Oxford United and Oxford City pay respects to Micky Lewis

Players and staff from Oxford United and Oxford City congregated at Court Place Farm as the U's legend's funeral cortege passed today.

The hearse arrived at midday, before those gathered held a minute's silence followed by a minute's applause.

Obituary: Micky Lewis filled every role at Oxford United

Also present were family members, Chris Wilder - who led the U's back into the Football League in 2010 with Lewis as his assistant - and broadcaster and supporter Jim Rosenthal.

Former Oxford United boss Chris Wilder (left) and broadcaster Jim Rosenthal Picture: Twitter/@OUFCOfficial

United's players trained early this morning in order to attend, before travelling up to Sunderland this afternoon for tomorrow's Sky Bet League One clash.

Karl Robinson said: “It’s a sign of the man, his personality was larger than life and people followed him and wanted to learn from him.

"We felt it was right that every member of the staff and the first team were there to pay respect to his life and his family.

"He meant something to the football club as a person, as well as a player."

Oxford United head coach Karl Robinson (left) and assistant Craig Short pay their respects Picture: Shaun Reynolds

The U's head coach added: "We stand side-by-side with Oxford City and we just felt our schedule had to fit around this moment.

"It wasn’t about the game and the perfect preparation, it was about the respect we paid to someone who we feel did a perfect job because of the type of person he was.”

Lewis passed away on March 5, aged 56, having been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer just weeks before.

He joined United from Derby County in 1988 and went on to play 351 times for the club.

Read also: Fans and ex-players remember Micky Lewis

During his 27-year association with the U's, Lewis was also twice caretaker boss and youth-team coach, as well as deputising as stand-in physio and bus driver.

A montage was played on the big screen at Court Place Farm Picture: Shaun Reynolds

He had a huge impact outside of United, coaching the Oxford University side for 18 years from 2002 and as head coach of Oxford City's Velocity football and education programme.

That saw Lewis work with U's Women's captain Lauren Haynes, who leads the female section.

She said: "One of the biggest reasons I took the job at Velocity was because of Micky.

"In the short amount of time I was working with him, I learnt way more walking past his sessions.

"You could hear him from a mile off, you'd be sat on the other side of the complex and know exactly where he is because his voice was very distinctive.

The hearse arrives at Court Place Farm Picture: Twitter/@OUFCOfficial

"He was such a good role model, not just for those at Velocity but everyone in and around Oxfordshire.

"When the news hit and you look on social media you realise how many lives he has impacted, not just players but coaches too.

"He is a role model and was a really good friend of mine.

"It's heartbreaking but his legacy will definitely live on."