A community celebration of life was held at St Mary’s Church on Friday before an event at the club itself.
Hindpool Tigers players (Image: Matthew Holmes)
In a touching service, words were shared of the impact Mr Shaw had on the local sporting community and the wider area as a whole.
(Image: Submitted)
Such was the sheer number of people who wanted to attend, there were not enough seats within the church to accommodate them all with well wishers and friends waiting outside to pay their respects.
Club coach Kevin Kyte said: “I’ve never seen anything like this, in terms of the number of people who were on the street, people coming from all down the coast, and I doubt we’ll ever see anything of this size ever again in the area.
“It shows how loved he was by the community and the impact he had, both in the world of sport and for those lucky enough to know him.
Mourners gathering (Image: Matthew Holmes)
“He grew this club from nothing and now it is one of the biggest clubs in the area.”
Graham died at the age of 44 following a courageous battle with cancer.
The service touched upon the joy he brought to people’s lives, his unwavering commitment to his family, and his love of sport – particularly when it came to encouraging the younger generation.
Graham Shaw’s final journey (Image: Matthew Holmes)
Mr Kyte added: “It is a testament to the man that he was that so many people wanted to be a part of the occasion.
“It truly was a brilliant send off for a brilliant man.”
Those who attended the funeral and party afterwards were encouraged to wear the colours of Hindpool Tigers or other sporting shirts, to pay tribute to Graham’s great passion.
Graham Shaw’s hearse (Image: Matthew Holmes)
Hindpool coach Andy Thompson commented: “He built the foundations for the club and we’re going to reap those benefits for years to come.
“We expected to see a fair few people today but definitely nothing of this scale – to see the streets just now was something else.
“And we as a club will do right by the family forever.”