Fans pay their respects at Sir Billy Boston's funeral

Jenny Coleman and Haider SaleemNorth West

Friends, family and players past and present have gathered to pay their respects at the funeral of Wigan rugby league legend Sir Billy Boston.

Boston, the first player in rugby league’s 130-year history to receive a knighthood, died last month aged 92.

His funeral took place at Wigan Warriors’ Brick Community Stadium, with mourners including many of the club’s current squad.

Before the service, a cortege travelled through Wigan, external on its route towards the stadium in the Greater Manchester town. A private burial ceremony was set to follow.

At the request of the Boston family, mourners were encouraged to wear traditional funeral attire.

Items of Wigan Warriors’ cherry red and white could also be worn, including scarves, ties and headwear.

People paid their respects as the funeral cortege made its way through Wigan.

Bryan Cocker, from Chorley in Lancashire, said it was one of his “greatest regrets” that, even as a 77-year-old, he had never seen Boston play.

“I’ve seen snippets of him and I mean I’ve watched some greats at Wigan – I’ve seen some fantastic players – but my only wish is that I could have seen Billy Boston play,” he said.

An emotional Patrica Roby, from Aspull, recalled Boston running down the wing at Central Park, Wigan’s former ground.

“He was really, really loved in Wigan,” she said.

Wigan’s chief executive Kris Radlinski gave a heartfelt tribute, speaking at length of Boston’s life from his Cardiff childhood to receiving his knighthood.

He announced that Wigan Council had informed him Believe Square, the public space next to Wigan Town Hall where a bronze Billy Boston Statue is located, will be renamed Sir Billy Boston Square.

“For generations, people will pass though there, children will walk with their families, people who never had the privilege to see Billy play will see his name and ask who he was, and another generation will tell his story,” he said.

Born in Cardiff in 1934, Boston grew up playing rugby union but was overlooked by his home club.

He came to the attention of rugby league scouts while on national service in the north of England, signing for Wigan in 1953 as a 19-year-old.

Boston was picked for the 1954 Great Britain side and was the first black British player to tour Australia and New Zealand.

He reached the 100-try milestone in just 68 matches and claimed 478 tries in 488 games for Wigan, helping them win three Challenge Cups and the Championship.

In all, Boston scored 571 tries in his career – a total surpassed only by Australian legend Brian Bevan in top-class rugby league.

A short walk from his statue in Cardiff Bay, people unable to travel north gathered together to remember him.

A minibus with some of his family left Butetown for Wigan at 04:30. For those who could not travel a video stream of the service was provided at Butetown Community Centre.

Rose Duarte, Boston’s cousin, said: “I think it’s wonderful. He’s a very quiet person. He didn’t brag about what he had done – and that’s why he’s so popular round here.”

“This is the first time they’ve made a fuss about anyone from around here – and he deserves it,” she said.

“If his mother was alive she’d be bursting with pride.”

Gaynor Legall from Butetown Community Centre, who helped arrange the event, said Boston had a “special place in the memory of Butetown”, adding: “We wanted in a small way to give Billy a Tiger Bay send off.”

She added: “Billy was one of us although he spent more time in Wigan than he did in Cardiff. The Boston family are a Cardiff docks family and Billy never forgot where he came from.

“He gave the area another icon to look up to. A role model.

“We hold him in a position of pride.”