Teenagers queued up to pay tribute to everyone's best mate, Mitchell Kemp.

He was, they said, the kid everyone wanted to be - a strong, accomplished sportsman, popular with everyone. He could be summed up in just one word. Special.

The 14-year-old meningitis victim's funeral yesterday brought young and old together in a public expression of grief at the promising life which had so cruelly been cut short.

Mitchell, of Tyefields, Pitsea, was a rising star with Southend United, where he had just signed a two-year contract. He was buried in Pitsea cemetery following the emotional service in the adjacent chapel.

Among the mourners were Blues boss Alvin Martin and former West Ham star Martin Allen.

The silence was almost tangible as Mitchell's coffin, draped in a West Ham football shirt, was carried inside. Youngsters with their school tie replaced by plain black ones were spotlighted in the incongruously bright blue sky as they waited to file in behind.

Canon Lionel Webber, who led the service, voiced their overwhelming emotion.

He said: "It hurts terribly, and there is nothing we can do to stop it hurting."

Remembering Mitchell's skills on the football field, Canon Webber said the service was not just to say thank-you for his life, but to wonder what might have been.

Even if he could no longer play for Southend United on the ground, he might still help them from "up there" and see them creep up the table.

"Death is not the end of a relationship. It goes on in a quite remarkable way."

He then allowed Mitchell's family and friends plenty of space to remember their friend in their own words and thoughts.

A succession of friends from Appleton School, Benfleet, bravely fought back tears rather than let the opportunity slip them by.

One said: "If anyone needed someone to talk to, it was always Mitch. If in any doubt, you always went to him."

Another recalled how Mitch could never grasp the concept of being second best. Yet another shared how Mitch had shown him how to value friendship.

For Daniel Kemp, 16, Mitchell was not just his kid brother, he was his best friend.

He said: "He had to be the best at whatever he did, from how he dressed, played football and impressed all the girls. No matter what he did, he just had to win. But underneath the cockiness was a very caring person. Together we were unstoppable at anything."

Finally, Southend United chairman John Main stepped up to add his tributes.

Mitchell was, he said, "very very gifted". "He was a fine footballer who wanted to listen and learn. He had everything and we were very excited having him."

Mitchell Kemp

(Right) March - the coffin is carried inside

In memory - a teddy dressed in West Ham colours

(Below right) Floral tributes - flowers spelled out the name of the "very gifted" young footballer, Mitchell Kemp

Goodbye - Martin Allen and the Blues' Alvin Martin were among the mourners

Pictures: NICK ANSELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.