FORMER footballers, friends and family have attended the funeral of Stoke City's original long-throw specialist.
Bill Caton was hurling throw-ins with devastating accuracy into opposition penalty areas long before Rory Delap was born.
The Second World War veteran was the last surviving member of Stoke City's title challenging team of 1946-47, as he played alongside the likes of Sir Stanley Matthews, Neil Franklin and Frank Mountford.
Yesterday, his life was celebrated by friends and family and former Stoke stars, including Terry Conroy, at a moving funeral service held at St Giles's Church, in Newcastle.
The Reverend Ann Taylor, who led the service, said: "For Bill, playing for Stoke City was one of the highlights of his life.
"When I spoke to my dad about Bill, the first thing he said was that he could throw a ball further and more accurately than anyone.
"He will always be known as a wizard of the long throw – and that was at a time when Stoke was a team of greats.
"He was a special player, a special man and above all a special husband and father.
"The family were central to Bill's life. He adored his family."
Bill died at the age of 86 on August 16 after suffering a heart attack at the Cross Heath home he shared with his wife of 62 years, Iris.
The Goldenhill-born inside forward played 22 times for Stoke between 1947 and 1949. He was feared for his long throws, having built up his strength by practising with a medicine ball.
He left Stoke to sign for Carlisle, and later played for Chesterfield, Crewe Alexandra, Worcester, Stafford Rangers and Congleton Town.
After hanging up his boots, Bill served as the landlord at the Smithfield pub, in Newcastle, for many years.
During the Second World War, Bill served with the Second Field Regiment Royal Artillery and was captured and incarcerated in Italy.
He later managed to escape from a prisoner of war camp.
Bill's grandson, Anthony Evans, aged 34, of Newcastle, told the congregation: "He was commended for his part in operations in mainland Europe.
"When we were kids his stories about his own Second World War exploits were always fascinating, often exciting, sometimes scary and some of them – at least four that we counted – were even true.
"My favourite was when he beat Adolf Hitler in single combat at the gates of Berlin to win the war for the Allies.
"I asked the other grandchildren for some of their fondest memories.
"You can tell what a great granddad he was that none of the memories involved great Christmas or birthday presents, although Billy spoiled us with plenty of these.
"All our memories are focused on simply spending time with him. Of Grandad Bill, just by being Grandad Bill.
"His final day was spent exactly as he would have wanted to spend that day, or any other day.
"He spent the day with my Nana Iris, who he always called Kate.
"He had a full belly meal, a nice beer and watched a football match.
"Everyone will miss him. Everyone wishes they could spend one more Christmas or birthday or one more minute with him.
"But if death is a state of living in other people's memories, Grandad has a long life ahead of him."
source: thisisstaffs
