AROUND 450 mourners packed into St Peter's Church in Bury on Friday (March 2) to pay their respects to popular football manager Ken Bridge.

Sporting figureheads from across the borough attended the service, in addition to players, officials and supporters of Ramsbottom United where he had been manager for the past seven seasons.

Representatives from Bury FC, Radcliffe Boro, and the North West Counties League were among the congregation where there was standing room only.

Mr Bridge (57), of Pembroke Drive, Bury, collapsed and died after a match at Ramsbottom United two weeks ago.

The Rev Malcolm Smith conducted the service and spoke of a man whose passion was for football, but who, first and foremost, was a caring family man.

Mr John Maher, secretary of Ramsbottom United, paid a fitting tribute during the service, saying he was irreplaceable as a man and as a manager.

Mr Bridge, born in Radcliffe, leaves a wife Kath, daughter Gillian, grand-daughter Rachel, and brother Derek.

Ramsbottom United held a minute's silence before Saturday away at Leek CSOB, their first game since the tragedy. There will be a silence in his memory tonight when they play at home to Glossop North End.