'Tears and smiles' as Chesterfield legend Ernie Moss' life celebrated at poignant funeral

The Spireites’ record goalscorer sadly passed away last month, aged 71, and hundreds gathered to say their final farewell in Chesterfield today.

After passing Ernie’s old haunt at Saltergate, and a lap of honour and minute’s applause at the Technique Stadium, his funeral service was held at a packed Chesterfield Crematorium.

With many more listening outside, Ernie was described as a ‘gentleman in everything he did’.

MORE: Chesterfield legend and record goalscorer Ernie Moss dies, aged 71

Minister Jonathan Reeve said: “Ernie was uncomfortable with the word legend. He called himself a LEGend. But he was far from that, he was a legend.

"But he never let it change him. He was a legend as a husband, legend as a father and legend as a grandfather.

"His greatest legacy and achievement was his family. More so than any goal, achievement or silverware.”

MORE: Ernie Moss: Hundreds turn out to applaud Chesterfield's record goalscorer as he makes his final journey - live updates

Ernie’s grandson Henry said his grandfather’s loss had left a ‘gaping hole’ in all their lives, but they would remember him with ‘love and joy’.

Daughters Nikki and Sarah remembered their ‘beloved daddy’ and said it had always been Ernie and his girls ‘against the world’.

Poignant renditions of well-known football hymn ‘Abide With Me’ and Ernie and wife Jenny’s favourite song, Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, also rang around the crematorium as people gathered to remember him.

Ernie had three spells at the Spireites, scoring 192 goals in more than 500 appearances.

The service was told he got married on Boxing Day – and needless to say had a game the next day.

Although his favourite meal was steak and chips and ice cream, Ernie was described as a complete professional who ‘worked his socks off’ on the training field.

In later years Ernie had suffered with dementia, which his family believe was caused by him repeatedly heading a football during his career in the 60s, 70s and 80s, and had been living in a care home.

His family continue to campaign for more research to be done into the links of heading a football and dementia.

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