The women's football community gathered to bid farewell to former Liverpool manager Matt Beard at his funeral service. Beard, who guided the Reds to consecutive Women's Super League titles in 2013 and 2014, passed away on 20 September at the age of 47.

Family, friends, and prominent figures from women's football, including United States boss Emma Hayes, attended the mass at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Mark Beard, his brother and former Millwall and Sheffield United midfielder, shared during the service, "Please, please, please let Matt's passing be a lesson to us all." He added, "Mark had a beautiful soul and a one-in-a-million personality. He always found a way to make you laugh and smile."

Beard's wife, Debbie, children Harry and Ellie, step-son Scott, and mother Margaret were joined by Liverpool's first-team squad, manager Gareth Taylor and his coaching staff, and sporting director Richard Hughes.

Players who played under Beard, known as 'Beardy' to family and friends, formed a guard of honour inside the cathedral as his coffin, draped in red and white scarves, arrived. Former Liverpool players from Beard's title-winning sides, including Natasha Dowie and Fara Williams, were present. Ian Rush, Liverpool's all-time leading scorer, and ex-Reds and England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland also attended.

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner, Canada boss and ex-Liverpool player Casey Stoney, and former England forward Lianne Sanderson were among those in attendance. Arsenal's former Liverpool players Olivia Smith, women's football's first £1m player, and Taylor Hinds, who played for the Gunners in Portugal against Benfica in the Champions League, were also present.

Many attendees wore red, as requested by Beard's family, who invited fans to wear football shirts or casual clothes. Fans raised scarves and joined in as 'You'll Never Walk Alone', Liverpool's club anthem, was sung by Beard's niece Lucy at the end of the service, attended by around 600 people.

Richard Elliott and his daughter Anna travelled from Brampton, near Carlisle, to pay their respects. "He was the nicest bloke ever who always made time to speak to fans," said Richard. "When he learned where we travelled from to watch Liverpool games home and away, he'd say: 'Wow, it's you again!' Before one game he took my daughter's scarf into the the dressing room to get it signed."

Another fan, Fiona Wedgner-Thorpe, who travelled to Durham to watch Liverpool win 2-1 in a Women's League Cup tie on Thursday, described Beard as a "trailblazer". "He gave everything to the women's game. He was so giving to the fans."

Beard was laid to rest in a private ceremony, with invited guests heading to Anfield for a reception. He spent seven years at Liverpool across two spells with the club, and also managed Millwall Lionesses, Chelsea, Boston Breakers, West Ham, Bristol City, and Burnley.

An inquest into Beard's death was opened and adjourned on 29 September. Coroner John Gittins stated that paramedics were called to Beard's home in Flintshire after he was found hanged and taken to hospital in Chester, where he died at 21:15 BST on 20 September.

Beard's family requested donations to a mental health charity in lieu of flowers. In Liverpool's first game after Beard's passing, a 5-0 Women's League Cup win over Sunderland on 24 September, one banner read: 'Liverpool was made for Matt and Matt was made for Liverpool.' A fundraiser organized by journalist Jacqui Oatley has raised more than £61,000 to support his family.

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