Man Utd players past and present say goodbye to Kath Phipps

Summary

The funeral of Manchester United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps has taken place after her death at the age of 85.
Tributes were paid to the club stalwart who first joined as a switchboard operator in 1968.
David Beckham, Peter Schmeichel, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ruben Amorin and the first team squad were among the congregation attending the service at Manchester Cathedral.

Live Reporting

Manchester United remembers Kath Phipps 1939-2024published at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
That brings an end to our live coverage of the funeral service of Kath Phipps.
A "service of thanksgiving" for the Manchester's United long-serving receptionist, who greeted players and visitors at the club for generations, took place at Manchester Cathedral.
Kath, who worked at the club for more than fifty years, died in December last year at the age of 85.
Sir Alex Ferguson said she was "so committed" to the club and was a "very special person", while players past and present described her as a "legend" and "wonderful".
David Beckham, Roy Keane, Nicky Butt, as well as Ruben Amorim and the first team squad were among the mourners who turned up to show their respects.
Sir Alex speaks after the funeralpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
One of Manchester United's other long-serving legends, Sir Alex Ferguson, told the BBC outside the cathedral that Kath Phipps was a "special person" who "loved people".
"You can’t think of a moment when she didn’t enjoy her life. She was a really United person. I can’t think of a day she had off," he said.
“55 years.. I did 26 and I thought that was unbelievable.
“She was a fantastic person, and I’m really glad all the players turned out. She would appreciate that."
Media caption,
Sir Alex Ferguson pays tribute to Manchester United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps
'Can't imagine the place without her'published at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Kath Phipps was "always ready to lend an ear and offer words of encouragement to anyone who needed them", Manchester United said in a tribute post after her death.
The club said she was always ready to help anyone, "be they megastar footballers, casual staff or occasional visitors", adding "we can’t imagine the place without her".
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Kath Phipps met Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Carrington before his takeover last year
'Thanksgiving for the life of Kath Phipps'published at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
The funeral was described as a "service of thanksgiving" for the life of Kath Phipps who passed away on 5 December at the age of 85.
Image caption,
Manchester United legends including Sir Alex Ferguson, Roy Keane and Peter Schmeichel all attended Kath Phipps's funeral
Kath Phipps's coffin carried out of Manchester Cathedralpublished at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Kath's coffin has been taken out of the cathedral as the service draws to a close.
Ruben Amorim has exited out of the main entrance. Sir Alex Ferguson and most other members of the congregation have left through a side door.
Abide With Me played at servicepublished at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
The hymn Abide With Me has been played at Manchester Cathedral during the funeral.
'No one could walk past Kath without a hug' - Evanspublished at 14:32 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter
“A remarkable lady," said defender Jonny Evans.
The 37-year-old Northern Irish defender said: "She was the best on a good day and the best on a bad day.
"Not one person ever walked past Kath without a short embrace. When she came back to work at the start of the summer I gave her a lift home. It was like driving royalty."
'A wonderful lady' - Sir Alexpublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter
In a eulogy delivered inside the cathedral, Sir Alex Ferguson told mourners the receptionist was a "wonderful lady".
He said he was "pleased the team got a result last night" in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, adding "Kath would be happy with that".
"When I went to see her at home towards the end, she was happy and content. I thought she had a Coke to drink.
"She told me it was a Bacardi and Coke. I asked her what the doctor would think about that. She said: ‘I haven’t asked him’.
"It is unusual to have someone who is so committed and who loved people so much. The people you see here today are here to honour a very special person.”
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
The players held up a banner in honour of Kath days after her death.
Funeral procession arrivespublished at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Pallbearers have arrived carrying the coffin of Kath Phipps into Manchester Cathedral as the Manchester United stalwart's funeral begins.
Image caption,
Kath Phipps's coffin was carried into Manchester Cathedral
Image caption,
Kath Phipps's funeral is under way at Manchester Cathedral
Keane and Butt among former players to attendpublished at 13:49 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
As more people arrive, Roy Keane and Nicky Butt were seen entering Manchester Cathedral.
John O'Shea, Phil Bardsley and Wes Brown have also arrived for the service.
Image caption,
Former players Nicky Butt and Roy Keane have arrived at the cathedral
Image caption,
John O'Shea, Phil Bardsley and Wes Brown are seen entering the cathedral for the long-serving receptionist's funeral
'It's clear what Kath Phipps meant to this club'published at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter
Looking at the famous and lifelong Manchester United faces inside Manchester Cathedral this afternoon underlines what Kath Phipps meant to the club.
She would be the first person anyone would see at Carrington. Her time at United spanned decades.
Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham and Roy Keane are here for the service along with Ruben Amorim and his squad.
Ruben Amorim arrives with Man Utd playerspublished at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
The Manchester United first team squad has arrived, all wearing club suits, led by the side's Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim.
He was followed by club captain Bruno Fernandes and defender Jonny Evans.
Image caption,
Ruben Amorim, Bruno Fernandes and Jonny Evans were among the first to arrive at the funeral
Image caption,
Manchester United's current crop of players have turned out for the club stalwart's funeral
‘Omnipresent figure’published at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Kath's was the first face anyone arriving at the main reception at the club’s training ground would see, with her positivity and warmth towards players and regular visitors leaving a lasting impression, according to those who paid tribute to her.
The club described her as an “omnipresent figure”, who joined as a switchboard operator in 1968, and went on to become a “one-woman institution” whose memory would be cherished “by everyone at the club who had the privilege of knowing her”.
Sir Alex Ferguson arrivespublished at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Sir Alex Ferguson, who was Man Utd boss for 27 years, arrives at Manchester Cathedral.
The former manager would have worked with Kath Phipps for almost half of her more than 50-year career at the club.
Image caption,
Former Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson arrives for Kath Phipps's funeral
Image caption,
Sir Alex walked in with other guests to Manchester Cathedral
First team squad said Kath was 'a legend'published at 13:28 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Striker Marcus Rashford and defender Harry Maguire were among those in the current Manchester United squad to pay tribute to Kath as a "legend that will never be forgotten" when she passed away last December.
The club’s players held up a banner and laid wreaths at Old Trafford in her honours days after her death when they played Nottingham Forest.
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes and Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga, formerly a Utd player, laid wreathes at Old Trafford in Kath Phipps's memory.
'Wonderful lady' - Phil Jonespublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
People have been filtering in to Manchester Cathedral over the past half an hour ahead of the funeral.
Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones said Kath was a "wonderful lady", who was "the first face you would see" on a morning at the club.
"I am delighted to be here to give her what should be a fantastic send off."
Image caption,
Mourners gather outside Manchester Cathedral before the funeral of Kath Phipps
Image caption,
The funeral is due to start at 14:00 GMT
Beckham arrives at Manchester Cathedralpublished at 13:13 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
David Beckham, who paid tribute to Kath as the "heartbeat of Manchester United", has arrived for the funeral.
He said: "The first and last face I would always see was Kath sat at reception at Old Trafford, waiting to give me my tickets for the game."
Image caption,
David Beckham has arrived at Manchester Cathedral
'We would open fan mail together' - Schmeichelpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said Kath was the first person he met when he joined United in 1991.
He said she gave him a tour of Old Trafford and on occasions they would sit together and open his fan mail.
'Football has been my life'published at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Interviewed by the club in 2023, Kath said: “I don’t think I’ve had one cross word with anybody in all the years I’ve been here.
“I look forward to coming in and having a smile on my face every day, wishing people ‘good morning’.
"I just enjoy being here. Not everybody can say they enjoy going to work but I do. Football has been my life.”
Image source, Reuters/LMA
Image caption,
Kath was much-loved by Man Utd staff past and present.
Funeral at Manchester Cathedralpublished at 12:54 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
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.