Funeral for Blackpool football legend Perry
Last updated : 05 October 2007 By The Seasider
Alongside the family and friends of Perry were many former players and Blackpool fans who had been asked by the family to wear the Tangerine club colours.
Bill's coffin was carried into the Holy Trinity church adorned with flowers and tangerine favours and a frame of his 1953 Blackpool shirt was also on display as the church overflowed with people who had gathered to pay there last respects.
The vicar a Blackpool fan himself later wore a tangerine scarf half way through the service and it was left for Jimmy Armfield who fittingly recalled Perry's playing career which included his own personal memories and told of the how much he and everyone who had met Bill had admired him for his generosity and the modesty he always displayed of his achievements and the smile he always gave to those he met a man without any malice.
His reading finished with a tape recording of an interview Armfield had with Matthews discussing Perry's contribution including the audio commentary of Blackpool's finest moment when he scored the winning goal in Blackpool's 4-3 win over Bolton Wanderers in the cup final of 1953.
The club was represented by both Karl and Owen Oyston who chatted afterwards outside with those who had attended the funeral in the autumn sunshine.
Police closed the road in front of the church in view of the numbers attending the funeral and later the hearse left for Lytham Crematorium with applause from onlookers.
