Bradley’s ‘loving smile’ remembered at service

Thousands line the streets to pay tribute to six-year-old boy

Bradley Lowery brought out the best in people with his “pure and innocent love of the beautiful game”, thousands of mourners at the six-year-old’s funeral were told.

England striker Jermain Defoe wiped away a tear after the service that brought Bradley’s home village of Blackhall, County Durham, to a halt.

He wore an England shirt with Bradley’s name and number 6 on the back as mourners were asked to wear their football shirts with pride.

Sunderland players John O’Shea, Lee Cattermole, Vito Mannone and ex-manager David Moyes were among those packed into St Joseph’s Catholic Church, where Bradley had been baptised six years before.

Father Ian Jackson, who led the service, said: “Bradley was a bright, brave, loving, cheeky monkey”.

Bradley was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the nervous system, when he was 18 months old.

Last season he was mascot for Sunderland, Everton and England, striking up a friendship with Defoe, who left training in Spain with new club Bournemouth to be at the funeral.

Sunderland AFC’s chaplain Marc Lyden-Smith said: “Today the football world stands united, whatever our colours, to pay their respects to this incredible little boy with a huge personality. Bradley Lowery has done much more than just touch the hearts of so many football fans.

“His lasting legacy is that he has, with his pure and innocent love of the beautiful game, brought people together.

“He has been an inspiration and a friend to sports stars. He has been a light to many people in the darkness of suffering. He has been more than a mascot to Sunderland Football Club, he has been an encouragement to many and a loving smile to all of us.”

Mr Lyden-Smith also praised Bradley’s parents Gemma and Carl for the dignity and love they have shown throughout their son’s ordeal.

Bradley’s coffin was brought to the church in a horse-drawn carriage, led through the village by a piper playing Amazing Grace and followed by superhero characters.

Picture: PA. Bradley’s coffin is carried into St Joseph’s Church in Blackhall, County Durham.

Pictures: Getty Images/PA. From left: mourners arrive wearing the football jerseys of the teams they support: England striker Jermain Defoe, who struck up a friendship with Bradley, wipes away a tear: former Sunderland boss David Moyes.

Bradley Lowery was diagnosed with cancer when he was 18 months old.