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Europe is set to come together in a powerful rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone in a gesture of solidarity over the coronavirus pandemic.

Radio stations across the continent will play the iconic Liverpool FC anthem to show unity and lift spirits as millions of people adjust to the impact of the restrictions put in place to try and limit the spread of the virus on their ways of life.

It is the idea of Dutch radio presenter Sander Hoogendoorn who encouraged colleagues around Europe to join him by playing the same song at the same time to show togetherness during this difficult period.

Glasgow Live report that Hoogendoorn, radio presenter at radio station 3FM, said: "We all have to do what we can to beat this crisis. Things like this just go beyond the boundaries of radio channels.

“That's why I thought: why don't all radio morning shows play the same song at the same time?

“’ You'll Never Walk Alone' would be our choice as it could speak to those doing an incredible job working in health care right now, those who are ill or those who can't leave their house for a while."

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So far, many radio stations in The Netherlands (NPO Radio 1, NPO Radio 2, NPO 3FM, NPO Radio 4, NPO Radio 5, 100%NL, Radio 10, Veronica and others), along with BBC Radio One and BBC Radio 2 in the UK along stations in Luxembourg (Radio 100,7), Germany (WDR 4, SWR3, RBB), Austria (ORF Austria, OE3), Belgium (Stubru, Radio 1, Radio 2, Joe, Willy, Q-music, Klara, Nostalgie, NRJ, MNM), Estonia(Radio 2), Bulgaria (Bulgarian National Radio), Finland (Yle Vega, Yle X3M),Latvia (Latvijas Radio), Slovakia (Radio and Television Slovakia), Romania (Radio Romania) and Spain (Radio Nacional de España) have all said they will support the initiative.

You’ll Never Walk Alone is originally from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Carousel and was popularised by Liverpool Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers, who released it as a single in 1963 and saw it go to number one in the charts for four weeks.

The song itself is poignant plea by the main protagonist in the musical, Billy Bigelow, who after dying in a failed robbery is granted the chance to return to earth for one day in order to redeem himself and reappears to reassure his heartbroken widow Julie that he is always with her.

The custom at Anfield in the 1960s was for the top ten records in the hit parade to be played over the tannoy before kick off and popular legend has it that after the first match when YNWA was played, the Kop started singing “Where’s our song?”

The Anfield DJ at the time bowed their demand to play it and it became a regular choice before kick off at Liverpool matches, as well as being sung more generally by football fans across Britain in the 1970s and 80s and is still popular with many clubs around Europe.

The unified playing of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is due to take place this Friday at 8.45am (CET).