Reason Adrian Chiles attended Liam Payne’s funeral as presenter turns up in football coat

Adrian Chiles attended former One Direction singer Liam Payne's funeral (Image: PA)

Adrian Chiles honoured Liam Payne by wearing a West Bromwich Albion coat to the singer's funeral as a touching gesture. Payne’s friends and family attended the service, held on Wednesday morning, to say their farewells to the 31-year-old.

The pop sensation tragically died after falling from a balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16. Notable attendees were his former One Direction bandmates - Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik - as well as personalities from the football world, including Robbie Keane and former Match of the Day 2 presenter Chiles.

While most mourners opted for traditional black attire, Baggies supporter Chiles stood out in a West Brom long coat. Payne was a passionate football fan and a season ticket holder at The Hawthorns.

Liam Payne was a huge football fan (Image: Getty)

Chiles, now a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live, shared on air how their mutual support for the club brought them together. "I got to know him when he first did X Factor," Chiles recalled.

"He came up to me and said 'up the Albion' - he was a West Brom fan. Just as a sign as to how massive he was, I remember we snuck him into a Boxing Day game and I think his mum and dad came and sat with me.

"But we managed to secrete our man up in the commentary gantry so he didn't get bothered. Then a friend of mine texted me to ask 'why are West Brom trending number one on Twitter?' I went, ‘well it could be because Liam Payne is here and he tweeted he was here and the whole world went mad for it.’"

Payne shot to fame as a member of the UK boyband One Direction, from their formation on The X Factor in 2010 until their indefinite hiatus five years later. Having been born in nearby Wolverhampton, West Brom issued a tribute to Payne on social media following his death.

Adrian Chiles wore a West Brom coat in tribute (Image: Tony Kershaw / SWNS)

"We're shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Baggies fan and musician, Liam Payne," the club said alongside a photo of Payne at their stadium. "Our thoughts are with Liam's family, friends and loved ones at this tragic time."

Payne declared himself a 'huge West Brom supporter' while appearing in Soccer Aid, the annual charity football match, in 2022. "I don't get to the games as often as I'd like, though," he added.

The Championship side sent him a customised shirt in 2017 featuring the name of his new-born son, Bear, whom he had just welcomed with fellow pop star Cheryl Cole at the time.