[lfc-news] Hundreds pay respects to a football legend - Echo

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/2_TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Liverpool Echo, 17 Nov 2004
Hundreds pay respects to a football legend
By Paddy Shennan, Liverpool Echo

MOURNERS gathered in their hundreds today for the funeral of former
Liverpool FC and England captain Emlyn Hughes.

Family, friends, former teammates and fans attended Sheffield cathedral, to
pay tribute to a man who made 657 appearances for the Reds between 1967 and
1979.

Emlyn, who was married to Barbara and had two children, Emma and Emlyn
junior, lost his battle with cancer eight days ago.

He had been diagnosed with a brain tumour 15 months ago and died with his
family around him at his home in Dore on the outskirts of Sheffield.

Dean of Sheffield the Very Reverend Peter Bradley said: "The footballing
histories of Liverpool and Sheffield are already intertwined, and it is a
special honour for us to mark the passing of a man who depicted the spirit
of Liverpool, a man who was so well known and well loved."

Today's service was described as a thanksgiving for Emlyn's life and was
open to the public, with loudspeakers to relay the ceremony to people outside.

The family requested that, at the end of the service as the coffin was
being carried out, the cathedral choir was to sing You'll Never Walk Alone,
which was also played at the end of the funeral service for broadcaster
John Peel last Friday.

During the service, John Toshack, the new manager of Wales, was to pay
tribute to his former Anfield colleague.

Hymns chosen were Amazing Grace, the favourite of the great Bill Shankly
who signed Emlyn from Blackpool, Abide With Me, which has been sung before
many cup finals by Liverpool fans, and I Vow To Thee My Country,
acknowledging Emlyn's days as captain of the England football team, for
which he played 62 times.

The first fan arrived at the cathedral at 9am, three hours before the
service was due to begin.

Lifelong Liverpudlian Kevin Rimmer, 45, from Old Swan, said: "Emlyn Hughes
was one of the best players we have ever had. I have never seen anyone with
such power - not even Steve Gerrard. I just couldn't miss being here today."

The funeral was to include a reading from the Reverend Bill Bygroves,
chaplain of Liverpool FC, who was offering condolences from the club and fans.

Liverpool's official party was led by chairman David Moores and chief
executive Rick Parry, along with Emlyn's former team mates Brian Hall and
Ron Yeats.

After the service, the cortege was due to travel to Hutcliffe Wood
crematorium for a private family cremation.

* DOCTORS who tried to save Emlyn Hughes's life will benefit from sales of
the Liverpool ECHO supplement commemorating the Liverpool legend.

A tenth of all proceeds made from this special memorial edition will go to
the charity appeal that bears his name.

ECHO readers can also get involved in the charity push by sending cheques
to the newspaper. We will collect all funds contributed and present them to
Emlyn's widow Barbara.

The Emlyn Hughes Cancer Appeal was set up to increase the oncology
department at Sheffield's Weston Park hospital.

Send cheques c/o Jon Tunney, Newsroom, Liverpool ECHO, PO Box 48, Old Hall
Street, Liverpool L69 3EB.

They should be made payable to The Emlyn Hughes Cancer Appeal. The charity
number is 1039885.


Unsubscribe: lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.lfc-list.org.uk/

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lfc-news/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/