Thousands of fans turned out to bid a final farewell to Manchester United icon Sir Bobby Charlton as his cortege is made its way from Old Trafford to Manchester Cathedral.
The funeral cortege of the 1966 World Cup winner was most warmly greeted with gentle applause of appreciation and deepest respect as it drove past the stadium’s East Stand and the United Trinity statue, which features Charlton himself, George Best and Denis Law.
A guard of honor comprising representatives of the club’s under-18 and under-21 teams flanked the statue with numerous black and white photographs behind it depicting Charlton’s long and illustrious career as a player and a director at the club.
Two huge black and white photographs – one of Charlton in his Busby Babes playing days and the other of him as the club’s elder statesman as a director – were prominently featured on the glass wall of the East Stand flanking the words Sir Bobby Charlton, 1937-2023. Forever Loved.
Among the invited guests at the funeral included the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, a number of Charlton’s old team-mates, England manager Gareth Southgate, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, Prince William, the Prince of Wales and Football Association president, and Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano. Also in attendance were Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton and a host of former players.