Bert Williams: Stars gather to remember Wolves legend
[gallery] The footballing world has paid its last respects to Wolves and England legend Bert Williams.
Following a private funeral in his home town of Shifnal on Friday, hundreds of fans also paid tribute to the goalkeeping hero at a special service.
Mourners gathered at St Peter's Collegiate Church, in Wolverhampton, to remember Bert, who died at the age of 93.
England World Cup winner Gordon Banks joined Wolves greats Ron Flowers and Malcolm Finlayson to pay tribute to one of the club's finest ever goalkeepers.
Adrian Bevington, chief executive of Club England and FA vice president Marvyn Leggett also attended to represent the Football Association.
Bert began his career at Walsall before playing 420 times for Wolves. He also won 24 England caps.
England boss Roy Hodgson had also wanted to attend today's service but had a prior, private engagement.
From Wolves, chief executive Jez Moxey, director John Gough, club secretary Richard Skirrow and vice-president Baroness Heyhoe-Flint OBE, DL also attended.
Mourners entered the church to the song 'Je ne regrette rien' ahead of first hymn Abide With Me.
Bert Williams's family today told how they have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and acclaim for the legendary Wolves goalkeeper.
After winning the FA Cup in 1949, Mr Williams was a key figure in the team which won the club's first ever League Championship in 1954 to herald a golden era at Molineux.The Football Association was being represented by Club England Managing Director Adrian Bevington and Mr Mervyn Leggett, the FA member who sits on the governing body's board of directors.
Coverage from the memorial service:
The service brings to a close a series of tributes to Mr Williams which have left his family "overwhelmed".
They include one-minute ovations at Molineux, where Mr Williams won FA Cup and League Championship honours, and at Walsall, where he started his career before the outbreak of the Second World War.
His son-in-law David Crawshaw, husband of Mr Williams's daughter Ann, said: "It has been a great comfort to the family to learn just how much Bert meant to everybody – we have found it quite overwhelming really.
"I think it has brought home to them all just how well-known he was and how admired he was by football fans.
"We have had cards from abroad as well as at home and the funeral on Friday was very touching.
"It's the thing they never quite realised about Bert because he was always just 'dad' to everyone. They have been rather amazed at all of this. But I think Bert would have enjoyed it. In his later years, he enjoyed his fame. As everyone knows he was quite a modest man but it was nice little pick-me-up."
