Family and friends of Clive Gott, who died last month, have celebrated his life with a splash of colour.

The pitch of Headingley Carnegie Stadium, the home ground of Clive’s beloved rugby league team, Leeds Rhinos, was decorated with 52 coloured balloons – one for each year of his life.

Many of those present heeded Clive’s philosophy that “you must only wear black if you look really hot in it”, and instead donned bright pink, green and turquoise.

More than 100 people stood in the ground’s North Stand to pay tribute to the “inspiring” motivational speaker, sports coach, adventurer and friend.

Clive’s coffin was carried on to the pitch by family members and Leeds Rhinos players to the Bryan Adams song Summer Of 69.

For 52 minutes, family, friends and colleagues told funny stories, in between Clive’s favourite songs.

Accompanied by Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World, Clive’s partner, Elaine Hanzak, cut the strings on the balloons, letting them float out of sight.

The crowd then filed out of the stadium to the sound of Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) by Benny Hill, which Clive had had in his head the week before he died, of suspected heart problems.

Elaine said: “Last week I had a vision of this. It was so strong, so powerful and so meaningful. Some people may criticise me for today, but I actually feel really happy and excited.

“It felt like our journey had only just begun. I don’t know where I’m going but I know that I will always be happy.

“Clive gave me the strength to do all this and so did everyone else. Thank you everybody for letting my vision of today come true.”