Sir Bobby Charlton: Funeral Cortège Met By Huge Crowds In Manchester3 min read
The funeral procession arrived outside Old Trafford to huge crowds
The England and Red Devils legend died at the age of 86 on 21 October.
The funeral cortège arrived at Old Trafford to rounds of applause from mourners at 13:30 GMT.
About 1,000 guests descended on Manchester Cathedral, including the Charlton family, friends and leading figures from across football for the service.
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and ex-players Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, Steve Bruce, Paddy Crerand and Andy Cole were among those paying their respects
Current players including Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were also in attendance along with former manager and player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and England manager Gareth Southgate.
The Prince of Wales, who is president of the Football Association, also travelled to Manchester for the private service at the cathedral in the centre of the city.
Sir Alex Ferguson was among the mourners at Manchester Cathedral
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERSPrince William arrived for the service to bid a final farewell to the football legend
Nicky Butt and Roy Keane were also in attendance to pay their respects
The funeral cortège drove past the stadium’s East Stand and the United Trinity statue, which features Charlton, George Best and Denis Law.
Representatives of the club’s under-18 and under-21 teams formed a guard of honour flanking the statue.
Black and white photographs depicting Charlton’s career as a player and then a director at the club were on display outside the football ground.
The funeral procession then travelled to the city centre, arriving at the cathedral shortly after 14:00 where fans, footballers and Charlton’s friends and family had gathered inside for the private service.
The ceremony was led by Canon Nigel Ashworth with eulogies and tributes read by David Gill, former Manchester United chief executive, and John Shiels, former Manchester United Foundation chief executive, as well as a personal tribute from the family.
Hymns included Abide with Me by Henry Francis Lyte, Brother James’ Air by James Leith Macbeth Bain, and Jerusalem by William Blake.
There was also a musical tribute from opera singer Russell James Watson with How Great Thou Art.
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERSFormer Manchester United player Alex Stepney said Charlton was a “humble guy”
IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIAFans applauded as the cortège passed by Old Trafford
The private service was held at Manchester Cathedral
