People line the streets as the funeral cortege of former England soccer player Jack Charlton passes through his hometown of Ashington, in Northumberland, England Tuesday July 21, 2020 ahead of his funeral service in Newcastle. Charlton, who won the World Cup playing for England in 1966 and also managed the Ireland team taking them to the World Cup in 1990 and 1994, died on July 10 aged 85. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
ASHINGTON, England (AP) - Applause and cheers broke out in celebration of the life of Jack Charlton as thousands of people gathered in a former mining community in northern England before the funeral of the 1966 World Cup winner on Tuesday.
Ashington, a town in the northeast of England, came to a standstill as the funeral cortege made its way through the streets and well-wishers paid their final respects to Charlton, a local hero who died July 10 at the age of 85.
People threw flowers on the hearse and the procession slowed as it passed close to the street where Charlton and his younger brother, Bobby, lived and played football in the back lane.
Bobby Charlton, who was also in England's World Cup-winning team, was not well enough to attend the service at Newcastle Crematorium. A floral tribute from him and his wife, Norma, was placed next to the coffin, saying: 'œRest in peace Jack, sending our deepest sympathy.''ť
The coffin was draped by scarves of England's football team and also those of Ireland, which Jack Charlton coached to its first major tournaments.
Nicknamed 'œBig Jack'ť and celebrated for his earthy 'œbeer and cigarettes'ť image, Charlton was Footballer of the Year in England in 1967. He spent all his club career at Leeds from 1952-73, tying its all-time record of 773 appearances. He won every domestic honor, including the league title in 1969.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Pall bearers carry the coffin of Jack Charlton at West Road Crematorium, in Newcastle, England, for his funeral, Tuesday July 21, 2020. Charlton, who was part of the England soccer team that won the World Cup in 1966, and he managed the Ireland team taking them to the World Cup in 1990 and 1994, died on July 10 aged 85. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
Irish soccer fans gather in Dublin to celebrate the life of former Republic of Ireland soccer manager Jack Charlton, at the same time as his funeral is taking place in Newcastle, England, Tuesday July 21, 2020. Charlton, who was part of the England soccer team that won the World Cup in 1966, and he managed the Ireland team taking them to the World Cup in 1990 and 1994, died on July 10 aged 85. (Niall Carson/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
People line the streets as the funeral cortege of former England soccer player Jack Charlton passes through his hometown of Ashington, in Northumberland, England Tuesday July 21, 2020 ahead of his funeral service in Newcastle. Charlton, who won the World Cup playing for England in 1966 and also managed the Ireland team taking them to the World Cup in 1990 and 1994, died on July 10 aged 85. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
The Associated Press