City fan’s funeral held at Eastlands

A MANCHESTER City superfan who lost his brave battle against skin cancer has become the first person to have a funeral service at the club’s Eastlands stadium.

Failsworth father-of-two Steve Kay was yesterday given a fitting send-off at the ground considered his “church”.

His coffin was draped in a city flag and mourners were asked to wear City’s sky-blue colours rather than black for the non-religious service in a suite overlooking the pitch at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Steve’s ashes were scattered at the Remembrance Garden at the stadium.

His family — wife Karen (51), son Ash (26) and daughter Abi (24) — said City was his pride and joy and they could not do anything better for him than a football funeral.

Steve, of Kershaw Street, was diagnosed with melanoma in May, 2007, after a mole on his back was removed. Despite treatment at the Christie, the disease spread throughout his body. He died aged 52.

A City season ticket holder, Steve started supporting the club in 1967 and completed an unbroken run of 327 matches home and away from January, 1998, to September, 2004.

Steve ran the mcfcstats.com website, which compiles statistics of every game since 2003 and was named Blues’ Supporter of the Year in 2000.

City supporter websites have been flooded with tributes and the family say they have been helped by people speaking so positively about Steve.

Relatives now aim to raise awareness and money for melanoma charity Factor 50.

The service was organised by Sale-based Natural Endings Funeral Services.

Funeral director Rosie Grant said: “We arrange funerals at lots of different places but this is our first at a football ground.

“It was a place Steve loved so much and spent so many happy times there so it was the most appropriate thing to do.

“It’s really powerful to go somewhere that’s played a big part in their lives. It means a lot to the family.

“It was a really lovely service. There was a big turnout and even more people at the committal at the crematorium. He was obviously a very popular man.”