'When we lose one of our own we grieve together' - Hundreds attend funeral of former Wolves fan of the Year who died aged 13

Family members, friends and people who did not even know him attended Joseph's funeral at Gornal Wood Crematorium and were joined by Wolves manager Kenny Jackett and chief executive Jez Moxey.

Joseph, who was voted Fan of the Year in 2014, warmed the hearts of players, coaches and officials at Molineux as he followed his beloved club the length and breadth of the country in all weathers with dad Jason.

When he was three years old he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Distrophy, a muscle-wasting condition that left him wheelchair-bound. He died last month after suffering a heart attack.

The youngster, whose condition limited his movement and meant he couldn't use his legs, became a recognisable face to the Wolves players and coaching staff. He would often be there waiting as the team coach arrived at away games, as boss Jackett remembered.

"He was a regular visitor to the training ground with his family," said Jackett, who was joined at the service by wife Samantha.

"He was at every away game and would often be there before the bus. He was a smashing young man."

Moxey also paid tribute, saying: "Joe was a really dedicated supporter who loved the club so much. Of course, he was voted Fan of the Year in the Express & Star competition. We got to know him and his family very well and we were devastated when we heard the news.

"It is a moving tribute to see so many fans decked out in Wolves colours. When we lose one of our own we grieve together.

"The last time I saw him was when we were travelling up to Birmingham City for our game. He was coming down the street so me and my wife stopped, rolled down the window and had a chat with him. Clearly he followed us whenever he could."

Joseph, who lived in Pensnett, got the Wolves bug after he became hooked on football during the 2010 World Cup.

He didn't miss a single game in four years before being taken ill in March following a minibus crash that left him in intensive care at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Even then he only missed six games and was welcomed back to Molineux by the club as the family were given the VIP treatment with their own executive box where they were able to cheer the team on to a 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

But sadly it would be one of the last times he would visit his spiritual home.

Famous songs associated with the club filled the air yesterday at the solemn service, including The Liquidator and Hi Ho Silver Lining, which began at 2.50pm, the time that Joseph and his father would normally arrive at Molineux on Saturdays.

Doves were released into the sky following the service.

Parents Jason and Jackie, of Rookery Park, said they were blown away by the masses of gold and black shirted supporters that came to pay their respects.

Jason, who works as an upholstery supervisor in Telford, said: "He mentioned one day that at his funeral he wanted Wolves colours and he wanted everybody to be happy. He didn't want any sadness.

"He was a happy chappy who lived his life to the full but obviously the number one thing in his life was Wolves. Home and away, that was his life."

Jackie, a supervisor at Russells Hall Hospital, also 42, said: "He was remarkable - funny, energetic and Wolves was his life. Nothing else mattered just Wolves. It has been absolutely overwhelming. We can't thank everybody enough."

Jason added: "We didn't realise we had so many friends and family. This has been fantastic. He would be proud of his send off. Wolverhampton Wanderers have been fantastic, not just when he was Fan of the Year. A lot of club officials have been very good to us and we would like to thank Kenny and Jez for coming today."

The couple said they had always known they would eventually have to attend their son's funeral but that it had arrived earlier than expected.

Jason said: "We knew this day would come one day but we didn't expect it to be this quick. We thought maybe his late teens but not the age of 13.

Joseph, who went to school in Bromsgrove, was handed a standing ovation from more than 600 people at the club's end of season awards dinner when he was voted the Express & Star's Wolves fan of the Year.

He travelled with his father Jason to every game, despite operations, which left him needing a colostomy bag and metal rods inserted in his spine to help him sit up straight. His father had taken him to his first Wolves game, a pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao, and then to every game that followed as the youngster became smitten by Wolves.

Watching Wolves became a family affair for the Thompsons, with father and son often joined by Joseph's sister Chloe and mother Jackie.

Brierley Hill-based captain Danny Batth was Joseph's favourite. He had one of Batth's Wolves shirts, that the defender gave him after a match, above his bed.