Hello and welcome to our coverage of the funeral of Liverpool legend Roger Hunt who passed away last month.
The funeral will take place in Liverpool today, with the procession expected to pass Anfield as many Kopites will be able to pay their respects to the club legend.
Hunt, who passed away late last month after a long illness, is the second-highest goalscorer in Liverpool's history having scored 285 goals in 492 appearances during a spell of more than 11 years at the club.
The forward - who was given the nickname 'Sir Roger' by the Kop - was an integral part of the Reds side under Bill Shankly that earned promotion back to the top flight by winning Division Two in 1962.
He would forge a strong partnership with Ian St John, and the duo were both on target when the Reds won their first FA Cup in 1965, Hunt scoring the extra-time opener before St John headed the winner.
Hunt also earned 34 caps for England, scoring 18 times, with the highlight of his international career being the 1966 World Cup during which he scored three times and played up front in the 4-2 final win over West Germany at Wembley.
Liverpool greats say emotional farewell at Sir Roger Hunt funeral
A host of Liverpool legends along with hundreds of fans at both Anfield and the city’s Anglican Cathedral were in attendance to pay their respects at the funeral of Roger Hunt, writes Dan Kay.
Hunt, who scored a record 244 league goals for the Reds and was a member of England’s 1966 World Cup winning side, passed away at home peacefully last month at the age of 83.
His wife Rowan, children David and Julie, stepchildren Katie and Wayne and extended family were joined at Liverpool Cathedral by around 400 mourners.
Before the service, the funeral cortege passed Liverpool’s Anfield ground where hundreds more supporters had gathered to pay their respects.
‘Sir Roger’, as he was affectionately labelled by the Kop, became one of the cornerstones of Bill Shankly's first great Liverpool side of the 1960s having arrived at Anfield from Stockton Heath (later known as Warrington Town) in the Mid-Cheshire League following the completion of his national service just months before the iconic Scottish manager in 1959.
Forming a lethal strike partnership with Scottish forward Ian St John, who also sadly passed away earlier this year, Hunt’s goals helped propel Liverpool out of the doldrums of the Second Division where they had been marooned for eight years.
Liverpool legends pay respects to Roger Hunt
There was a large turnout in Liverpool this morning as the city remembered Roger Hunt.
The funeral service for the Reds' record league goalscorer was held today at Liverpool Cathedral and was attended by members of the public along with former players of the club.
Also present was Hunt's wife Rowan, children David and Julie, stepchildren Katie and Wayne as well as other extended family members.
Prior to the 11am service, the hearse carrying the body of Sir Roger paused outside the Kop as supporters lining the streets applauded their hero.
Former team-mates of Hunt, Ian Callaghan and Gordon Milne, played alongside the prolific forward during the 1960s and helped the Reds to the First Division title on two occasions in each other's company.
Roger Hunt respects paid outside Anfield
The hearse carrying Roger Hunt paused outside Anfield this morning as a mark of respect for the Liverpool legend.
Hunt, who is the second-highest scorer in Reds history with 285 goals, passed away at the age of 83 last month.
Fans gathered outside Anfield with a 'Sir Roger' banner to pay tribute to the great goalscorer and applauded as the hearse paused outside the Kop.
The day Roger Hunt and Liverpool's first-team provided the ultimate surprise
For many Liverpool supporters, Roger Hunt’s legacy will live on.
The Reds’ second-highest goalscorer in the club’s history was a player capable of creating special moments on the pitch and will forever remain an iconic figure.
As people pause to remember the spectacular player Hunt was, there are also many special tales of Roger the person.
One fine example dates back to January 28, 1967 – which saw Liverpool face Watford away from home in the third-round of the FA Cup.
In the days leading up to this fixture, a Liverpool fan named Neill Cowin was watching the Reds train at their Melwood training base and posed an unlikely question to members of the first-team including Tommy Lawrence and Hunt.
Cowin was hosting a 21 st birthday party for his girlfriend Lynda, who he later married, and asked if the players would turn up as a surprise.
No one at the party expected this to happen. But how wrong they were.
Geoff Strong, Gordon Milne, Gerry Byrne, Ian Callaghan, Lawrence and Hunt were among those to pay a visit, which they did on their way back from the Reds’ goalless draw with the Hornets at Vicarage Road.
This is a day that Mrs Cowin, now 75 years of age, has certainly not forgotten about and has fond memories of to this day.
Jurgen Klopp's tribute to Roger Hunt
Jurgen Klopp gave a dedicated message in honour of Roger Hunt shortly after the former striker's passing was announced.
Klopp believes the qualities that made 'Sir Roger' hugely popular with Reds supporters throughout his career would have served him well in the modern-day team.
“It’s really sad news and our thoughts and our love go to his family,” said the Liverpool boss last month.
“Unfortunately, it feels too frequent in this moment we are saying farewell to these giants of our club.
“Roger Hunt comes second to no-one in his importance in the history of Liverpool FC, that much is clear.
“To be the goalscoring catalyst of the Shankly team to actually achieve promotion and then go on to win those precious league titles and the FA Cup puts him in a bracket of LFC legends who are responsible for making us the club we are today.
"Not only that, he was also a World Cup winner in 1966, too.
“I am told the Kop christened him 'Sir Roger' for all his achievements. A goalscorer who never stopped working to help his team-mates; I believe he would have fit in well within our current team.
“So, it is Sir Roger we will remember, honour and pay tribute to over the coming days.
“You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Roger Hunt's final interview on Liverpool career, Jurgen Klopp and favourite players
Theo Squires went to meet 'Sir' Roger Hunt, who remains Liverpool's record league goalscorer, back in 2019.
Here is a snippet of what Theo had to say about meeting the Reds icon:
I am beyond grateful that Roger and his partner Rowan welcomed me into their home to conduct his final interview in the winter of 2019, and it is not lost on me that such an opportunity would never have been possible just a couple of months later.
In the face of a long-term illness, there was no reason for them to agree to sit down with me, I had only briefly met them once before, just two years prior at a Bolton Wanderers match, but they were both so warm and welcoming and made me feel right at home.
When meeting 'Sir Roger', it didn't feel like a traditional interview. Rather it felt like visiting one's grandparents at Christmas time and sitting in awe, listening to the stories they had to share.
And in a trophy-laden career, rubbing shoulders with English football's very finest, Roger had so many stories to share.
My heart goes out to Rowan and the rest of Roger's friends and family at this difficult time as Liverpool mourns one of its greatest stars.
But I must also thank both Roger and Rowan for allowing me to tell his final story.
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE.
Roger Hunt's record at Liverpool
Roger Hunt is the second-highest goalscorer in Liverpool's history having scored 285 goals in 492 appearances during a spell of more than 11 years at the club.
The forward was an integral part of the Reds side under Bill Shankly that earned promotion back to the top flight by winning Division Two in 1962.
Tributes from the Kop
Before Liverpool faced Manchester City last month, the Kop held a tribute in Roger Hunt's honour.
'Sir Roger' as he was fondly known by Kopites, and fans will have their chance to pay their respects later today.
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the funeral of Liverpool legend Roger Hunt who passed away last month.
The funeral will take place in Liverpool today, with the procession expected to pass Anfield as many Kopites will be able to pay their respects to the club legend.
