Farewell to a hero

Hundreds of fans fell silent to listen to the poignant sermon outside St Peter's Church, which was relayed on loudspeakers.

Inside the star-packed church, dozens of famous faces lined the pews alongside Dougan's family and friends.

Former Scotland and Manchester United striker Denis Law travelled to the city to say one last goodbye to his kindred spirit. He said: "He was a wonderful, wonderful player and also a very intelligent player as well as an intelligent man. Derek was a great character."

Old rivalries were cast aside as footballing stars past and present travelled from all over the country to honour The Doog.

West Bromwich Albion footballers, who played some of their fiercest derby battles against him, were there to pay their respects.

Former Baggies stars Graham Williams, Micky Fudge, Brendon Batson and Stan Jones were among many of Dougan's old opponents.

Laraine Astle, the widow of Baggies legend Jeff, also turned out to remember her close friend. Dougan tirelessly helped with her campaign to highlight the health effects of heading old-style footballs.

Other stars from the world of soccer at today's service included Wolves' record appearance holder Derek Parkin, and former Wolves goalkeeper Phil Parkes. John McAlle, long-serving Wolves defender, and Malcolm Finlayson, one of the team's greats from the 1950s side, attended. Les Wilson, another old team mate of Dougan's, flew in from Canada and said: "I had the very most respect for Derek. He is a very hard act to follow."

Former Wolves boss Sammy Chung, players Bobby Thomson, Jim McCalliog and Barry Powell and Wolverhampton's cricket heroine Rachel Heyhoe Flint also attended.

As the procession entered the church, the congregation were unable to hold back their tears as the emotional song Bring Him Home from the musical Les Miserables was played.

The Rev David Frith, Rector of St Peter's Church, opened the service with a poignant sermon that touched on all aspects of Dougan's life, and told how the Northern Ireland international made Wolverhampton his home.

Mr Frith said: "Derek undoubtedly made Wolverhampton his home – it witnessed his most successful playing years, it was where he brought his family up and where he made so many friends from all walks of life.

"For a young boy growing up in another part of the country in the 60s and 70s, as I did, the names of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Derek Dougan were absolutely inseparable."

The vicar also looked back on Dougan's Irish heritage. He said: "He was hugely proud of his Belfast roots and of the family which nurtured him there. But he was also deeply pained by the hatreds and tragedies of his homeland.

"I believe Derek to be an unsung hero of peace and reconciliation.

Nick Owen, from BBC Midlands Today, who was a close friend of Dougan's, gave the first tributes of the service. He said: "This is an honour, albeit a sad one. I was lucky enough to know The Doog for 30 years. I met him when he appeared on a BBC Birmingham radio show, long before my time in breakfast television.

"He was the first famous person I got to know and we became good friends." He recalled "terrific times" with the "tremendous character".

The congregation then sang Abide With Me before Derek's niece Josephine Long read from the Bible. One of her uncle's favourite songs Danny Boy then rang out.

Former Wolves star Mike Bailey took to the lectern to describe the man he spent years playing alongside as his captain.

He said Dougan was an "inspired signing" and said "his impact in the team was immediate". He added: "He scored nine goals in his first eleven games – that's what dreams are made of. He gave the club, the fans and the town a huge lift in status and our confidence as a team was sky high."

Terry Conroy, former Stoke City and Irish International then spoke. He said Dougan enjoyed the lighter side of life, and showed great strength to organise the match between Brazil and a united Ireland team in 1973, even though it later cost him his international place.

"Whenever we met, the conversation was always one-sided. You could barely a get a word in. Rest peacefully, Doog," Conroy said, sending the tearful crowd into a fit of laughter.

Villa manager Martin O'Neill then addressed the church before the football anthem You'll Never Walk Alone filled the church.

As it ended, the congregation spontaneously burst into chants of "Dougan", replicating cherished past scenes from the terraces.

Derek's partner Merlyn Humphreys, whom Dougan called in distress as he suffered his fatal massive heart attack, told the church it was the legend's "charisma, presence and enthusiasm" that meant he would never be forgotten.

Then it was the turn of Derek's sons to pay their last respects. Nicholas Dougan, aged 40, introduced his musician brother, 42-year-old Alexander, to the mourners. Alexander then took out his guitar and performed his own song Praise The Lord in honour of his father.

The Rev Prebendary John Hall-Matthews, chaplain to Wolverhampton Wanderers, then did a reading, before the beautiful voices of St Peter's choir sang Henry Vaughan's poem My Soul There Is A Country. The Doog's body was taken from church to the heart-rending You Raise Me Up. The cortege then took him to Molineux for one last time, before moving onto a private service at Bushbury Crematorium.