Michael Shields, the young Liverpool fan jailed for 15 years in Bulgaria for a crime he insists he didn't commit, may be locked up two thousand miles away but his presence still hangs heavy over his home town of Wavertree, Liverpool. Turn into the road where Michael's family live and Michael's face immediately stares down at you from a giant colour banner hung high on their house protesting his innocence. Below it, another flag reads: 'Michael Howard Please Help Free Shields YNWA'. There are more flags with similar messages laid out on the courtyard beside the steps leading up to the front door. Yellow ribbons - similar to those displayed in the United States in support of Americans being held hostage in Iran in 1981 - are everywhere; tied to lampposts, wrapped around gates all along the street, pinned on doors. Walk through the front door, turn left into the living room and Michael's face is everywhere. A framed picture of the 18-year-old in a green Liverpool away strip looks up at you, surrounded as it is by religious candles and pictures of Jesus Christ. Hanging over the back of the sofa is a white t-shirt with the same picture printed on the front alongside the words, 'Innocent Michael Shields'. A few pictures of Michael and his sisters hang on the walls but they're hard to see right now as cards and letters from all over the globe cover every available inch of space. "We've had cards and letters from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Norway," claims Michael's uncle, Paul. "Only this morning, we had a really sweet letter from a convent of nuns in Liverpool. They said Michael was in their thoughts and that they would continue to pray for him. They signed it, 'You'll Never Walk Alone'." Liverpool Football Club's anthem has become something of a theme tune to the Shields family ever since their son was arrested just days after Liverpool's Champions League victory in Istanbul. Having attended the final, the 18-year-old returned to the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Golden Sands where he was staying with two friends. On May 29, four days after the final, Martin Georgiev, the owner of a local fish and chips shop, was brutally attacked. The following morning, Michael and three other young men were arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack. Michael Shield pleaded his innocence, claiming to have been asleep in his bed at the time of the attack. Whilst Shields stood trial for the assault, another Liverpool man, Graham Sankey, came forward and admitted responsibility for the attack on Mr Georgiev. The written statement from Sankey failed to convince the judge who sentenced Michael to 15 years behind bars. Ten weeks on, Michael's family's fight to clear their son's name continues to the sound of 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. "Aside from Michael's spirit - which is amazing - the most important thing in keeping everyone going has been the Liverpool anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone'," reveals Michael's father, also called Michael. "The words mean so much to us at this time. As Liverpool supporters we've always loved that song but I can honestly say that it's never meant so much to this family as it has over the last 10 weeks. It's become an anthem for this family and we all sing it together. That song at this present moment of time is doing Michael one hell of a favour. The words about going through adversity with hope in your heart are keeping him going." When Liverpool's travelling army of supporters sing the song as their team walk out against CSKA Sofia on Wednesday night, Michael's father hopes they think of his son. "Michael has been treated brilliantly in prison by the authorities," he says, "and for that I say a very big thank you. They're allowing him to watch both matches against Sofia on television. It's a very kind gesture and as he'll be watching, to hear the fans sing that will mean so much to him. "I'd like to plead with all Liverpool fans travelling to Bulgaria this week to behave in a dignified manner. Have a drink, have fun but please, please act as ambassadors for Liverpool Football Club, the city of Liverpool and the Shields family. The best way for the fans travelling over to Sofia to help Michael is to treat the Bulgarian people with the utmost respect. "This is about a football match between two great cities, two great clubs and two brilliant sets of supporters. This match isn't about Michael Shields; it's about Liverpool Football Club. "Let's make it a carnival atmosphere in Sofia and show the whole world what Liverpool supporters are really about. What's happened in Bulgaria in May has tarnished the name of Liverpool fans but this is our chance to show everyone what Liverpool people are all about. Any trouble in Bulgaria will only make Michael's situation worse." When CSKA Sofia travel to Anfield in a fortnight's time, the Shields family intend to offer the hand of friendship to the travelling Bulgarians. "When the Sofia fans travel to Anfield, let's prove that we really are the best and friendliest fans in football," states Michael Snr. "Let's welcome the Bulgarian people to Liverpool with open arms and make them feel really welcome. We want both sets of fans to enjoy themselves in a spirit of friendship." Michael's uncle is even offering to act as a host to some of the Bulgarian fans. "I personally would like to welcome some Bulgarian football fans when they arrive over here for the return leg," he reveals. "On behalf of Michael, I'd like to play host to some fans from Sofia, to share lunch with them on the day of the game. I'd like to make that gesture on behalf of Michael's family. Michael's family are a peace-loving family. They don't hold any malice or bitterness to any single person from Bulgaria." While thousands of Liverpool supporters campaign for Michael's freedom, one person who appears to have been somewhat forgotten in all of this has been Martin Georgiev, a man left brain-damaged by the attack. In Wavertree however, no one has forgotten his terrible plight. "Michael would like to send out his deepest sympathies to Martin Georgiev," insists Michael Snr. "He received terrible injuries and Michael feels for him and his family. He means that from the bottom of his heart. "Michael understands the situation he is in. He understands why he is there but he knows that he is there for the wrong reasons. In spite of this, he feels so sorry for what has happened to Mr Georgiev." "Michael, at this minute, is being a terrific ambassador for the city of Liverpool," adds Paul, "in the way he is holding his courage, the way he has shown thought and feeling for Mr Georgiev, the victim of this terrible assault, and the way he is acting with so much dignity for someone so young. We only hope Liverpool supporters who travel to the match behave in the same way. Don't wear a Free Michael Shields sticker and cause trouble in Bulgaria. The best way to support Michael Shields in Sofia on Wednesday is to enjoy yourself peacefully and support Liverpool Football Club." While Michael Snr takes another phone call from a family friend ringing to find out the latest news on an appeal that was lodged on Monday, Paul reveals how the boy's mother and father are really coping with the ordeal. "Michael's mum and dad are upbeat because Michael in himself is fine," he says. "What's keeping Michael going is the support back home in Liverpool and Michael in turn is keeping his mum and dad going. Michael can't believe that his face has been on the official Liverpool website and in the Echo. He's so embarrassed about all of this. The lad is so humble. He's only a boy of 18 and he's in a terrible, terrible situation. The sight of Michael being strong is keeping his parents going. He's a really amazing boy. "The response of the people of Liverpool has been astounding. Liverpool fans and Everton fans have all been there for the family. We've had so many religious people coming to see us and supporting us. Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Protestants, you name it, people from every faith and race have come together to support this cause. I haven't seen a closeness in Liverpool, in terms of people pulling together to support this family, since Hillsborough in 1989. "Liverpool Football Club themselves have been absolutely first class. Michael eats, sleeps and drinks Liverpool Football Club, as do so many in the family. We understand that it's not for Liverpool to come out and start calling the shots. They're a football club not experts on the judicial system and we understand that. Whatever they have been able to do for us they've done though. We couldn't have asked for better support and I mean that. "If Michael wasn't in prison now, he would be going to the return leg at Anfield. What has happened hasn't diminished this family's love of football and in particular, Liverpool Football Club. They go with heavy hearts but they're still attending the matches to show Liverpool the support that the football club has shown them." While Michael has vowed to remain strong for his mum's sake, there was one moment when he couldn't help but burst into tears. It came when he was informed that Jamie Carragher had dedicated his first goal in six years to him. "When Michael was told what Jamie Carragher had told the website, he was like a child in a sweet shop," claims Michael's father. "Michael has been so embarrassed about his picture being in the newspapers but when he heard that Jamie had dedicated his goal to him, Michael was so overwhelmed it reduced him to tears. To think that a Liverpool player had actually dedicated a goal to him totally blew him away. He was gob smacked to say the least." Before I leave, Michael's uncle pulls a card off the wall to show me. "This card, from someone we don't even know, says everything for me." It reads: "Don't let this thing beat you Keep fighting all the way All your friends are with you And praying night and day Although you might not feel it now They want to make you see A lot of people care for you And one of them is me."

To: Bulgarian/British Governments Michael Shields was today (26th July 2005) jailed for 15 years after a Bulgarian court found him guilty of a crime he did not commit. The 18-year-old was convicted of a charge of attempted murder even though another man confessed to the crime. The court in Varna refused to accept Graham Sankey's statement that he slammed a paving stone onto waiter Martin Georgiev's head at the resort of Golden Sands in May. Michael was returning to Liverpool via Bulgaria after attending the European cup Final in Istanbul. We would urge as many people as possible to sign the petition campaigning for his immediate release as it is clear a tragic miscarriage of justice has taken place. I direct this in particular at the British Government and urge them to continue to lobby their Bulgarian counterparts to secure Michaels' release.

WHAT A LOAD OF LIES ! IT IS AMAZING WHAT MONEY CAN BUY IN THE UK AS WELL AS IN BULGARIA... 14 YEARS DOUBLE IT ... FOR ALL WE CARE ! 95 % OF THE UK POPULATION PS WHY DID THIS BOYS FATHER NOT TELL HIS INTELLECTUALLY CHALENGED SON... DO NOT ACT THE PRAT BY GETTING INTO A LOOSERS FIGHT OUTSIDE A KEBAB SHOP BEFORE GOING ON SUCH ATRIP. BAD PARENTING OR WHAT !!!!

"“ the court is ready to accept any evaluation of its work except insults and unacceptable interference in the independence of the Bulgarian judiciary system,” the statement read." Lets just hope you don't see a similarly worded statement from the Libyan judiciary who recently sentenced five Bulgarian nurses to death after all the recent unaceptable interference in the independence of their judiciary system.

How long has it been since the UK had normal diplomatic relations with DEMOCRATIC peoples republic of Libya !!!

i have just red the ruling from the court about the micheal shields case.i find it hard to beleave that any one can get a fair hearing in any bulgarian court.i no for a fact that no matter wat evidence the lawers acting on behalf of micheal shields can produnce to help clear him will fall on def ears.all the bulgarians care about is getting a conviction and it dont mater if the convited is innocent or guilty.i have a document thats say it dont matter who did the crime some one has to pay.u may think . wat does he no about the bulgarian justice systerm. well as i have been though it i no wat im talking about. on a few acations there was evidence in my favour but was not alould in as evedence.and u talk about exspert witnesses.the exspert witness in my case who they said we drove round turkey did not no how to read a tacho.excample. it was said we drove round turkey and the tachograth proved it.one prob with that tachograth was the date on it. i was arrested in june and the date on the tacho was august.when this was pointed out to the judge she dismissed it but still alould it as evedence against me.the b.b.c came to bulgaria to do a program about me .the filmed me in sofia prison.and interveiwed lots of people and came to the conclution that i was treated very unfairley.im telling u wat ever happends micheal will stay in prison in bulgaria cause.as far as i no not a single person has been found innocent in bulgaria

SANKEY YOU DONE THE CRIME SO BE A MAN AND DO YOUR TIME.. YOUR THE GULTY ONE..... AND MICHEAL SHEILDS IS THE INNOCENT ONE......

hello bulgeria to let you kmow i have just seen the drug dealer graham sankey selling drugs to young children .this is just to let the curupt investigator and so called police officers who let this thug free after less than half an hour interview .i have just learnt this thug is now going to athens probily to hit some poor greek waiter on the head lets hope the greek police care more about justice than money .

hello bulgeria to let you kmow i have just seen the drug dealer graham sankey selling drugs to young children .this is just to let the curupt investigator and so called police officers who let this thug free after less than half an hour interview .i have just learnt this thug is now going to athens probily to hit some poor greek waiter on the head lets hope the greek police care more about justice than money .