United in grief for Kath

REDS LEGENDS AMONG HUNDREDS AT CATHEDRAL TO BID FAREWELL TO CLUB'S ADORED LONG-SERVING RECEPTIONIST

-  SAMUEL LUCKHURST

AS THE organist played the first notes that reverberated around Manchester Cathedral, rays of light shot through the stained-glass windows.

Kath Phipps was a lady who brightened up people's days.

Four hundred guests rose when her slight coffin was carried in.

Receptionist Kath's 56-year tenure Manchester United was represented by the good and the great. Brian Kidd, scorer in the European Cup final win in 1968 the year Kath joined the club - conversed with Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

There was Kidd, Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Neville, Nicky Butt, Roy Keane, Paul Parker, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin, Mark Hughes, Michael Carrick, Wes Brown and John O'Shea.

Eric Cantona sent his apologies as he was filming. Nemanja Vidic and Juan Mata's absences were also owed to Kath commitments in Serbia and Australia. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, another one of the greats, flew in.

In a thoughtful service part organised by former club employees, there was a sweet poem about Kath's presence at Carrington.

Jason Leach, the receptionist at Old Trafford, accompanied Kath to the '99 premiere at The Printworks only in May and gave a touching eulogy.