THE funeral of Jocky Wilson was exactly how a service for a great Scottish darts player should be – a bagpiper walking slowly in front of the hearse, floral tributes in the shape of dart boards and, among the mourners, Eric Bristow, Jocky's great rival and friend.

We were enemies when we played, said Eric, but always friends afterwards.

The service in Kirkcaldy, where Jocky, who died last month aged 62, spent most of his life was attended by around 500 family and friends, including some who wore their darts shirts as a tribute.

The old sixties number, Matt Munro's Impossible Dream, played as the mourners went into the crematorium just before 3pm and then, when there was no more room in the chapel, about 150 stood outside in the cold to listen to the service.

Celebrant David Madden talked about Jocky as a man who loved his darts but only ever thought of it as a means to an end – looking after his wife Malvina and their three children.

On the front of the order of the service was a picture of the man himself as everyone knew him – the big grin and those famous Scottish teeth. The great player's upbringing in Kirkcaldy had been tough, said Mr Madden, and surprisingly for the man who helped make darts so big, his career in the game had actually come about accidentally after three years in the army and time working as a builder.

Jocky was at home in Kirkcaldy, unemployed and looking for something to do. He went across the road where there was a darts competition being played.

"One of the teams was a man down and Jocky played, said Mr Madden. "And he was rubbish. He was pants on that occasion but the seed was sown."

Jocky went on to win the world championship twice – one in 1982 and again in 1989 – the dates emblazoned on one of the floral tributes.

Bristow, who lost to Jocky in the 1989 match and whose rivalry with the Scot became famous, said the service was a nice send-off for one of the great characters of the game.

The Crafty Cockney told The Herald: "He was crazy, he was bubbly, and every sport needs someone like him. There aren't many about now."

Bristow said he and Jocky had had their arguments but always sorted it out afterwards over a few beers. "Scotland should be proud of him," he said.

His great rival said Jocky had been a recluse over the last 14 years and had not been able to get out to do what he wanted because of ill health.

Other high-profile mourners included Sky's Soccer AM host Helen Chamberlain, who said: "He was a just a massive character of the game and so entertaining to watch."

Mr Madden told mourners that before his ill health, Jocky had enjoyed fishing, football, walking his Jack Russell Spotty and driving down the Fife coast on his moped.

That was the kind of life he liked, said Mr Madden, not the fame that his talents for darts brought him.

"Darts took Jocky to the heights," said Mr Madden, "but it was one purpose – to provide for his family."

Mr Madden said Jocky had struggled with ill health for many years – first with diabetes since the 1980s and for the last three-and-a-half years the lung disorder chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.

"It was a debilitating illness that took more and more of Jocky's freedom and independence," he said. "But he managed to get by at home with the support of his family."

Mr Madden then asked the friends and family to stop for a moment to think about Jocky and over the speakers came one of the great player's favourite songs: My Way – the Frank Sinatra version of course.

And then the mourners filed out and, standing for a minute at the door of the chapel, Bristow talked about his friend and rival and said he would pay a tribute, darts-style. "He will be missed," he said "and I'm going to have a few beers for him now".