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Funeral for former England captain Jimmy Armfield | Funeral for former England captain Jimmy Armfield |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Football fans are beginning to gather for the funeral of former England captain Jimmy Armfield. | |
Armfield, who died last month aged 82, was capped 43 times by England, 15 of them as captain, and made a club record 627 appearances for Blackpool. | Armfield, who died last month aged 82, was capped 43 times by England, 15 of them as captain, and made a club record 627 appearances for Blackpool. |
He later managed Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United, and was a BBC radio commentator for more than 35 years. | He later managed Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United, and was a BBC radio commentator for more than 35 years. |
The funeral cortege will leave Blackpool's Bloomfield Road stadium before a church service at 12:30 GMT. | The funeral cortege will leave Blackpool's Bloomfield Road stadium before a church service at 12:30 GMT. |
The service, at St Peter's Church, is private but there will be an audio link to Bloomfield Road, where mourners are expected to gather. | The service, at St Peter's Church, is private but there will be an audio link to Bloomfield Road, where mourners are expected to gather. |
It will be followed by a private committal for family and friends only. | It will be followed by a private committal for family and friends only. |
Armfield's death prompted widespread tributes from the football world, including the FA and Match of the Day's Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer. | Armfield's death prompted widespread tributes from the football world, including the FA and Match of the Day's Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer. |
His statue outside the stadium has also become a focal point for flowers and other tributes from fans. | His statue outside the stadium has also become a focal point for flowers and other tributes from fans. |
At the scene Paul Burnell, BBC News | |
They came to honour football royalty. | |
The sport and his adopted town turned out at Blackpool FC to say farewell to Jimmy Armfield. | |
A steady stream of people filed into the ground to honour the former England and Blackpool player who became a respected broadcaster for the BBC and kingmaker for the FA who chose two England managers. | |
But there were as many people who came to pay tribute to a tireless worker for local charities. | |
Those who braved the spiteful seaside weather all said the same thing: "He never spoke about himself, he was always interested in you and your welfare." | |
A tide of tangerine tributes swamped his statue outside the ground but interspersed with these were the favours of other clubs from Rangers to Limerick FC. | |
Thousands also turned out to pay their respects at Blackpool's recent fixture with Charlton Athletic, gathering at the stadium despite the match being cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch. | Thousands also turned out to pay their respects at Blackpool's recent fixture with Charlton Athletic, gathering at the stadium despite the match being cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch. |
Armfield, who was born in Denton, Greater Manchester, was a team-mate of Sir Stanley Matthews at Blackpool, where he made his name as an overlapping right-back. | Armfield, who was born in Denton, Greater Manchester, was a team-mate of Sir Stanley Matthews at Blackpool, where he made his name as an overlapping right-back. |
He was never sent off during his career and only booked once, after two fouls in an FA Cup match against Norwich City. | He was never sent off during his career and only booked once, after two fouls in an FA Cup match against Norwich City. |
He became manager of Bolton in 1971 and took over at Leeds in 1974, replacing Brian Clough and guiding them to a European Cup final where they were beaten 2-0 by Bayern Munich. | He became manager of Bolton in 1971 and took over at Leeds in 1974, replacing Brian Clough and guiding them to a European Cup final where they were beaten 2-0 by Bayern Munich. |
He later became a popular newspaper and TV pundit and BBC match summariser, celebrating his 30th year on the BBC's airwaves in 2009. | He later became a popular newspaper and TV pundit and BBC match summariser, celebrating his 30th year on the BBC's airwaves in 2009. |
Armfield was made a freeman of Blackpool in 2003 and named a CBE in December 2009 for services to Lancashire. | Armfield was made a freeman of Blackpool in 2003 and named a CBE in December 2009 for services to Lancashire. |
In 2007 he received successful treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma but in 2016 he revealed it had returned. He died at Trinity Hospice in Blackpool on 22 January. | In 2007 he received successful treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma but in 2016 he revealed it had returned. He died at Trinity Hospice in Blackpool on 22 January. |