FANS joined players and staff at Accrington Stanley last night to remember Anthony Cavanagh, the brother of team captain Peter, who died this week after a vicious, drunken attack.

Players observed a minute's silence before Stanley's televised home match with Hereford United.

Club office manager Rob Heys said: "It was something the players had mentioned and the club was only too happy to oblige."

Anthony, 22, a Royal Navy sailor, died after he was the victim of an unprovoked attacked while on a night out in Liverpool city centre.

Stanley's Ian Craney said: "We all feel for Cav and his family.

I Tony and I can't believe what has happened, it is such a shock.

"The whole club hopes Cav is back and playing soon. He is the model professional and has handled himself brilliantly."

Anthony died just a day after his 22nd birthday and Peter said that the family would throw the birthday party he missed out on.

Peter, one of Anthony's four brothers and sisters, said: "We are going to try and give him the send off he deserves. We owe him a birthday party.

"Sometimes we celebrate people when they die and we will try to make this a celebration and make it as happy as we can."

He added: "We are trying not to be too downhearted and remember the 22 great years he gave us.

We want to concentrate on all his best qualities. He was the kind of person you wanted to become your friend.

"He was one of the great people and it's a shame there are not more like him in the world."

l A 21-year-old man from the Wavertree district of Liverpool, who was arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday, has been released on police bail, pending further inquiries.