TRIBUTE TO BEN NOWAK

Everton have confirmed there will be a minute's silence for Royal Marine Ben Nowak before Saturday's Premiership game with Bolton Wanderers.

Everton have confirmed there will be a minute's silence for Royal Marine Ben Nowak before Saturday's Premiership game with Bolton Wanderers.

The 27-year-old Corporal from Speke was killed in Iraq on Sunday.

A lifelong Evertonian, Ben regularly held fitness sessions for young Everton players, even taking one group from the club's academy through two days of commando training in the summer of 2005 as part of a character building exercise.

Corporal Nowak was killed on Remembrance Sunday when his patrol boat was hit by a makeshift bomb.

Ian Ross, Everton's Head of PR and External Affairs, said: "Everyone connected with Everton Football Club has been devastated by the news of Ben's tragic death in Iraq.

"During his time working at the Club with some of our youngsters he proved himself to be very, very popular and every bit as professional as you would expect from a man of his calibre and qualities.

"We feel that a period of silence before Saturday's game against Bolton Wanderers at Goodison will serve as a fitting tribute to a brave man and very loyal Evertonian."