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About 600 Mourners Honor Matt Beard at Liverpool Cathedral Memorial

The tribute underscored his influence on women’s football, with the family urging support for mental health causes.

Overview

  • An estimated 600 people attended the service at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, including leading figures such as Emma Hayes, Marc Skinner, Casey Stoney and Ian Rush.
  • Former players formed a guard of honour as his coffin, draped with two Liverpool scarves, was carried in, and fans raised scarves as “You’ll Never Walk Alone” closed the service.
  • In a eulogy, his brother Mark urged people to "be more thoughtful," calling Matt a "beautiful soul" whose family was his driving force.
  • The family requested donations to mental-health charities in lieu of flowers, helplines were printed in the order of service, and a public fundraiser organized by Jacqui Oatley has surpassed £61,000.
  • An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned, with the coroner stating he was found hanged at home and died later in hospital on 20 September.