Image source, BBC Sport

I will leave you with the thoughts of BBC Sport reporter Simon Stone.

You can read his fascinating personal account of meeting and talking with Sir Bobby Charlton in this story here.

In it, he recounts the humble, understated way Sir Bobby spoke about his own talents. "I never found football a bother, really," he said. "It all came quite easily."

And also the matter of fact way this man from Ashington grew to count world leaders, like Nelson Mandela, as a personal friend.

"With the sadness," writes Simon, "solace comes from the knowledge that the impact during his life was a positive and lasting one, which will be spoken of by generations long after those of us who were fortunate enough to know him have passed on."

Rest In Peace, Sir Bobby...

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick shared an "emotional", "surreal" moment with former Manchester United team-mate and now Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney at the Riverside.

Carrick described to BBC Radio 5 Live his emotions on hearing the news of Sir Bobby Charlton's death at half-time, before an impromptu standing ovation broke out, during Saturday's 1-0 win over Birmingham City.

He said: "It's a huge blow for me personally. He is an iconic figure around the world, definitely in England and obviously part of Manchester United.

"I was lucky enough to get to know him, feel his support and what Manchester United meant to him. Being in that position was something I never took for granted. He is sorely, sorely missed.

"It was a strange moment in some ways - being on the touchline and feeling the support and emotion in the stadium at half-time, then the applause and looking across and seeing Wayne [Rooney] standing next to me.

"Obviously we know him, we know the club so much, we have been through everything together - so it was a bit of surreal moment.

"We definitely took our eye off the game. Or at least I took my eye off the game for a few moments. Reflecting on it now, it is tough. It's emotional. I just wish Sir Bobby's family and the club all the very best."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Gareth Southgate spoke fondly of Sir Bobby Charlton after meeting him on "several occasions" in his position as England manager:

"One of our most iconic players, Sir Bobby Charlton’s impact on our only World Cup triumph is there for all to see.

"The privilege of meeting him on several occasions allowed me to understand his personal pride and emotion in having represented England and simply confirmed in my mind his standing as one of the gentlemen of the game.

"The world of football will unite in its sadness at losing an undisputed legend."

Image source, Getty Images

Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand posted this picture alongside the words below on his Instagram account:

"Sir Bobby. Icon, Legend, Great… these words are thrown around by all of us to many who 100% don’t deserve them, especially when you compare them to a man of Sir Bobby’s calibre.

"What a true gentleman of not many words, but when he spoke you stood still, stopped what you were doing and listened.

"A lot of the history was living and breathing through him and he was a constant at the club while I was there - travelling with us all over the world.

"Win, lose or draw he would be in the changing room wishing us well.

"The words he shared with me at the bottom of those stairs in Moscow, before I went up to lift the CL trophy will stay with me forever."

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville on Sir Bobby Charlton:

"The greatest Man Utd representative and has been for 50 to 60years. One of the original Busby Babes. He won youth cups at Man Utd then won the European Cup, the World Cup and in the modern era he was a director of the club.

"He used to come into the changing room - win, lose or draw. He is an icon.

"A great loss today. No doubt [he was] English football’s greatest player and ambassador. A champion on and off the pitch."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Bramall Lane

It promises to be a poignant night at Bramall Lane tonight.

Manchester United play their first game since the passing of possibly their greatest ever player.

Sir Bobby Charlton will be remembered by players wearing black armbands.

There was due to be a minute's silence before the game anyway due to the issues in Israel and Palestine but this will now be expanded to include a tribute to Charlton.

Image source, BBC Sport

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

This is the wreath left by the 'Holy Trinity' statue at Old Trafford by Manchester United in honour of one of their greatest ever players.

The note bears the words: "In loving memory of Sir Bobby Charlton, a great player and even greater man.

"With deepest gratitude for your service, from everyone at Manchester United."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also paid a heartfelt tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton.

He told BBC Match of the Day: "A huge loss for his family and for the Manchester United family and for English football, European football.

"A big legend. On behalf of Manchester City our condolences to his family, Manchester United and for everyone because we have the Premier League that we have because of these type of people."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Former England captain David Beckham has also praised “national hero” Sir Bobby Charlton as tributes pour in following his death.

Beckham came through the ranks at Manchester United having attended Bobby Charlton’s Soccer School and was given the middle name Robert as his father was a support of the club and idolised the 1968 European Cup winner.

"It all began with Sir Bobby. Sir Bobby was the reason I had the opportunity to play for Manchester United," wrote Beckham on his Instagram account. , external

"I will be forever grateful to a man I was named after, someone I looked up to and was a hero to many around the world not just in Manchester and our country where he won the World Cup in 1966.

"A true gentleman, family man and truly a national hero… Today isn’t just a sad day for Manchester United & England it’s a sad day for football and everything that Sir Bobby represented.. Our thoughts go out to Lady Norma , there daughters and grandchildren x Rest in Peace Sir Bobby. @manchesterunited, external@england, external today our hearts are heavy."

As mentioned, David Beckham has responded to the sad news of Sir Bobby Charlton's death.

Let's hear what the former England and Manchester United midfielder had to say about a man he described as a "national hero"...

There is a lot of content devoted to Sir Bobby Charlton on the BBC Sport website.

Click on the links below to read more:

• News story as Sir Bobby dies, aged 86
• Tribute to one of 'sport's greatest figures'
• A personal account of meeting Sir Bobby

We also have a number of videos you can watch:

• Sir Bobby's obituary - BBC Sport
• I owe everything to Sir Bobby - Beckham

Nick Robinson
Presenter, Radio 4 Today

Image source, Getty Images

Above all, this man was a legend because he was a gent of the old school. He had that modesty - "I just happened to be good at football", he said.

That's what he was like if you met him. Bobby stopped for everybody who wanted to meet him - and everybody did want to meet him at Old Trafford. He'd always have time, he'd always have a smile, he'd always have advice and patience.

My boys, when they were quite young, had the privilege of meeting him. I still remember him advising them on how they could get better at football. He said it's easy: just find a ball, find a wall, he said. Kick right-foot, left-foot. Find your weakest foot and keep kicking again and again.

He was a man who will be so badly missed by the entire Manchester United family. There are four millions fans around the country and many more around the world.

But I think he'll be missed for another reason. That Munich air disaster is so long ago, back in 1958. It was front-page news. The people of Manchester stopped. The world, in many ways, stopped as people heard of the deaths of so many young, brilliant sporting stars.

Bobby, as he said, was one of the lucky ones, thrown out of the wreckage when so many of his teammates died, still strapped into his chair. But he brought hope from despair.

He was back on the pitch within weeks, not just winning and scoring two goals in that European Cup final, not just winning the league for United, but proving that those young men would honour the memory of those who died by becoming the greatest.

It's hard to interview anyone who is your hero, because as a little boy, growing up, Bobby Charlton really was my hero. You struggle to find the words when you meet him, but he was a man who put everyone at their ease.

The great thing is that after he stopped playing, he was a loyal fan. One of my favourite bits of video is him talking about the moment the next great United team - the team of the nineties - won the treble in 1999.

He described the moment when the winning goal went in in the Champions League final. He said the world seemed to stop for 30 seconds. Then he realised what paradise was like.

He was someone who loved football - and football will, forever, love him.

Manchester United have laid a wreath on the Trinity statue - featuring Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best - outside their Old Trafford stadium.

Fans have also gathered to pay their own tributes, while Manchester United players will wear black armbands during Saturday night's Premier League match at Sheffield United (20:00 BST).

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United paid a fond tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton, describing him as "one of the greatest and most beloved players in the history of our club".

"Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester, or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world," the club said.

"He was admired as much for his sportsmanship and integrity as he was for his outstanding qualities as a footballer; Sir Bobby will always be remembered as a giant of the game.

"His unparalleled record of achievement, character and service will be forever etched in the history of Manchester United and English football and his legacy will live on through the life-changing work of the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation.

"The club's heartfelt sympathies are with his wife Lady Norma, his daughters and grandchildren, and all who loved him."

Image source, Getty Images

In November 2020, it was announced that Sir Bobby Charlton had been diagnosed with dementia.

He died surrounded by his family, who said in a statement they wished to "pass on their thanks to everyone who has contributed to his care and for the many people who have loved and supported him".

"We would request that the family's privacy be respected at this time," their statement added.

Image source, BBC Sport

If you are just joining us, you will of course now know the sad news that Sir Bobby Charlton has died, aged 86.

Charlton won 106 caps for England and scored 49 international goals - records for his country at the time.

During a 17-year first-team career with United he won three league titles, a European Cup and an FA Cup.

Charlton's family said he "passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning".

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

If you hadn't watched a game of football and didn't see him play, you would just see him as this normal guy. He was so humble about everything he had won.

When you read out everything he has done in the game, how many trophies he has won, appearances he has made and goals he has scored, he could have been excused for having a little bit of arrogance about him. But there was absolutely none of that at all.

I don't think you will ever hear anyone say a bad word against him.

Image source, Getty Images

Gary Lineker
Ex-England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Report

If you had told me when I started my England career that I would end up just one goal off Sir Bobby Charlton's record I would have snapped your hand off - he was that good.

He scored proper goals. He scored all sorts of goals too. From outside the box, with the incredible power and venom in his strikes, that was what really caught my eye.

He was a pure striker of a football. His ability can be summed up with the goals he scored in the World Cup final, one was just slotted away purposely with the instep. He knew how to finish and when, and at the right time.

That England record was truly remarkable, now eclipsed by Rooney and Kane, but for someone who was more of a midfielder than a forward it was remarkable.

Image source, Getty Images