A private funeral was organized for Sir Bobby Charlton, the Manchester United and England legend. The event took place at Manchester Cathedral, where hundreds of people gathered. Thousands of fans lined up at Old Trafford to pay their respects as Charlton’s funeral procession passed by. In total, there were over 1,000 guests in attendance.
Manchester and the football world paid their last respects to Sir Bobby Charlton on Monday.
Fans gathered at Old Trafford and Manchester Cathedral for a public funeral service to honor Charlton, who passed away at the age of 86 last month.
The attendance at the service included former and current United players, other important figures from the world of football, and even the Prince of Wales.
Charlton is considered by many as the best English footballer ever. He won the World Cup with England in 1966 and achieved great success with Manchester United, winning three league titles, an FA Cup, and a European Cup in 1968.
However, the speeches at his funeral in Manchester Cathedral emphasized Charlton’s strong commitment to his family.
His grandson William Balderston remembered how his grandfather was a skilled storyteller. He would create imaginative tales, which he referred to as “jelly and custard” stories, to amuse and captivate his younger family members.
He expressed his deep appreciation for Charlton and his wife Norma, saying that they have demonstrated true dedication to him.
Former Manchester United executive David Gill described Charlton as a “legend, an icon, and a dear and loyal colleague and friend.”
“Football is a tribal sport but Bobby was universally admired,” Gill said.
Gill mentioned some impressive career stats of Charlton: 758 appearances and 249 goals in Manchester United, 106 caps and 49 goals for England. But what really stands out to me is his disciplinary record of only receiving two bookings and never being sent off.
“Now I know Bobby didn’t have to endure VAR, a curse of the modern game – I’m not sure he was a big fan – but to me that says it all.
“You can be a superstar and a fierce competitor, whilst still being a gentleman. Bobby’s name is synonymous with all that is good about the English game.”
Thousands of fans gathered at Old Trafford to honor Charlton as his funeral cortege passed by.
Many more people gathered outside the cathedral, with over 1,000 guests coming to show their respect.
There were former teammates from Charlton’s successful era, including Alex Stepney, Paddy Crerand, and Brian Kidd. The guest list was full of notable figures from United’s history spanning the past six decades.
From the current squad, Harry Maguire, Tom Heaton, Jonny Evans, and Luke Shaw were there. The Prince of Wales, who is also the president of the Football Association, came with a group from the governing body. The group also included the current England manager, Gareth Southgate.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin’s presence highlighted Charlton’s international influence, even before widespread TV coverage of football.
“On away trips, there was not an airport concourse in the world that Bobby could walk through without people wanting an autograph or selfie,” Gill recalled.
“I would head on through to get the bags and Bobby would join me 10 or 15 minutes later having satisfied everyone.”
The funeral service started with the famous FA Cup anthem, Abide With Me, and also included a performance of ‘How Great Thou Art’ by opera singer Russell Watson.
Gill praised Charlton for his strong determination to resume playing after the tragic 1958 Munich air disaster, which resulted in the loss of eight of his fellow United team members.
Gill added: “Reflecting now, I would have liked to have talked to him more about Munich and how he coped in the aftermath, but Bobby dealt with it in his own way – private, stoical and dignified.”
But Gill’s most touching words were about Charlton as a family man.
“Family was the most important thing to him, and you could see what a wonderful marriage he had with Norma of over 60 years and how proud he was of his daughters Suzanne and Andrea, son-in-law Andrew and grandchildren Robert,
William and Emma when they came at Christmas and other occasions to Old Trafford, where the South Stand will forever bear his name in recognition of his importance to the history and heritage of the club,” he added.
“A revered son of the north-east, an icon of Manchester for all he did for United, a national treasure as the epitome of the very best of English sport and a man loved and admired across the globe – the world football family has lost a
legend of the game.”
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