Former Carlisle United manager Mark Hughes carried his son Alex’s coffin into church for the funeral service following his sudden death aged just 38.
Several Manchester United legends, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Mike Phelan, Ryan Giggs and Bryan Robson, were in attendance at a packed St Peter’s Church in Prestbury.
They were paying their final respects to Alex Hughes, who had been working for Grimsby Town as player recruitment lead before he died suddenly and unexpectedly on June 19.
Grimsby Town manager David Artell was also there for the funeral service in the Cheshire village church.
Hughes senior, who left Carlisle at the end of last season, carried his son’s coffin into the church alongside other family members, including Alex’s brother Curtis and father-in-law David Pollock, who delivered a eulogy.
Alex and his childhood sweetheart Jess had met 21 years ago at Cheadle Hulme High School and they had been married at the same St. Peter’s Church.
Jess was accompanied by the couple’s two sons Sebastian and Leonardo.
Alex had been born in Wrexham while his father was playing for Barcelona and his mother Jill had flown back a few weeks before the due date to ensure he was born in Wales.
Alex had brief spells as a footballer for Stockport and Wrexham, but continued his career in the game, beginning by working with his dad at Blackburn as a performance analyst in 2007.
Mark Hughes was unable to prevent Carlisle being relegated from the Football League, despite improved results under his stewardship.
He stayed on for the first campaign in the National League but they were unable to get past Boreham Wood in the play-offs.
