
Gareth Southgate gave a touching speech at Ugo Ehiogu's funeral, paying tribute to a man who he put his life on the line alongside on the football field for 11 years, then cruelly had to watch his life taken too soon.

They arrived at St Michael's church, in Highgate, by the bus load — a dozen in total — with more than 400 people turning up to remember a former team-mate, a friend and relative. It was a time for tears, but also for laughs, as the England manager recalled the small things that everyone loved about such a big man on and off the field.

'Gareth hit on how he would order something off the menu, but he'd want it without that, without that, without that and without that and done a different way,' Brian Little, his manager for four years at Aston Villa, said. 'Ugo was very fussy with his food.

A hearse carrying the coffin of footballer Ugo Ehiogu, who died of a heart attack on April 21, in London on Wednesday

Gemma Coleman at the service for her husband Ugo, who collapsed at Tottenham's training ground and died a day later

Ugo and his wife Gemma share a precious moment during their marriage together. The photo featured in the order of service

Former Middlesbrough team-mate Paul Ince (left) and former Aston Villa team-mate Paul Merson (right) were present

Ex-Manchester United and Newcastle forward Andy Cole (right), who underwent a kidney transplant in April, was at the service, as was ex-Arsenal and Crystal Palace striker-turned BBC pundit Ian Wright (left)

England manager Gareth Southgate, who played with Ehiogu at Aston Villa, was present to pay his respects (right) while Ehiogu's former Aston Villa boss Ron Atkinson joined him

Former Aston Villa ace Lee Hendrie (left) attended the funeral service alongside ex-Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood (right)

'He was very fussy about pre-match meals. Alan Evans used to do all that side of it [at Villa] and he'd come back to me time and time again saying, "Everything's fine but Ugo's being awkward again", but in a nice way. He was just fussy, he wanted everything to be spot on.

'That was a nice reminder, something that opened that little box in your brain. Gareth knows him probably better than most people. It was a great to hear him speak and he spoke so wonderfully well about him. A difficult day has turned out to be a day where a lot of people have come back together again.'

The hearse arrived at 11.15am on Wednesday morning with 'OUR FRIEND' carried atop written in white flowers. And how many friends he had; that much was clear. Strikers who shared tussles with Ehiogu during his career — either as team-mates in training or opponents during matches — shared their memories of the man with each other.

Dwight Yorke, who played with Ehiogu at Aston Villa for seven years and was best man at his wedding, said: 'He was a great guy. I've known Ugo for a number of years, and had the pleasure of playing with him, but my friendship goes beyond that.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ledley King was also present on Wednesday to join mourners at the service

Former Aston Villa striker and team-mate Dwight Yorke (left) is consoled at the funeral as mourners start to gather

'We shared a lot of personal stuff, and a lot of great memories about Ugo. You just had to look at the turnout and the respect that he had gained, not just in his football career, but outside the game as well. We've seen that today. It's just such a sad loss for him to leave us at such an early stage.

'I see him as more like a brother to me, even though I'm just a year older than him, we were born on the same day so we shared a lot of stuff together, so he will always be remembered. He will forever be a part of me.'

Dion Dublin, who played with Ehiogu at Aston Villa during his final two years there, fought back tears outside. 'I won't make it,' he said after being asked if he would care to say a few words, before struggling through a wonderful tribute: 'If the words were in the dictionary of how to do your job then his name would be in it, with a picture of Ugo's face on it.

Ex-Chelsea striker and QPR manager Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink was seen at the service, wearing a dark suit and sunglasses

Well-wishers including PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor attended the funeral, which took place in Highgate, London

'On and off the field he did it right. As a father, as a parent, he did it right. Can't fault him. The service was beautiful, as I expected, Ugo's way: done right, everything was on time, all the people he wanted there were there.' The bottom lip wobbled for a few seconds and the eyes welled before he finished: 'I'll miss him.'

Wife Gemma Coleman and son Obi led mourners at the funeral service in Highgate, London, which was also attended by former footballers including Ledley King, Dwight Yorke and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was among the attendees and manager Mauricio Pochettino was scheduled to attend the wake in Alexandra Palace.

Two large projectors were used at the venue to display photos of Ehiogu from his career, while at the wake salmon, lemon chicken, gnocchi and potato salad were served to those in attendance.

The service for former defender and Tottenham coach Ugo Ehiogu makes its way through the London streets on Wednesday

The funeral service took place in Highgate in London on Wednesday afternoon at St. Michael's Church

Pall-bearers lift Ehiogu's coffin out of the hearse and make their way into St. Michael's curch in Highgate, London

An order of service handed out at Ugo Ehiogu's funeral, which included tributes from his family and friends

Spurs ambassador Gary Mabbutt was with Ehiogu a few days before he tragically suffered a heart attack, aged only 44, at Tottenham's Enfield training centre, where he was under 23 coach, in April and later died in hospital.

'He was looking very fit and very well,' Mabbutt said. 'It's so very sad for all of us. It was a lovely service and hopefully we gave him the best send off we possibly could. What's come across mostly is how well respected he is and the fact he's died so young is very sad.'

Those Under 23 players and their younger peers were also present. 'The sadness in the eyes of the young Tottenham players who he coached was quite evident,' PFA chairman Gordon Taylor said.

Donations to a charity page set up by Ehiogu's wife Gemma have surpassed £23,000 and will help kids play football

Arsenal are among the clubs to have donated to the charity page since Ugo Ehiogu passed away in April

Middlesbrough, one of Ehiogu's former teams, also donated to the JustGiving page which has smashed its original target

The defender's former Aston Villa team-mate, Mark Bosnich, donated £1,000 to the page that will help kids pay football

Tottenham's U23 side mourn the passing of their coach before their first game after his death

Ehiogu had been coaching with Tottenham since 2014 after retiring from football

It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Ugo Ehiogu, our Under-23 coach. pic.twitter.com/sSU0yqVfyk — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) April 21, 2017

In his final tweet on March 29, Ehiogu revealed he had given a homeless girl money in London and discussed how the impulsive act left him feeling good

'I feel such was his commitment to coaching, following his top quality playing career, he's a massive loss [to the game]. It's such a shock.'

Ron Atkinson, who bought him from West Bromwich Albion to Villa in 1991, added: 'He was an old-fashioned defender. He loved defending, something that's gone out of the game.'

The purveyor of a lost art; lost to football, and the world.

Ugo Ehiogu's wife Gemma set up a JustGiving page for fans and well-wishers to leave charitable donations in the aftermath of his passing and contributions have now surpassed £23,000, well above the original target of £1,000.

To donate to the page please click here.

The 44-year-old played north of the border with Rangers just before his retirement

He also had a successful spell with Middlesbrough between 2000 and 2007