THE funeral has taken place of former Gillingham defender Charlie Marks who has died at the age of 85.

Renowned for his powerful shooting, the Eccles-born player famously broke the net with a penalty against Northampton at Priestfield's Gillingham End in February, 1955.

He played locally for Aylesford Boys, Maidstone Boys, Maidstone Paper Sacks, Maidstone United, Lloyds, Tooting and Mitcham before joining Gillingham in 1943. He played for the club up until 1957.

Despite appearing as a centre-forward during his early years, he won an award as a schoolboy for scoring 40 goals in a season from the centre-half position. He was a regular in the Gillingham side for nearly 15 years playing at right-back.

He made 187 appearances during the club's non-league days. In all, he made 265 senior appearances for Gillingham and scored eight goals.

After leaving the game he worked as a stock controller in a local paper mill and lived at Larkfield near Maidstone.

His funeral was held at Maidstone's Vinters Park crematorium.