Minute's silence for Iraq soldier

Sergeant Graham Hesketh was the father of two young children

A minute of silence will be held before Everton's FA Cup tie with Blackburn in memory of a soldier killed in Iraq.

Sgt Graham Hesketh, 35, of the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Basra city.

The Everton fan was born in Liverpool and grew up in Runcorn. His body was flown to RAF Brize Norton last week.

A minute's silence will be held before the kick off at Goodison Park at 1500 GMT on Sunday.

Sgt Hesketh became the 127th British soldier to die in Iraq on 28 December when the armoured vehicle he was commanding was targeted.

The patrol was heading towards a British Army base in the centre of Basra. There were no other casualties.

Sgt Hesketh was airlifted to a field hospital but died as a result of his injuries.

He had a seven-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son.

His fiancee, Rebecca Barnes, 25, from North Yorkshire, also serves in the Duke of Lancaster's regiment.