Thousands line streets for Jack Charlton's funeral in his North East hometown
Thousands of people have lined the streets of Jack Charlton’s hometown in the north-east of England for the funeral of England World Cup winner.
Charlton, who enjoyed an illustrious playing career and managed the Republic of Ireland, died earlier this month aged 85.
Crowds flocked to Charlton’s home town of Ashington in Northumberland as his funeral cortege drove through the streets on Tuesday.
The procession slowed as it passed close to 114 Beatrice Street, where Charlton and his brother Bobby grew up, and the park where “Big Jack” learned to play football.
Floral tributes in the hearse included a football and a red England shirt with "Jackie 5" on it and a Northumberland piper led the procession for some of the way through the town.
His relatives then descended on a crematorium in Newcastle for a private family service.
Charlton was also being remembered in Ireland – the country he led to the 1988 European Championship and the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.
The Football Association of Ireland called on all Republic of Ireland fans to wear green in memory of Charlton and many were pictured in the streets of Dublin paying tribute to him.
Charlton was a stalwart of Leeds United's most successful period in the Sixties and played in defence for England during their famous 1966 World Cup campaign.
After initially working alongside his father in a coal mine, he joined the Leeds United ground staff aged 15 and eventually became a player.
Charlton stayed at Leeds for a remarkable 23 years, a spell broken only by national service, playing a major part in the club turning into a major European force.
He was almost 30 when he made his England debut, but became one of the Wembley heroes who played a part in the national side’s victory in the 1966 World Cup final.
Charlton had been diagnosed with lymphoma in the last year and was also battling dementia.
After his death, his family said in a statement: "He was a thoroughly honest, kind, funny and genuine man who always had time for people.
"His loss will leave a huge hole in all our lives but we are thankful for a lifetime of happy memories."
A private family service was held in Newcastle with a limited number of mourners due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
