THEY turned up in the rain yesterday, sodden and sombre, to say a fond farewell to Sky Blues goliath Reg Matthews.

It was fitting that his funeral should take place in the castle town of Kenilworth because, as goalkeepers go, Reg Matthews was a fortress.

He was the first Coventry City player to win an England cap. He boasted three lions on a shirt and No 1 on his back.

Though admirers of Alf Wood, Bill Glazier or Steve Ogrizovic might argue otherwise, in Sky Blues goalkeeping folklore, he was Number One.

Colin Briffa, the lay minister who conducted yesterday's funeral service, said: "Call him a showman, call him a Flash Harry, call him what you like but Reg Matthews never pulled back from the tackle."

Proud Coventry Kid Matthews - who died last week at the age of 68 - was a product of Barkers Butts School.

He made his England debut in 1956 against Scotland in front of a howling Hampden Park crowd of 134,000.

A month later, alongside his famous namesake Sir Stanley, he helped England triumph 4-2 over Brazil and, soon after, was keeping goal in a stunning 3-1 triumph over World champions Germany in front of 110,000 fans in Berlin.

He won five England caps and was never on the losing side.

His achievement was remarkable because Coventry City were then a struggling Third Division side.

Reg's career embraced Coventry City, Chelsea and Derby County, though he always insisted: "Looking back, I don't think I should have left Coventry City - that was where my heart lay."

Before his coffin, topped with white lilies, was carried from Kenilworth's St John's Church, mourners had sung Abide With Me, the hymn which has become a football anthem.

Mr Briffa told how Reg's son, Paul, had shown him one of his father's first contracts.

"It was for a starting wage of #8 a week, rising to #9 a year later," said Mr Briffa. "In those days it was not a sport where anyone was getting rich."

He said Reg Matthews the man was "a thoroughly decent bloke, really nice to know - a truly great man."

Among those who turned up to say farewell were former Sky Blues defenders George Curtis, John Sillett, Mick Kearns and Dietmar Bruck. Club chairman Bryan Richardson sat with caretaker boss Roland Nilsson, today confirmed in the top job.

John Sillett, who played with Reg at Chelsea, said: "I always joked with him that the biggest mistake of his career was leaving City to join Chelsea to stand behind a poor defence. I should know - I was one of 'em."