Hundreds gather for funeral of Wolves legend Dougan

Several of his former team-mates joined his family, friends and around 400 Wolves supporters for the service at St Peter's Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton.

The Rev David Frith, the rector of Wolverhampton, said Dougan, who died of a heart attack last month aged 69, was an "unsung hero" of peace and reconciliation and would be remembered for much more than his on-field achievements.

He told mourners that Dougan was hugely proud of his Belfast roots, but was also deeply pained by the hatreds and tragedies of his homeland.

Mr Frith said: "I believe Derek to be an unsung hero of peace and reconciliation.

"Not only did Derek have ideas about people from different backgrounds living in harmony, he also took action to bring it about.

"The story of his off-the-field work to put together an all-Ireland football team ought not to be lost among the tales of his on-the-field prowess."

Dougan scored 123 goals in 323 games for Wolves and won 43 caps for Northern Ireland.

The Belfast-born forward, who served as chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association in the 1970s, also played for Leicester, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Aston Villa and Peterborough.

Mr Frith added: "To have acted as he did on the public stage, Derek must have believed in the possibility of change - of transformation and healing."

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was among a number of former Northern Ireland internationals present at the 75-minute service.

Paying tribute to Dougan, he described his former team-mate as an extraordinary person who was never afraid the break the rules.

O'Neill said Dougan had been fantastic for the people of Northern Ireland.

"I appreciated being in his company and I am so sorry to be standing here today, but for his family I am honoured to be speaking."