A VILLAGE where football loyalties are divided was united yesterday to pay tribute to a popular man who died at the Stadium of Light.

Lifelong Sunderland fan Alan Thompson collapsed before kickoff at the Tyne and Wear derby on Saturday, in which the Black Cats beat the Magpies.

The funeral of the 60-year-old retired baker took place at Catchgate Methodist Church, in Catchgate, near Stanley, County Durham, where Mr Thompson lived with his wife, Mary.

At his family’s request, Sunderland and Newcastle fans wore their club colours, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with each other before they filed into church.

Two pallbearers wore red and white and two wore black and white as they carried the coffin, draped in a Sunderland flag, into the service.

Tributes to Mr Thompson spelled out Alan and Tompa, with another in the shape of a dartboard from friends at The Smiths Arms, where he was a regular.

Father-of-three Mr Thompson was a season ticket holder at Sunderland, and one wreath was signed by the club’s chairman.

It read: “With sincere condolences, Niall Quinn and everyone at Sunderland AFC.”

Friend Terry Clayton paid tribute to Mr Thompson inside the church, which was packed with mourners.

He said: “The community is going to have a big piece missing with Alan not here.

“He worshipped the ground that Mary and the boys walked on, and he is not going to be replaced.”

Mr Clayton, who wore his Magpies shirt during his tribute, read a letter of condolence from Newcastle United Football Club, expressing sympathy at Mr Thompson’s passing.

With great sportsmanship, he said: “In the pub last Friday, his last words to me were ‘We always win 2-1’ and on this occasion, I am pleased they did.”

Hughie Embleton, who wore a Sunderland strip, paid tribute to his brother-in-law.

He said: “Tompa touched all of our hearts in one way or another.

“He will be very sadly missed by all of his friends and family.”

Mourners then rose to their feet to applaud Mr Thompson’s life.

After the service, Mr Thompson, who has three sons, David, Alan, and Gavin, was buried wearing his Sunderland shirt.

The Reverend Kenneth Mankin, who led the service, expressed his sympathy on behalf of the regular minister, the Reverend Keith Jump, who is in hospital.

Mr Mankin said: “The tremendous number of people here today is an expression of the respect in which Alan was held.

“Many see death as the final whistle, but faith hints to us that there is extra time.”

■ The Northern Echo attended the funeral with the permission of Mr Thompson’s family.