This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6273950.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Funeral of Wolves legend Dougan Dougan 'was unsung hero of peace'
(about 3 hours later)
The funeral of former Northern Ireland international footballer Derek Dougan has taken place in Wolverhampton.The funeral of former Northern Ireland international footballer Derek Dougan has taken place in Wolverhampton.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker died last month, aged 69.The former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker died last month, aged 69.
Nicknamed 'The Doog', he won 43 international caps and several of his former team mates are attending the funeral. Nicknamed 'The Doog', he won 43 NI caps. Many of his former international and club team-mates were at the church.
The east Belfast man was an advocate for an all-Ireland football team and an outspoken chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association. The Rev David Frith told mourners and the many Wolves fans gathered outside that Dougan was "an unsung hero of peace and reconciliation".
"Not only did Derek have ideas about people from different backgrounds living in harmony, he also took action to bring it about.
Derek Dougan on the pitch with England's Bobby Moore.Enlarge Image "The story of his off-the-field work to put together an all-Ireland football team ought not to be lost among the tales of his on-the-field prowess."
The rector of Wolverhampton told mourners that Dougan was hugely proud of his Belfast roots, but was also deeply pained by the hatreds and tragedies of his homeland.
Abide With Me, You'll Never Walk Alone and Danny Boy were sung by mourners, and the service was relayed on speakers for fans outside.
'Tremendous combination'
Former Scottish international Denis Law said outside the church that Dougan was a "wonderful guy" and a "tremendous international player".
Law said: "(He had a) tremendous combination with George Best at that particular time when Northern Ireland had a very, very good team."
Dougan was a friend of Best and helped carry the coffin at the former Manchester United star's funeral in December 2005.
Derek Dougan died last month aged 69The east Belfast man was an advocate for an all-Ireland football team and an outspoken chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association.
After he retired, Dougan was involved in a diverse range of projects including standing as an independent candidate against sitting East Belfast MP Peter Robinson in a parliamentary election.After he retired, Dougan was involved in a diverse range of projects including standing as an independent candidate against sitting East Belfast MP Peter Robinson in a parliamentary election.
He was also a newspaper columnist and wrote an autobiography entitled The Sash He Never Wore.He was also a newspaper columnist and wrote an autobiography entitled The Sash He Never Wore.
Dougan was a friend of George Best and carried his coffin at the former Manchester United star's funeral in December 2005.
Dougan scored more than 120 goals for Wolves and was in their victorious 1974 League Cup side. He also played for Portsmouth, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Peterborough United and Leicester City.Dougan scored more than 120 goals for Wolves and was in their victorious 1974 League Cup side. He also played for Portsmouth, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Peterborough United and Leicester City.