Tony Hopper’s funeral service was taken by celebrant Stuart Stokell.

Here are some extracts from Stuart’s eulogy.

“Tony was always there to offer a helping hand. Graham Anthony explained his first impression of Tony when he first went along to Carlisle United as a new player.

“Tony was given the task of showing Graham where his digs were as well as familiarising him with the town. Well, he certainly did the latter.

“He showed him all the important landmarks. Not the castle, cathedral or any of that – nah, he showed him the important places... the inside of Buskers’ nightclub and Harraby Catholic Club. Well, you’ve got to know where to go to get beer for a pound a pint when you move to a new town!”

Tony was hugely popular and had many, many friends.

“What all of Tony’s friends said is that Tony was one of those people that made an impact on everyone he met, not because he was the loudest; quite the opposite.

“He is the one that would sit quietly, looking on. The thing is, the large groups, for all of us, are full of laughs and jokes and big personalities. Tony just blended in really… or so you’d think.

“In fact, he was like a trapdoor spider, waiting for his moment. When it was exactly right, out he’d come with the most hysterical one-liner that would crack the entire room up.”

Tony and Sue were together for about five years before they got married in 2005.

“Tony and Sue were always doing things together. One person wrote in a card last week that ‘You were so lucky to find each other’, and they were right.

“They had some extremely happy and fun times together and they created their own little family. Their relationship was a success, there’s no doubt.

“Tony was a bloke who everyone seemed to adore. He was funny, chilled out, calm, caring and a great husband and dad. It’s not a bad epitaph is it?”