CROWDS outside the cathedral burst into applause as the funeral cars arrived for the funeral.

But a hush settled over the hundreds of well-wishers as father Stephen Jones and 17-year-old Owen  helped lift the tiny blue coffin from the hearse.

Brave mum Melanie summoned the courage to smile at the 10-deep crowd, brushing away her  tears as she did so.

Many in the crowd had respected the family’s wishes to wear bright colours to the service and  football fans young and old had donned their club strips in tribute to Everton-mad Rhys.

Shirts, caps and scarves were pinned to railings outside the cathedral, many with tributes  hand-written to the schoolboy.

His heroes from the club arrived half an hour before the ceremony in a club bus.

Leighton Baines, Leon Osman, Alan Stubbs, Phil Jagielka, Tony Hibbert and assistant manager  Alan Irvine were among the club representatives. Council leader Warren Bradley was also among  the mourners.

Flowers on the specially-designed Everton coffin were blue and white and fashioned in the shape  of a football and a club scarf.

The youngster was shot as he returned from football training. And his team-mates from the Fir  Tree club came to the cathedral to remember their pal.

Manager Steve Geoghegan said:  “I went round to Rhys house today and gave the family a  wreath in the shap of the fir tree badge, his mum gave me a big hug.

 “This is such a difficult day for the lads, my little lad was really bad this morning.”

Hundreds also lined the streets around Goodison Park as the cortege passed.

Men, women and children stood along Walton Lane wearing club colours.

A man dressed in a Liverpool shirt laid a single flower at the foot of the Dixie Dean statue.

Just after 1.30pm silence descended as the funeral cars passed.

As the procession made its way the crowd burst into applause.

His favourite song - Everton anthem  and Z Cars theme Johnny Todd -  filled  the air as Liverpool said goodbye to little  Rhys Jones today.

The funeral cortege pulled up outside  the city’s imposing Anglican cathedral  shortly before 2pm.

Onlookers wiped away tears as Rhys’  dad Stephen, brother Owen - both wearing Everton shirts -and the little boy’s  uncles Neil and David helped lift the  small blue and white coffin from the back  of the hearse.

Behind, being comforted by relatives,  was Rhys’ heartbroken mum Melanie.

On top of the coffin lay a bouquet of  white lilies with a card which said simply:  “Until we see you again in heaven Love  Mum and Dad”.

Embossed with the Everton club crest  and inscribed with the team motto Nil  Satis Nisi Optimum (Nothing but the best  will do), it was then carried down cathedral aisle to the applause of  mourners.

The packed cathedral fell silent as the  coffin came to rest in front of the altar and  Canon Anthony Hawley, acting dean of  the cathedral, welcomed the congregation.

Many of them were dressed in football  shirts as requested by Stephen, Melanie  and Owen who also chose the first hymn  All Things Bright and Beautiful.

Rhys’ relatives made up the first 10  rows of the cathedral.

Amongst the other mourners were city  dignitaries, Merseyside police, representatives from Rhys’ beloved Everton  FC, Liverpool FC and members of the  public touched by the 11-year-old’s  death.

Parish vicar Reverend David Leslie  and local Roman Catholic priest Father  Andrew Unsworth led the congregation  in prayers before two members of  Melanie’s family - Michelle Taylor and  Lisa Winterbottom - read verses from St  Matthew 18 v1-5.

Rhys’ Uncle Neil paid his own heartbreaking tribute to the schoolboy - his  fond memories showing how much the  youngster managed to cram into his few  short years and how his loss will be felt  forever.

Mourners fought back tears as he  said: “What can I tell you about my little  nephew? Well, as I am sure you know,  he was football crazy.

“His faith in his team was absolutely  unshakeable. Football is nothing without  rivalry, but life is nothing without friends.

“Some of Rhys’s closest friends are  here today with shirts different colours to  him, but they were friends first and rivals  second.”

Looking back on his nephew’s short  life he joked about why Rhys was so fast  on the football pitch saying: “Every time a  friend or a relative tried to give him a kiss  or a hug, he would run a mile. He had to  do a lot of running, I can tell you.”

He added: “Rhys was always a little  worried he was on the small side. But  that was not an issue to anyone else.  Everyone who met him could not fail to  be captivated by his cheeky grin.”

Liverpool’s Pilgrim Singers then sang  a song penned by choral composer  John Rutter before being joined at the  front of the vast hall by 11 of Rhys’ many  friends.

Some from school, others mates from  football, they each lit candles which  flanked his coffin.

One of Rhys’ heroes Everton  centre-half and former skipper Alan  Stubbs then walked up to the lectern to  read a moving meditation Walking with  Grief.

“Do not hurry as you walk with grief,

“It does not help the journey.

“Walk slowly, pause often:

“Do not hurry as you walk with grief.

“Be not disturbed.

“By memories that come unbidden.

“Let Christ speak for you unspoken  words.

“Unfinished conversation will be resolved in Him.

“Be not disturbed.

“Be gentle with the one who walks with  grief.

“If it is you be gentle on yourself.

“Walk slowly, pausing often.

“Take time.

“Be gentle as you walk with grief.”

Then from the pulpit the Bishop of  Liverpool, the Right Reverend James  Jones, offered words of comfort to the  Jones family.

Dressed in traditional red and white  robes the Bishop said: “Melanie, Stephen and Owen, in all the heart-breaking  sadness of the last two weeks, you, with  Rhys, have become a beacon of light for  our city.

“Your love for Rhys, your dignity and  your family life have shone out and  restored hope and honour to our community shamed by such a crime.

“The bright colours here speak of  Rhys’ irrepressible humour, his huge  popularity that had people queuing at the  door for him to come out and play and, of  course, his passion for Everton and for  football - I only hope he will forgive me for  the colour of my robes today.

“In your sadness, know that the Lord  has Rhys safely in his care and that the  Lord who holds Rhys also holds you in  his arms.

“Your here on earth, Rhys in heaven.  His everlasting arms spanning both  worlds, holding the four of you together  today and for all eternity.

“You in one arm, Rhys in the other.

“Death cannot separate you from  God’s love and death cannot separate  you from your love for Rhys. That will last  for eternity.”

Revered Leslie and Father Unsworth  were then joined at the lectern by David  Williams, the chaplain at Alder Hey  Children’s Hospital.

He was first to comfort the family after  the horrific event’s of August 22 when  Rhys was gunned down as he walked  home from football practice.

The chaplain sat in the congregation  with members of the hospital’s trauma  team who worked so hard to save  Rhys’s life.

The traditional FA Cup final hymn  Abide with Me brought the cathedral  back to its feet for a final time before  Stephen, Owen, Neil and David took up  their place at the side of the coffin and,  led by Rev Leslie, carried it past the rows  of well-wishers and devastated friends  and family to the waiting hearse outside.

Behind, mum Melanie, led the rest of  the family before leaving a private burial  and a final goodbye to their little guy.