Stars pay tribute to Ablett

Football paid its respects to former Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett on Tuesday.

It was never in doubt  that Merseyside's footballing  fraternity would be heavily represented at the city's Anglican cathedral and  Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish and Everton manager David Moyes were among the hundreds of mourners.

But it was a mark of the esteem in which he was held that luminaries such as Roy Keane - who gave Ablett his last job at Ipswich in August, 2010 - Ray Clemence,  England U21 head coach Stuart Pearce, Howard Wilkinson and Swansea  manager Brendan Rodgers were in the congregation.

Ablett, the only man to win the FA Cup with both  Liverpool and Everton, lost his 16-month battle against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on New Year's Day, aged 46, and the service to celebrate his life was incredibly poignant.

His coffin was carried into the cathedral accompanied by a haunting version of You'll Never Walk Alone, while Everton's anthem - the Z-Cars theme - provided a  similarly evocative soundtrack when he was carried out. A place was also found,  fittingly, for the FA Cup final hymn Abide With Me.

For the 60 minutes in between, stories were told about Ablett's zest for life, his passion for football, the graceful way in which he battled his illness and, above all, the love he had for his wife,

Jacqueline, and five children - Scarlett, Reece, Riley, Josh and Fraser.

From recollections about how he became hooked on football through watching his father, Neil, playing for the police, to how he defied his headmaster's advice to pursue a career at Anfield, it was evident that Ablett was one of a kind.

Twice he won the title - in 1988 and 1990 - with  Liverpool but perhaps his most satisfying success during his years in red was the FA Cup win, when Everton were beaten 3-2 in extra time, which came in between. The image of Ablett bouncing up and down on the Royal Box, wearing a bobble hat as Ronnie Whelan hoisted the trophy aloft is enduring.

What made that success  all the more emotional, though, was the fact that it came in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster.

Former Liverpool defender Jim Beglin said: "Gary was one of the most sincere, honest and genuine guys you could wish to meet. He was a perfect gentleman and a model professional."

Such qualities helped him bridge Merseyside's divide when he joined Everton in 1992, while he also played for Birmingham, Sheffield United and Wycombe.

"It takes a special person to gain the respect of both the Reds and the Blues in this city," said Matt Jackson, who played alongside Ablett when Everton won the FA Cup in 1995.

"Gary was a fantastic family man, a great team-mate and a true friend. We will all miss him dearly."

Source: Daily Mail

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.