IN footballing terms, it was a full house.

Several hundred people - some of whom stood outside - turned out to pay their respects to Prestwich Heys manager Adie Moran last Friday at Our Lady of Dolours Church in Kersal.

Adie (43) died on June 28 following a swimming pool accident in Sri Lanka where he was on holiday.

People from all walks of the community - including past and present Heys players and officials, work colleagues, former schoolteachers, and representatives from football teams and leagues, and other local sporting clubs - stood united with Adie's family and closest friends.

They filled the church on Bury New Road to capacity where a Requiem Mass was held by Father Paul Addison to celebrate his life.

Adie leaves a son Tom (17), parents Hilda and Pat, and brothers Mike and Jon.

Last Thursday night, the hearse had stopped outside the Prestwich Heys ground on Sandgate Road where around 150 people had assembled, many of whom were team and club members.

A silent tribute was held prior to the hearse moving on to arrive at Our Lady of Dolours for a short evening service.

During Friday's ceremony, a tribute was made by Mr Marc Boits, business unit manager, food service and industry, with potato product firm Lamb Weston, for whom Adie worked as national accounts manager.

Together with colleagues, Mr Boits had flown over from Holland to attend.

He spoke of Adie's smiling, committed, and infectious personality which echoed the thoughts of many who knew him on the sporting and social front.

John Hunter, on behalf of Prestwich Heys, spoke of Adie's attributes and his zest and resolution to bring back the glory days to Prestwich.

He revealed how the team would not be using the number seven shirt for next season, the number Adie had made his own during his long playing career.

At the end of the service, Heys players in their team colours formed a guard of honour as family members carried the coffin from the church to a horse-drawn carriage.

The Manchester Amateur League trophy, proudly won for the past three years under Adie's leadership, was placed by the coffin's side. The achievement formed part of Adie's plans to take the club back up to the semi-professional ranks of the North West Counties League and qualify to play in the FA Cup.

In driving rain, mourners spontaneously and solemnly broke out into a round of applause as the hearse left for a private interment at Agecroft Cemetery, a send-off worthy of his sporting career alone. Adie was buried wearing a Heys shirt.

While his boots will never be filled, there is huge hope and determination that his ambitions will be.