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| Bert Williams: Memorial for Wolves and England goalkeeper | Bert Williams: Memorial for Wolves and England goalkeeper |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A public memorial service has taken place for ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers and England goalkeeper Bert Williams. | A public memorial service has taken place for ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers and England goalkeeper Bert Williams. |
| Williams, who had been the oldest surviving England international, died last month aged 93. | Williams, who had been the oldest surviving England international, died last month aged 93. |
| Former England stars Gordon Banks and Ron Flowers were among hundreds of mourners at the ceremony at St Peter's Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton. | Former England stars Gordon Banks and Ron Flowers were among hundreds of mourners at the ceremony at St Peter's Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton. |
| Williams made 420 appearances for the Midlands club and played in England's first World Cup campaign. | Williams made 420 appearances for the Midlands club and played in England's first World Cup campaign. |
| Williams, who lived in Shifnal, Shropshire, won 24 caps for England and was part of the side that suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to the United States in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. | Williams, who lived in Shifnal, Shropshire, won 24 caps for England and was part of the side that suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to the United States in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. |
| 'Unbelievable skill' | 'Unbelievable skill' |
| He was later made an MBE for services to football and charity. | He was later made an MBE for services to football and charity. |
| His son Paul Williams said his father's long life had been due to the "strict" exercise regime he maintained into old age. | His son Paul Williams said his father's long life had been due to the "strict" exercise regime he maintained into old age. |
| People at the ceremony said they had fond memories of the player. | People at the ceremony said they had fond memories of the player. |
| Carlo Federico, 68, a former Wolves academy coach and schoolboy liaison officer, described Williams as "a legend". | Carlo Federico, 68, a former Wolves academy coach and schoolboy liaison officer, described Williams as "a legend". |
| "He remained a gentleman to the last... his integrity was fantastic," he said. | "He remained a gentleman to the last... his integrity was fantastic," he said. |
| Gerald Turvey, 86, went to his first Wolves game in 1936 and still attends matches at Molineux stadium. He met Williams at a book signing and said he was "very, very friendly". | Gerald Turvey, 86, went to his first Wolves game in 1936 and still attends matches at Molineux stadium. He met Williams at a book signing and said he was "very, very friendly". |
| The former keeper's skill was "unbelievable", he said. | The former keeper's skill was "unbelievable", he said. |
| "He was small [for a goalkeeper] so he had to dive all over the place," Mr Turvey said. | "He was small [for a goalkeeper] so he had to dive all over the place," Mr Turvey said. |
| Ann Matthews, from Bilston, who met him up to a dozen times said: "He was a nice down to earth lovely guy. | Ann Matthews, from Bilston, who met him up to a dozen times said: "He was a nice down to earth lovely guy. |
| "He was just normal, nice and gave wonderful hugs." | "He was just normal, nice and gave wonderful hugs." |
| The first hymn was Abide With Me. which Reverend David Wright pointed out had a close association with football, being sung before the FA Cup final each year. | The first hymn was Abide With Me. which Reverend David Wright pointed out had a close association with football, being sung before the FA Cup final each year. |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers vice-president Rachael Heyhoe-Flint paid tribute to Williams and representatives from Walsall FC, the club he joined Wolves from after World War Two, attended the service. |