Norwich City colours aplenty for funeral of superfan Lil

The funeral of Lilian Kemp took place at Earlham Crematorium on Thursday morning before friends and family gathered in a box overlooking Carrow Road's pitch for the wake.

Lily Kemp's coffin covered in the NCFC flag at her funeral at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)

Tributes have been pouring in for Tuckswood's Lil who died at the age of 91 in December after following Norwich City home and away since the age of 21.

Speaking at the wake, Lil's son Shaun, 57, said: "She would have been in her element if she was here. She loved being the centre of attention.

Glenda Kemp, left, and her brother Shaun, take a look at a scrapbook about their mum, NCFC superfan, Lily Kemp (Image: Archant 2022)

"She used to go to all the European games and once discharged herself from hospital against the doctor's advice to get to a game."

Lil's great-grandson Jordan, 29, said: "The outpouring of love from the community has made it easier. It goes far beyond our family bloodline. Enough people knew her to fill this stadium.

The funeral procession of NCFC superfan, Lily Kemp, at Earlham Cemetery. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2022)

"You would go to away games and all the fans would know of her. It was amusing seeing Leeds and Millwall fans in unity remembering her."

Friends and family in NCFC colours at the funeral of superfan Lily Kemp, at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)

The family would like to see Lil's Norwich scarf - which is covered in football badges - donated to the club, while there have also been initial talks about a memorial garden tribute.

Lily Kemp's children with her signed football shirt at her wake, held at the NCFC ground. From left are Glenda Kemp, Shaun Kemp, Sharon Kemp, Christine Snell, and Nicky Denby (Image: Archant 2022)

One of Lil's four daughters Christine Snell, 69, said: "We used to go all over the place on the coach trips to away games.

"It was known as Lil's Gang and wherever Norwich were playing we went."

Norwich City superfan Lil Kemp has died (Image: Norwich City)

Another daughter Nicky Denby, 59, recalled standing with her mum at Manchester United in the torrential rain where Lil "was the loudest of them all" in the away end.

Sisters Sharon Kemp, left, and Nicky Denby at the wake of their mum Lily Kemp at Carrow Road (Image: Archant 2022)

Nicky's husband Stephen, 62, added: "She always saw the best in everyone. She never had a bad word to say about anyone."

Friends and family in NCFC colours at the funeral of superfan Lily Kemp, at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)

Lil's great-granddaughter Brooke, 20, organised a fundraising page for the funeral and for the club to show Lil on the big screen during the Arsenal match on Boxing Day.

Christine Snell, left, and her great niece, Brooke Simmons, chat at the wake of NCFC superfan, Lily Kemp (Image: Archant 2022)

She said: "On matchdays she would usually ring up at 7am and we would be in the Queen of Iceni pub from 8am to 2pm. She had her own table and keys for a disabled toilet in the ground."

Lily Kemp's NCFC shirt at her funeral at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)

Flowers in NCFC colours for superfan, Lily Kemp, at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)

Friends and family in NCFC colours at the funeral of superfan Lily Kemp, at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)

Flowers in NCFC colours for superfan, Lily Kemp, at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)

A NCFC flag covers the coffin of superfan, Lily Kemp, at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)

Flowers in NCFC colours for superfan, Lily Kemp, at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)

Flowers in NCFC colours for superfan, Lily Kemp, at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)

The funeral procession of NCFC superfan, Lily Kemp, at Earlham Cemetery (Image: Archant 2022)