Gregory's family says thanks

View GalleryBy Phil Wilkinson

The family of Mike Gregory has paid a heart-felt thank you to those who attended his funeral – and said he would have "loved such a fitting send off".
They have been moved by the touching tributes that have been paid to the former Great Britain captain and Wigan coach.
And widow Erica said the incredible number of people who paid their respects at his funeral last Friday has been a huge help.
Sacred Heart RC Church was packed and hundreds more were left outside to hear the moving service relayed on loud speakers on a bitterly cold winter afternoon.

Erica said: "I want to say a massive 'thank you' to all the people who turned up.
"Mike would have loved such a wonderful send off. It was the saddest day of my life, but Mike would have loved it.
"Those who have helped, and continue to help, have been brilliant."
Dad-of-two Mike died peacefully at home last Monday lunchtime after a four-year battle with a form of motor neurone disease.

Erica reserved special praise for close friends Joe and Nicola Lydon for organising "a wonderful service".
On another day, on another occasion, last Friday afternoon in Springfield would have been an autograph hunters' paradise as a host of former players and stars of rugby league joined family, friends and fans in paying their respects.

Graeme West, Jason Robinson, Shaun Edwards, Andy Gregory, Andy Farrell, Denis Betts, Steve Hampson, Kris Radlinski, Brian Carney, Neil Cowie, Billy Boston, Colin Clarke, Mick Cassidy and Martin Dermott were among the former Wigan players in attendance.
They were joined by Warriors coach Brian Noble, new chairman Ian Lenagan as well as players and representatives from Warrington and St Helens, clubs Mike served as a player and assistant coach respectively.

The coffin left the Gregory family home in Standish-lower-Ground shortly after midday on Friday, and as it passed Christopher Park, the Wigan Athletic players applauded.
By the time the family arrived at Sacred Heart RC Church, the streets were filled with hundreds of mourners – the pews were packed an hour before the service began at 2pm.

The coffin entered the church to the music from the film Gladiator; the six pallbearers had served as his ushers at Mike's wedding to Erica, while two more friends carried a floral tribute which read, 'Daddy'.
In every respect, the mass was a celebration of Mike's life – as a rugby player, coach, friend, brother, son, husband and dad.

In a moving speech, Father Andrew Jolley, parish priest of Sacred Heart, described Mike's death at such a young age as a tragedy, and his life as an unfinished symphony.
He revealed Mike's first venture into professional sport was as a ballboy for Wigan Athletic, and he made the congregation smile as he remembered how, as a young child, Mike once interrupted one of his services – when the priest raised his arms aloft, his robe draping from his arms, Mike shouted out: "Batman".

Mike's sense of fun was illustrated elsewhere during the hour-and-a-half service, not least in a stirring eulogy delivered by Wigan's new chief executive Joe Lydon, Mike's best man at his wedding.
He recalled how Mike could fix a stare on you "that told you when you'd missed a tackle or, worse still, a round."

The tears were broken by more laughter as Joe recalled one memorable Boxing Day drinking session down Wigan Lane.
In one of the pubs, there was a door with a sign reading Beware of the Dog.
Mike, dressed in a gorilla costume, banged repeatedly on the door to aggravate the dog, then opened the door to release the angry pet, took shelter and laughed as the dog terrorised a stunned bar.

Erica had written a touching poem which was read out by her close friend Nicola Lydon, in which she lovingly referred to Mike as her "gentle giant with the crooked smile".
Mike called her "his rock" as she nursed him through his illness.
After the service had finished, the coffin was taken out to the same Gladiator music and spontaneous, rapturous applause from those gathered outside, who wanted to say their own 'thank you'.

The congregation waited patiently to exit the building, all of them grateful for the way Mike had touched their lives ... and with the final words printed on the back page of the Order of Service still in their minds.
"We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time." – Michael Keith Gregory.