Stars of past and present mourn Charles

Football today paid its respects to John Charles, the Wales and Leeds legend who died last month at the age of 72.

Charles’ funeral was held this morning at Leeds Parish Church and football stars from past and present were there to mourn Welsh football’s greatest-ever player.

Alan Smith and Mark Viduka were among those representing the Leeds class of 2004 while Elland Road heroes of their 1992 league championship-winning campaign included John Lukic and Gordon Strachan.

Former Wales player and manager John Toshack read a specially composed poem, called ‘The Gentle Giant’, in which he hailed Charles as “the greatest player there has ever been”.