CLUB crests adorned the coffin of a Barrow sporting hero as hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their respects.

The funeral of Fred Else - hailed as Barrow AFC’s finest ever goalkeeper - saw well-known former footballers from each of his three clubs travel to celebrate the life of the much-loved player.

Having arrived early to pack out St Paul’s Church in Barrow yesterday afternoon, guests swapped anecdotes and memories from on and off the pitch.

Outside, the father-of-three’s coffin arrived flanked by floral tributes of a blue and white football and green goalkeeper‘s shirt. Behind it hung the crests of Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Barrow AFC.

Mr Else passed away at St George‘s Nursing Home in Barrow on July 20, aged 82.

Leading a tribute on behalf of her family, Mr Else’s daughter-in-law, Marian described him as “a real gentleman, a genuine person”.

Guests heard the love story behind Mr Else’s marriage to his wife, Marjorie, as well as his pride at becoming a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Describing his two main loves - his family and football - Mrs Else told how the former ‘keeper continued to keep track of his three “beloved” teams even during the later stages of his battle with cancer.

Born in Golborne near Wigan, Mr Else told his mother he wanted to be a footballer aged just 14. 

A player from an unrecognisable era, he cost PNE just more than £128 in 1953 and would fit training around plumbing jobs.

He got engaged not long after his league debut in 1954, and was married in October 1955.

Having played for Preston 238 times, Mr Else was sold to Blackburn, where he notched up another 221 games and earned his reputation as one of the best goalkeepers of the 1950s era.

Signing for Barrow just before the start of the 1966/67 season, he spent four seasons with the bluebirds before retiring from football to teach maths and geography.

Mrs Else said: “I‘m told it was easy to distract Fred in lessons - all you had to do was bring football into the mix and he would go off on a tangent. Hopefully exam results didn’t suffer too much!”

The church filled with laughter as Mrs Else described an interview given by Sir Bobby Robson, claiming he had worn dentures ever since the day he challenged for a high ball as Mr Else came out of the goalmouth and hit him “in the mush”, knocking his teeth out.

She said her father-in-law was never “blasé” about the famous faces he mingled with, but his anecdotes revealed a great friendship with England star Sir Tom Finney who he regarded as a role model.

Mrs Else said: “Fred Else was a good friend to many, a true professional and, above all, a gentleman.

“Sadly the final whistle has gone far too soon. You will be missed more than you will ever know.”