Mourners gathered today for the funeral of Ian Porterfield, the Sunderland footballing hero who scored one of the greatest FA Cup goals.

He died last week at a hospice in Surrey aged 61 and his funeral was being held today at St Anne's Church in Bagshot.

Family and close friends were joined by figures from Mr Porterfield's footballing past including Dick Malone who was part of the Second Division Sunderland team that Mr Porterfield famously fired to victory over First Division Leeds in 1973.

Sunderland chairman and former Irish international Niall Quinn was also there to pay tribute to the footballer.

He said: If you were born in the mid 60s as I was, the '73 Cup Final game was just massive. In Ireland it was a really family day and all the kids on our street came to my house to watch it on TV.

Ian Porterfield was the hero of my boyhood and as I got older I've just been in awe of him and what he did for Sunderland.

It's very sad that he has passed from us so early. His attitude right up until the end, tearing off to every corner of the world to manage his team was just incredible.'' Until his death Mr Porterfield, originally from Dunfermline in Fife was manager of Armenia's national team.

Deputy executive of the Football Federation of Armenia Armen Melikbekyan said that his death had sparked national mourning in Armenia.

He said: Everybody in Armenia has been so shocked. Since he passed away thousands of people have been coming to the Federation with candles as a mark of respect. The team had recently started doing really well.'' mfl Mr Porterfield's coffin was borne into the church accompanied by a bagpiper playing Flower of Scotland.

Among the music played during the service was Boyzone's No Matter What and Wind Beneath My Wings sung by Bette Midler. Tributes were read by Dick Malone, Niall Quinn, Ian's daughters Rachel and Claire, his grandson Cameron and two of his lifelong friends, player Graham Brown and Tom Scott.

Mr Brown's son Stephen said that the family had been friends with the Porterfields for over 25 years. He said: Ian was a fantastic bloke, a fantastic family man, and obviously a fantastic football manager. He always made me feel so welcome and he was a real friend, a true friend to my dad.'' The pair's friendship began when Mr Porterfield signed Mr Brown as a player and the funeral was conducted by Mr Brown's oldest son who runs a funeral directors in Mansfield.

A few Sunderland fans also turned up at the church to pay their respects. One, Tom Vardy, a relative of Reg Vardy, one time sponsor of the club, said that Mr Porterfield would always be remembered for helping the underdogs win''.

He said: That moment when he scored that goal was just incredible. I'll always remember it and he did so much for our team. I just wanted to come and remember him.'' As the congregation left the church, My Way sung by Elvis Presley was played.

After the funeral close family and friends travelled to Woking Crematorium for the committal.

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