Craig Cameron’s brother Ross (left) and three of Craig’s best friends, each wearing a red T-shirt with his name and photo on, carried his coffin. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0864937)

The 33-year-old former island footballer died unexpectedly on 8 October.

Mr Cameron, who had worked at Specsavers and later as a labourer, was a talented footballer who, as a youth player, had trials for both Everton and Sheffield Wednesday.

‘Craig commenced his first day at primary school wearing football boots,’ said Gary Vaudin, who led the humanist service.

His friends knew the former Castel and Les Beaucamps pupil as Cam Cam or Craigy Boy.

His brother, Ross, and three best friends, who carried his coffin onto the pitch, wore T-shirts featuring his photograph.

All those attending the service were asked to wear red because Mr Cameron was a devoted Liverpool fan.

‘Addicted to excitement, Craig was a party boy, the kind who could last the whole night through without flagging and still “fire on all four cylinders” the following day,’ said Mr Vaudin.

He then read a tribute on behalf of friends Nick Mollet, Matt Jennings and Dominic McCarthy who said ‘he brought love and laughter wherever he went’.