By Alex Robertson BBC Scotland news website Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West reporter

Farewell Uncle Phil.

Hundreds of football supporters gathered on a bitterly cold afternoon to deliver this tragically premature message to Phil O'Donnell.

A fan pays tribute to Phil O'Donnell outside St Mary's Church

Fans who lined the streets outside St Mary's Church in Hamilton were united in grief and spoke of a death in the Motherwell family.

"He was a gentleman, an absolute gentleman," said lifelong Motherwell supporter Daniel Moore, 33, from Carfin.

Helen Reid, 62, from Lanark, said: "It's like a death in the family."

Gary Lewis, 35, from Motherwell, added: "It's a family club and something has happened to one of our family. That's the bottom line."

Supporters and mourners began arriving two hours early for the Requiem Mass.

They stood for hours, shoulder to shoulder, as on the terraces, to hear the service relayed on loudspeakers.

Before them, a who's who of Scottish football filled the church to pay tribute to the former Scotland, Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday star who died of heart failure on Saturday, after a match, aged 35.

Celtic captain Stephen McManus was among the early arrivals and was joined by his team-mates, manager Gordon Strachan and club chairman John Reid.

Rangers captain Barry Ferguson and the club's assistant manager, Ally McCoist, were also present

Everton's James McFadden, a former Motherwell player who dedicated his New Year's Day goal to O'Donnell, was also there.

Phil O'Donnell, family man, wonderful footballer, inspirational captain, role model, a great human being, and of course Uncle Phil Chris McCart Former Motherwell player

Mourners also came from the world of politics. Former First Minister Jack McConnell, the MSP for Motherwell, was there.

Two of O'Donnell's nephews, both footballers, were among the family mourners - David Clarkson, who plays for Motherwell and was on the pitch when his uncle collapsed, and Stephen O'Donnell, who plays for St Mirren.

Shortly before mid-day his wife Eileen arrived at the church, where they were married, with the couple's four children.

Olivia, Luc, Megan and Christopher arrived before a guard of honour from Motherwell youth players.

Each child carried a rose and huddled tightly around their mother.

During much of the service Mrs O'Donnell cradled Luc in her arms.

'Very emotional'

Tears fell as the first notes were sounded on the loudspeakers.

Men and women of all ages and women stood in silent reflection, wearing the claret and amber of Motherwell.

Inside, Father Henry O'Brien told mourners that many were bidding farewell to a much-loved "uncle" figure.

"Anyone who has walked around the stadium in these past few days could see that so many people claimed him as their uncle," said the priest.

"So many young people who would have been proud to have him as such a relative - and who wouldn't?"

One shirt from a young fan said: "God must need a captain in Heaven".

He told the mourners that many had come to the funeral out of respect to someone "who played the beautiful game with integrity".

He told supporters: "We know your loss."

During the service, O'Donnell's former Motherwell team-mate Chris McCart read a tribute to the man he first met when he was a 16-year-old going through the ranks at Fir Park.

Mourners lined the street as the funeral cortege left the church

He said: "Phil O'Donnell, family man, wonderful footballer, inspirational captain, role model, a great human being, and of course Uncle Phil.

"His passing has left a great void in all our lives."

He said: "His wife and four kids meant more to Phil than anything he achieved in his football career. His family was, quite simply, his world."

As McCart finished, mourners and those outside the sandstone walls of the church broke into applause.

The service included a musical tribute - The Forrest Gump Suite by composer Alan Silvestri, from the Hollywood film Forrest Gump.

Forrest Gump was O'Donnell's affectionate nickname when he played for Celtic, in honour of his tireless running - a characteristic of the film's main character, played by Tom Hanks.

After a solo performance of Ave Maria and the conclusion of the Mass, O'Donnell's coffin was carried from the church to the waiting hearse.

His former Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday team-mate Simon Donnelly was among the pallbearers.

As the cortege headed off to Bent Cemetery for the burial, the crowd outside broke into spontaneous applause and tears engulfed many of those present.

The player's father Bernard O'Donnell issued a statement after the funeral.

He said: "To see so many people standing outdoors for a long time was very emotional for us all and we would like to thank everyone."