FAREWELL TO THE KING

Fitting send-off for a man who was footballing royalty

- JEREMY CROSS

MANCHESTER UNITED spent yesterday in mourning to provide a final farewell fit for a king. 

Because Sir Bobby Charlton was footballing royalty.

And his iconic standing in the pantheon of sporting legend was reflected in the sombre but seismic celebration of his remarkable life inside Manchester Cathedral.

We all know how much he achieved, but being there to be reminded of it felt like a humbling privilege.

Around 1,000 people packed into the building – and it felt like time stood still.

And the famous faces paying their respects to the great man proved the esteem in which he was held. And always will be.

Genuine royalty in the shape of the Prince of Wales (below), who is also FA President, as he took his seat close to Charlton’s coffin and England boss Gareth Southgate.

Sir Alex Ferguson sat nearby, along with a host of past and current United stars, including Harry Maguire, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, Brian Kidd, Mark Hughes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.