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| Freddy Shepherd funeral: Mourners gather for ex-Newcastle chairman | Freddy Shepherd funeral: Mourners gather for ex-Newcastle chairman |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Family and friends have gathered for the funeral of former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd. | Family and friends have gathered for the funeral of former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd. |
| Former club captain Alan Shearer, ex-Magpies managers Kenny Dalglish and Sam Allardyce, and Everton star Wayne Rooney were among mourners at St George's Church, in Jesmond, Newcastle. | |
| The service got under way at noon, to be followed by a private cremation ceremony. | The service got under way at noon, to be followed by a private cremation ceremony. |
| Mr Shepherd, 75, passed away at home on 25 September. | |
| He was described as an "incredibly passionate supporter of Newcastle United" by the club's current managing director, Lee Charnley. | He was described as an "incredibly passionate supporter of Newcastle United" by the club's current managing director, Lee Charnley. |
| Mr Shepherd engineered the £15m deal which took Alan Shearer from Blackburn back to his native Newcastle in July 1996. | Mr Shepherd engineered the £15m deal which took Alan Shearer from Blackburn back to his native Newcastle in July 1996. |
| He spent 15 years as a director at St James' Park, serving under Sir John Hall as vice-chairman before eventually taking over the hot seat in his own right in 1997. | He spent 15 years as a director at St James' Park, serving under Sir John Hall as vice-chairman before eventually taking over the hot seat in his own right in 1997. |
| During his time at Newcastle, the club twice finished as Premier League runners-up, reached two FA Cup finals and enjoyed two Champions League campaigns. | During his time at Newcastle, the club twice finished as Premier League runners-up, reached two FA Cup finals and enjoyed two Champions League campaigns. |
| In addition, he oversaw the redevelopment of an ageing stadium, boosting its capacity from around 36,000 to in excess of 52,000. | In addition, he oversaw the redevelopment of an ageing stadium, boosting its capacity from around 36,000 to in excess of 52,000. |
| However, he was also involved in controversy - he and fellow director Douglas Hall were recorded calling female football supporters "dogs" by the News of the World newspaper in 1998. | However, he was also involved in controversy - he and fellow director Douglas Hall were recorded calling female football supporters "dogs" by the News of the World newspaper in 1998. |