Micky Adams made a special journey back to Brighton yesterday to pay his respects to one of Albion's great characters.

Adams was among five former managers of the Seagulls attending the funeral of long-serving kit man Jock Riddell.

The Leicester boss had to dash off straight after the service at Downs Crematorium to make the Foxes' home match against Coventry last night.

Adams was joined by Martin Hinshelwood, Steve Gritt, Jimmy Case and Barry Lloyd, together with a host of familiar faces from the club past and present.

They included most of the staff and current playing squad, led by captain Danny Cullip and club captain Paul Rogers, plus former stars such as Steve Foster and John Byrne.

Chairman Dick Knight, finance director Bob Pinnock and ex-vice-chairman John Campbell were also among the mourners.

Physio Malcolm Stuart paid tribute on the club's behalf to his close friend Riddell. The popular Glaswegian lost a year-long battle against lung cancer, aged 66.

Stuart said: "Nobody I met ever had a bad word to say about Jock. He was a wonderful servant to the club."