Football World Mourns and Manchester United Updates

It did feel a little bit like the old Manchester United coming out to pay its respects to Kath Phipps at Manchester Cathedral.

Sir Alex Ferguson spoke about first encountering her at the Cliff training ground in 1986. Current player Jonny Evans said he knew her when he arrived at the club from Northern Ireland as a schoolboy due to the amount of books and magazines he had read about the club.

Roy Keane was there. So too Peter Schmeichel. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer flew in from Norway. Michael Carrick took time out from his busy schedule as manager of Middlesbrough.

And David Beckham was there as well. The former England skipper went to see Phipps in her last days, to say a personal goodbye to a woman who devoted virtually her entire life to Manchester United. She was still busying herself at the training ground into last year, even though she was frail and a shadow of the bubbly, fun character she had been.

Ruben Amorim and United's first-team squad sat quietly through a service that included the revered football anthem Abide With Me.

But it was not just the star names. It was the ordinary people at United. Many of whom have left the club, some of whom have been among those made redundant in the purge that has followed Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival. All turned out because they loved Phipps. She was always there with a cuddle, with her 'look-on-the-bright-side' approach to life.

It was pointed out this 'club mentality' is at odds with the cost-cutting that has been undertaken. That Phipps was the very embodiment of a 'United person', loyal, defiant, always willing to help – Ferguson recounted Phipps had offered to go see his own wife Cathy in hospital in Manchester, not long after the Ferguson family had moved south from Aberdeen, even though the pair had never actually met.

Ferguson repaid that kindness in spades. When Phipps' wife died, it was Ferguson who ensured a taxi would be provided to ensure Phipps – a non-driver – could still get to work and back.

He spoke to the media about Phipps at the foot of the Cathedral steps before he headed off:

"She was a special person," said the Scot. "I'm glad the players turned out. She would really have appreciated that."

Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and David de Gea are among the Manchester United players past and present to have paid tribute to former colleague Kath Phipps, who has died at the age of 85.

The club described Phipps as "an omnipresent figure at Manchester United since the late 1960s", having worked in a variety of roles for more than 55 years.

Rooney, United's all-time leading goalscorer who is now manager of Championship side Plymouth, said: "The heart and soul of Manchester United. Everything what the club is about. A legend who will be greatly missed. Thanks for the memories Kathy. Thoughts with family and friends."

Current captain Bruno Fernandes reposted the club's announcement with a heart emoji, while England international forward Rashford said: "Awful news, admired by all at the club and beyond, you will be missed."

Defender Harry Maguire said that Phipps was "a legend that will never be forgotten", while former United goalkeeper De Gea wrote: "Such a wonderful woman! Thanks for taking care of everyone."

The club said in a statement: "A childhood United fan from Irlam, Kath became the Reds' switchboard operator in September 1968, shortly after the Reds' first European Cup success, and was soon forging friendships with Sir Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy and United's star-studded squad, spending countless hours with Ballon d'Or winners George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law as they signed autographs to send to their fans.

"Kath was a one-woman institution, whose memory will be cherished by everyone at the club who had the privilege of knowing her.

"She said last year: 'I can't imagine doing anything else'. Well, we can't imagine the place without her."

The funeral of long-serving Manchester United training ground receptionist Kath Phipps is set to take place in the city this afternoon. Ms Phipps, from Irlam in Salford, passed away last December at the age of 85.

She worked for the club for more than 50 years, joining the Red Devils while the club was managed by the legendary Sir Matt Busby.

Tributes were paid from players past and present when she died, including from the club's all-time leading goal scorer Wayne Rooney, who described her as "the heart and soul of Manchester United".

Manchester United players, managers and staff both past and present are expected to attend the service, which starts at 14:00 GMT at Manchester Cathedral.

Kath was a childhood fan of United, the club she worked at for more than half a century.

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