They packed the chapel for Tony Hopper. They stood at the back of the room and they stood in the aisle. They packed the overflow chapel and they packed the waiting area. Many more listened to the service outside.

Hundreds turned out for the former Carlisle United star’s funeral at the city’s crematorium yesterday afternoon.

There were laughter and tears as one of Carlisle’s favourite sons was celebrated and mourned. He died in Eden Valley Hospice on October 9 at the age of 42, having been stricken with motor neurone disease.

A line had begun to form outside the chapel an hour before the service, becoming longer every minute. The mourners included many of Tony’s former Carlisle United team mates, some of whom had travelled hundreds of miles to be here.

Some, like Richard Prokas and Paul Murray, were fellow Cumbrians who played alongside him as young men. Others, such as Stuart Whitehead and David Brightwell, played with him in the famous Jimmy Glass match. The manager during Tony’s most successful spell at Carlisle, Mick Wadsworth, waited further down the line.

The chatter in the waiting crowd fell to a hush as Tony’s coffin arrived. It sat in the back of a silver VW camper van. Tony had talked about owning one of these when he retired.

His coffin was wrapped in photographs of him with his beloved family: wife Sue and sons Daniel, Adam and Jack. In the back window were the crests of Carlisle United and Workington Reds: the footballing loves of his life.

The men carrying the coffin into the chapel included former Carlisle team mates Rory Delap and Graham Anthony.

Let It Be by The Beatles began ringing out through the speakers. By the time everyone who could fit into the building had been accommodated, the song had played four times.

The service was taken by celebrant Stuart Stokell. He talked about Tony’s happy childhood, growing up in Harraby with brothers David and Darren, sister Joanne and parents Pat and

John.

One of Tony’s favourite songs - Don’t Dream It’s Over, by Crowded House - played to a slideshow of photographs from all stages of his life.

Stuart talked about Tony’s football career. An acoustic version of Live Forever by Oasis played against more images of the blond-haired young man staring into the camera.

The lyrics - “You and I, we’re gonna live forever” - caused many to sob, among them some former team mates.

The service then focused on Tony’s role as a husband and father. Another of his favourite songs - A Million Dreams, from the musical The Greatest Showman - prompted more tears:

“I think of what the world could be, A vision of the one I see.

“A million dreams is all it’s gonna take, A million dreams for the world we’re gonna make.”

As the service drew to a close, Stuart said: “We’ve had no committal today. No curtains closing, nothing like that. Well that’s a deliberate thing. The reason is simple. We’ve had him involved from start to finish and that’s how it should be for someone like Tony. Perhaps, instead of tears as the curtains close, in Tony’s case, a round of applause might be far more appropriate as your way to say goodbye?”

The crowd clapped, as they had so often for Tony Hopper. Then a female voice piped up: “Can we have three cheers for Tony?”

We could. The crowd cheered for a gifted footballer; a modest and funny friend; a loving family man; a fighter.

How special he was, to be loved so deeply by so many.

n Donations to Eden Valley Hospice can be made via https://tony-hopper.muchloved.com/

n The News & Star attended the service with the kind permission of the Hopper family. The service was organised by Final Journey Funerals.