HE will never be forgotten. That was the abiding tribute to the "lovable rogue of rugby league", St John Ellis, at his funeral service in York Minster, which was attended by more than 1,000 mourners.

It was standing room only at the service as family, friends and former team-mates said an emotional farewell to the 41-year-old, who grew up in Fulford, York, and later played for Great Britain.

Close relatives wept and embraced on the cathedral steps as St John's coffin was carried through the South Door into the Quire, which seated about 400 people.

Hundreds more stood in the central Nave area to pay their respects and listen to the service through the loud speaker system.

A spontaneous guard of honour was formed by the congregation as the coffin was carried out of the west entrance after the service.

A host of famous rugby league stars attended, including former Great Britain stars Garry Schofield, Paul Anderson, Daryl Powell and current international winger Leon Pryce.

York City Knights were also well represented, as were St John's former clubs, including Halifax and Castleford, and Doncaster, where he was head coach up to his death last week.

St John's life was cut short when he collapsed and died on New Year's Eve, after leading a training session.

His family said later they had been told it was due to a heart attack.

He leaves behind his wife, Mel, and young daughters, Indyia, eight, and Maia, seven.

John Wright, St John's friend and chairman of Doncaster Lakers Rugby League Club, told the congregation he was unable to talk about him "without smiling".

"He brought a smile to my face every day I knew him," he said. "St John was a winner, and there was no such word to him as 'lose'."

St John's friend Richard Cahill also paid a tearful tribute.

"A person who is not forgotten is not dead," he said. "His presence in my life has been a reward in itself."

Ex-Sheffield Eagles hero Daryl Powell, the former Leeds Rhinos boss who was a coach at York City Knights last season, played alongside St John for Great Britain.

He said: "I think the things people have said, and the number of people who have turned out, show how highly regarded he was as a player and as a person.

"He was a fantastic individual. He always had a smile on his face and helped you to have one as well, which is a great trait to have."

York RL legend Geoff Pryce played with St John at York's old Clarence Street ground.

He said: "I loved Singe. The best way to describe him is as a lovable rogue. He was a really nice guy and will be sadly missed."

Tony Clark, now of Pocklington, was St John's first rugby league coach, at the old Southlands amateur team in the 1980s.

He said: "He first came training with us only when he was suspended from playing football for a month.

"After that, I told him to let me know when he was available to play for us, and he said he was finished with football and loved rugby league. He just took to it straight away.

"He was a great footballer, too, and could have made the grade in either code.

"He played with me on Sundays, but once Alan Smith saw him, he promoted him to the Saturday team and, within a few months, he signed professional for York.

"The turnout here is unbelievable - it's a fitting tribute to the man."

Lisa Wilkinson, Tony's daughter, went to St Oswald's Primary and Fulford Compre-hensive School with St John.

She said: "He was an absolute trickster.

"He played all the jokes going. He never hurt anybody, though. It was all in good fun.

"He was a hunky sports player as well, and all the girls used to fancy him."

Updated: 10:24 Wednesday, January 11, 2006