Liam Payne‘s connection to Adrian Chiles and Robbie Keane has been explained after they made an unlikely appearance at his funeral on Wednesday.

The singer was laid to rest in a private service attended by his family and friends, including his One Direction band members and the mother of his son, Cheryl.

But fans will no doubt have been querying some of the attendees at the service after enjoying less publicised friendships during his career.

The bond that connects all three names is football, due to Liam and Adrian’s shared love of West Bromwich Albion and Liam and Robbie’s joint Soccer Aid appearance.

Adrian met Liam during his time on the X Factor, where Liam’s band One Direction were formed before they shot to stratospheric stardom.

After Liam’s death, Adrian discussed their love of West Brom and how that is how they first connected when he was a teenager.

Liam Payne ‘s connection to Adrian Chiles (pictured) and Robbie Keane has been explained after they made an unlikely appearances at his funeral on Wednesda

The bond that connects all three names is football, due to Liam and Adrian’s shared love of West Bromwich Albion and Liam and Robbie’s joint Soccer Aid appearance

Liam watching West Bromwich Albion in 2011 a year after X Factor

He told the BBC: ‘I got to know him when he first did X Factor. 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!”

In a special tribute to Liam, Adrian arrived to pay his respects to Liam wearing a West Bromwich Albion coat.

During his appearance in Soccer Aid 2022, Liam, who was born in Wolverhampton, proudly declared himself a ‘huge West Brom supporter’.

He said: ‘I don’t get to the games as often as I’d like, though.’

The singer was laid to rest in a private service attended by his family and friends, including his One Direction band members and the mother of his son, Cheryl

The bond that connects all three names is football, due to Liam and Adrian’s shared love of West Bromwich Albion and Liam and Robbie’s joint Soccer Aid appearance (pictured in Soccer Aid 2022)

After his death, the Championship club paid tribute to Payne, who was also reportedly a season-ticket holder, like Chiles.

‘We’re shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Baggies fan and musician, Liam Payne,’ West Brom wrote after the singer’s tragic death.’Our thoughts are with Liam’s family, friends and loved ones at this tragic time.’

Meanwhile, Liam and Robbie took part in the 2023 Soccer Aid match. Liam played for England while Robbie was a manager for Rest Of The World.

Robbie has played in multiple Soccer Aid matches and scored multiple goals, including a brace in the 2023 match against England.

Keane scored twice in the World XI’s 5–0 win over England, including a fine finish off the inside of the post and a dink amid a goalmouth scramble.