A renowned former sports editor who died last week at the age of 86 will have a library named in his honour, it was announced at his funeral.

Malcolm Brodie worked for the Belfast Telegraph for almost 50 years and helped set up its first sports desk after starting out in journalism at the Portadown News.

His funeral was held on Monday in the city and was attended by hundreds of mourners, including former international footballers for Northern Ireland.

At the funeral, Dame Mary Peters, an Olympic gold medallist, announced that a library which will be part of a proposed new Northern Ireland sports museum will be named in his honour.

She said: “He was a unique man. He inspired so many generations. To know him was to love him.”

Former international footballers for Northern Ireland who attended included Harry Gregg, who played in the 1958 World Cup finals, Pat Jennings and Gerry Armstrong, who scored the winning goal against hosts Spain in the 1982 finals.

Also at the funeral was Bel Tel editor Mike Gilson and three former editors, Roy Lilley, Ed Curran and Martin Lindsay, along with journalist from many newspapers and broadcasting outlets.

BBC Northern Ireland broadcaster Jackie Fullerton, who was one of his closest friends, said: “We will never, ever see his like again in Northern Ireland journalism.”

There were also tributes by his three sons Iain, Steven, and Kenneth and his granddaughter Claire, who sat alongside Malcolm’s widow Margaret.

Sir Alex Ferguson was among those paying tribute after his death, describing him as a “fantastic man.”

Malcolm remained at the Bel Tel until his retirement in 1991 and he continued to write a memory lane column into his 80s.

He covered 14 World Cups for the title, earning the Jules Rimet Award from FIFA, pictured, and he was also awarded an MBE.