The Celtic cross outside St Mary's Church honours its congregation members "who fell in action" during the wars of the last century.

Yesterday, the people of Hamilton, fans of Motherwell and clubs across Scotland gathered to pay tribute to another parishioner whose life was taken all too prematurely.

A full two hours before the requiem mass in his honour, and despite the bitterest temperatures of the winter to date, steady streams of claret and amber, green and white, and red and blue moved through Hamilton town centre en route to Cadzow Street to pay their last respects to Phil O'Donnell.

As many familiar faces from the football world inched into the church, emotion etched on their faces, hundreds of others gathered outside. Among them were many of the same people who instinctively made their way to Fir Park in the immediate aftermath of the player's death last weekend.

When Eileen O'Donnell, the player's wife, arrived with the couple's four young children, the murmurs of recognition at the public figures gave way to a solemn and reverential silence, punctured only by the sound of distant traffic and tears brought on by the poignancy of the moment.

As the couple's eldest boy, 10-year-old Christopher, climbed from the funeral car, one mother attending with her own young son said: "He's as brave as anything that wee boy."

By the time the service was under way, some from the football world, including Hearts players Neil McCann and Robbie Neilson, could only join the mourners in the street. Others, including Lee McCulloch, David Weir and Craig Brewster, were also forced to endure the harsh weather, such was the size of the congregation inside.

Throughout the 90-minute service, the Motherwell youth team stood stoically on Cadzow Street, each clutching a copy of the order of service.

At times the service became too much for many. O'Donnell's close friend Chris McCart, Motherwell's youth development coach, soothed the grief with some anecdotes but the pay-off to his eulogy led to many tears. As Ave Maria rang out from the speakers others could stifle their sorrow no longer.

Many in the crowd behaved as if they, too, were in the church, praying, joining in hymns, bowing their heads and removing the hats offering protection from the elements. Among them was Andrew Redmond, a season- ticket holder at Fir Park who was at the game last week.

Mr Redmond said: "It was very touching and to see those children arrive with their mother was very, very moving. Of course everyone was bitterly cold but you won't hear one complaint.

We were prepared to put up with whatever to say our goodbyes."

Tom Coyle had been a Motherwell mascot at the club's game against Aberdeen a fortnight before O'Donnell's death and had met the player. The seven-year-old from Burnside in South Lanarkshire was brought to the funeral by Linda Bullock to help him understand the tragedy.

Ms Bullock said: "We came to pay our respects but also so Tom could understand what has happened. He's been saying how Phil told him to cross his fingers that Motherwell won the game and we'll always remember him as Uncle Phil."

Among those inside the church were friends and neighbours of the O'Donnell family, including Patrick and Mary Finnigan.

Mr Finnigan said: "What a tribute to such a nice man.

I remember Phil when he was jumping over fences as a boy and the man he became was a tribute to the O'Donnell family. It was a privilege for us to be in there today."

His wife added: "The close friends and family have rallied round and you just had to see who turned up to see Phil got the send off he deserved."

Alan Gebbie had journeyed from Edinburgh to pay his respects. Another season ticket holder who witnessed the tragic events last Saturday, he said: "It's all just been extremely sad. I just had to come to pay my personal respects to someone who was just a marvellous human being. Just a wonderful man. Many of us met Phil on occasion and feel today we've lost a good friend, as well as a magnificent player and captain."

Another, Peter Elder, wore a Motherwell strip with Uncle Phil' inscribed on the back.

He said: "We had to come to show respect, for Phil and his family. We'll play the rest of the season in Phil's honour."

Derek Moore, a 33-year- old from Carfin, has been a Motherwell fan for 25 years. He added: "When we won the Scottish Cup in 1991 and he scored one of the goals, it was one of the greatest days of my life as a Motherwell fan. He was just a perfect gentleman, an absolute gentleman, and I'm here to pay my respects for his family."