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Hundreds pay their respects at funeral of Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin




About 200 people paid their respects at the funeral of Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin today (Friday).

Simon, 48, died in his sleep at his home in Mildernhall, Suffolk, on October 21, five years after he was attacked by a group of football hooligans in Southend, who left him needing 24-hour care and unable to walk and talk.

Pictures from Simon Dobbin's funeral. All pictures by Richard Marsham.
Pictures from Simon Dobbin's funeral. All pictures by Richard Marsham.

Mourners lined the streets of High Street, Mildenhall, to say their goodbyes.

Fellow United fans paid tribute to him by wearing shirts, scarves and holding banners and flags. One who attended was Grant Norman, who felt great sadness for Simon’s family.

He said: “It is tragic that we find ourselves at this point. All Simon Dobbin ever did was go to an away game for Cambridge United and he and his family suffered five years from it.

“It must be horrible for his wife and his daughter today, who have cared for him for so long, we can not imagine how this is for them, such a sad and terrible day.”

The mourners on the street fell silent as the cortège, including Simon’s wife Nicole and daughter Emily, drove slowly up High Street before pulling up outside St Mary’s Church.

Resting on the wicker coffin was Simon’s senior aircraftman’s cap - he was stationed at RAF Honington between 1996 and 1999. The church service was private due to lockdown restrictions.

It was taken by the Reverend Sue Leathley and included the songs Yellow by Coldplay and You’ll Never Walk Alone, by Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Pictures from Simon Dobbin's funeral. All pictures by Richard Marsham.
Pictures from Simon Dobbin's funeral. All pictures by Richard Marsham.

When the procession returned, the street fell silent again, as a lone bugler played The Last Post.

Simon’s coffin, now on an antique funeral bier, pulled away from the church with people giving him applause before following the procession to Mildenhall Cemetery, where he was laid to rest.

Twelve men were jailed for their part in the attack on Simon and another man received a suspended sentence.

Nicole, 49, said before the attack Simon was “the life and soul of every party”.


Read more

Tributes paid as Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin dies

Cambridge United staff and players pay tribute to Simon Dobbin following his death, five years after attack

Jail sentences for Simon Dobbin’s attackers



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