FAREWELL TO BRAVE BRADLEY: UNITED BY LOVE We’ll meet again, our superhero in the sky...
Thousands line streets to pay respects to little lad who won hearts of millions
HIS smile lit up Wembley Stadium, winning the hearts of millions of football fans around the world.
And yesterday, even as he was laid to rest, Bradley Lowery’s star shone bright on its way to “fly high with the angels”.
A lone piper played as the Sunderland mascot’s red and white coffin arrived on a horsedrawn carriage. Thousands lined the streets of Blackhall Colliery, Co Durham, to pay their respects to the youngster who last week lost his long battle against the rare cancer neuroblastoma.
Spontaneous applause rang out and balloons flew through the air as the six-year-old made his final journey.
A packed congregation heard that he had died as he had lived his all-tooshort life, surrounded by love.
His cheeky grin and personality had won over a huge army of fans, including his “best pal”, England star Jermain Defoe. The striker flew from training in Spain with new club Bournemouth to attend with ex-Sunderland team-mates Vito Mannone, Lee Cattermole and John O’Shea.
Defoe, wearing an England shirt with “Bradley No 6” on the back, wiped away tears as he followed the coffin bearing the Sunderland crest into St Joseph’s Roman Catholic church for a moving tribute to his “little superstar”.
At one point the youngster’s voice was heard once more, singing When You Just Smile, as mourners were shown photos of his life. They heard that Bradley died in the arms of parents Gemma and Carl, who wore Black Cat shirts in his honour alongside brother Kieran, 15.
Father Ian Jackson introduced a poem from Gemma which read:
“A smile so big and beautiful it could brighten any room, a real life superhero who left us far too soon.
“A loving caring son and brother, a bright and beautiful star.
“Although your life with us was short, you must have a job to do in heaven with the angels as God has
chosen you. Our lives and hearts are broken way beyond repair, we are looking for some comfort, for each other we will be there. For now my baby we will say goodbye and we will meet you again high in the sky.”
Fr Jackson said Bradley, who was mascot for the England team at Wembley, was a “bright little boy, a cheeky monkey” who loved cuddles, his dogs Effie and Chase and caravan trips with his grandparents.
He added: “As a mascot he became close friends with Jermain Defoe and because of Sunderland football club Bradley and his family have experienced so many wonderful memories.”
Sunderland FC chaplain Marc Lyden-Smith said Bradley had given everyone “lessons in life”.
As crowds outside listened via loudspeakers, he added: “Football sometimes gets a bad press but not today. Today we see what it can offer to the North East and to the world.
“We see the football world united, whatever our colours, to pay respects to this incredible little boy with a huge personality.
“And it teaches that when you’re knocked down you must never ever quit. His lasting legacy is that, with a pure and innocent love of the beau- tiful game, he brought people together. He’s brought out the best in people. He’s been an inspiration and a friend to sports stars, he’s been a light to many people in the darkest places.”
Sunderland owner Ellis Short, and former players Jim Montgomery, and Kevin Ball were given another round of applause as they left the service alongside current manager Simon Grayson and former boss David Moyes. As the cortege left for a private cremation, balloons were released carrying the message “RIP Bradley, fly high in the sky”.
A vigil and minute’s applause were held at Grey’s Monument in Newcastle city centre at the same time.
Bradley was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at 18 months. After treatment he went into remission but in December his parents were told his illness was terminal.
He has raised almost £1million in his short life. Donors gave over £800,000 to take him to the US for treatment. Almost all of that will now go to the foundation set up in his name. Another £145,566 has been paid into the fund set up when he died.
Yesterday players and clubs across the world posted tributes to Bradley and the petition to have Sunderland’s East stand named after him reached its 49,000 target.
Bradley has been an inspiration, a light to people in dark places MARC LYDEN-SMITH SUNDERLAND FC CHAPLAIN
JERMAIN Defoe deserves a special mention when we talk about Bradley Lowery, the lad who touched the hearts of millions in a life cut short by cancer.
England footballer Defoe returned to North East England yesterday to say farewell to the boy whose life he helped light up.
The ex-Sunderland star could have chosen not to attend the funeral, citing commitments with new club Bournemouth. But he flew in from pre-season training in Spain.
Footballers too often make the headlines for the wrong reasons but Defoe restores our faith in the people’s game.
It would be fitting if his actions are remembered when it comes to voting for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year.