Fans in minute's silence as mark of respect

English football is to mark the anniversary of 11 September by holding a minute's silence before matches next Wednesday.

Offices, schools and workplaces around the country will stop at 1.46pm - the time the first hijacked plane hit the World Trade Center in New York - to remember the thousands who lost their lives in the terror attacks.

But with a busy programme of Premiership and Worthington Cup fixtures scheduled for that evening, players and fans will also be asked to again pay their respects. The Premier League's secretary Mike Foster last night sent a directive to all clubs with home fixtures asking them to observe a minute's silence before kick off.

A similar message was sent out by the Football League to those with home Worthington Cup first round ties.

In addition clubs have been told they are free to stage special ceremonies to mark the date if they feel they are appropriate. A spokesman for the Premier League said: "Given that there is a full fixture programme on the anniversary we feel it is appropriate that football fans are given the opportunity to pay their respects to those who lost their lives that day."

Fulham are at home to Tottenham on 11 September while West Ham entertain West Bromwich Albion. But none of London's Nationwide League clubs are in action in the Worthington Cup that night.