Family 'overwhelmed' by public tributes for Bert Williams ahead of memorial
The family of Bert Williams say they have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and acclaim for the legendary Wolves goalkeeper.
Following a private funeral in Shifnal on Friday, Wolverhampton was paying its own moving farewell to Mr Williams today at a public memorial service to celebrate the life of the former England international, who died last month at the age of 93.
Well-wishers were joining family, friends and former team-mates at the service arranged to pay tribute to one of the club's greatest-ever footballers.
After winning the FA Cup in 1949, Mr Williams was a key figure in the team which won the club's first ever League Championship in 1954 to herald a golden era at Molineux.
The Football Association was being represented by Club England Managing Director Adrian Bevington and Mr Mervyn Leggett, the FA member who sits on the governing body's board of directors.
The service will bring to a close a series of tributes to Mr Williams which have left his family 'overwhelmed.'
They include one-minute ovations for the former goalkeeper at Molineux, where Mr Williams won FA Cup and League Championship honours, and at Walsall, where he started his career before the outbreak of the Second World War.
His son-in-law David Crawshaw, husband of Mr Williams's daughter Ann, said: "It has been a great comfort to the family to learn just how much Bert meant to everybody – we have found it quite overwhelming really.
"I think it has brought home to them all just how well-known he was and how admired he was by football fans from all over really.
"We have had cards from abroad as well as at home and the funeral on Friday was very touching.
"It's the thing they never quite realised about Bert because he was always just 'dad' to everyone. They have been rather amazed at all of this.
"But I think Bert would have enjoyed it. In his later years, he enjoyed his fame. As everyone knows he was quite a modest man but it was nice little pick-me-up for him whenever he got the opportunity to talk about his playing days."
Today's service was being attended by members of Mr Williams's goalkeeping fraternity including England's 1966 World Cup winner Gordon Banks, for whom the Wolves goalkeeper was a boyhood idol.
Malcolm Finlayson, the man who succeeded Mr Williams after he stepped down, Phil Parkes and Walsall stalwart Mick Kearns were also due to be there to acclaim their much-revered 'comrade in arms.'
Former Wolves director and another big admirer of the goalkeeper, Rachael Heyhoe Flint, will give a reading while the formalities were being conducted by TV presenters Bob Hall and Ian Winter. Former players Ron Flowers and John Richards were also expected among the crowd which gathered to attend.
The service includes music from the Cannock Chase Orpheus Choir who, as a mark of respect for Mr Williams, volunteered their services on learning of his death.
"Everyone has been quite wonderful and the family have been deeply touched," added Mr Crawshaw. "The club have been truly supportive and a great help to us. Bert's relationship with
Wolves was always very special and we cannot thank them enough.
"In his last months, I know that he was given marvellous care by the staff at Ward C 22, the dementia ward at New Cross Hospital.
"They do amazing work there and if anyone is minded to pay their respects in such a way, then I know any donation to that ward would be appreciated by our family.
"They need every bit of help and support we all can give them," he added.
See also:
Berts family seek long-lost relatives
Bert Williams - Great goalkeeper, wonderful man
Bert Williams: Death of a Wolves legend
