service, said: "It was a very positive service, and an opportunity for people to remember not just those who died in the Burnden Disaster, but other loved ones associated with the club.

"It was very poignant, and I referred to the fact that we are part of a small family clubs who have experienced such disasters.

"The service also gave us the opportunity to remember Phil, who gave so much to the club."