The United Trinity outside Old Trafford was turned into a shrine on Tuesday night as fans remembered Sir Bobby Charlton before kick-off. The Manchester United diaspora gathered to file past the statue at the first home game since his passing and pay their own personal tributes.
The scale of the tableau of flowers, scarves and replica shirts bore testament to the respect in which Charlton was held after 60 years as player, director and ambassador at United. Love and loss – it was a sombre and quietly moving scene.
“We’ll never forget what you have done for Manchester United,” read the message on one bouquet. “Enjoy your knockabout with the Busby Babes.” Scarf around neck as he leaned on the shoulder of Denis Law with George Best on the other side, the sculpted figure of Charlton surveyed it all impassively.
His gaze was fixed upwards towards the statue of Sir Matt Busby and the giant lettering on the stand above which read: ‘Sir Bobby Charlton 1937-2023. Forever Loved.’ Ashlee, from Salford, who had come with her ten-year-old son Jamie, did not even have tickets for the match.
“We came to lay some flowers. You have to pay your respects,” she said. “He was an absolute legend of a man.” You didn’t have to have seen Charlton’s thunderbolt shot in the flesh to have felt the pull of his humble greatness.
Richard, 34, from Bristol never saw him play. It didn’t matter. “There are a few footballers that are timeless aren’t there? George Best, Geoff Hurst and Bobby Charlton – no matter who you support or what age you are you know about these people. They are synonymous with English football,” he said.
James, 32, who had flown in from Sweden, was another who knew Charlton only through grainy YouTube highlights reels. “What struck me was all the shirts and flowers from other clubs – Everton, Manchester City, Liverpool, Burnley…” he said. “It’s easy to see he wasn’t just about Manchester United. He was for England.”
But for those who had actually seen Charlton in action it was an even deeper experience. Alan, a pensioner, had travelled up from Oxfordshire. “I had to come up here for the guy today. I’ve supported this club since Munich and he was Mr Manchester United for me,” he said.
“He was the best footballer this country has ever produced – and a total gentleman with it too. An unbelievable guy.” Pat, 68, a stonemason from Cheltenham, was in tears after laying his scarf.
“I saw him play many times. He was my era. He was the last English footballer that the world respected – a class act on and off the field. He was the No 1.” Fifty yards away the queue for programmes, adorned with a lovely black and white image of Charlton in his later years, were unusually long.
Everyone, it seemed, wanted a keepsake. The programme included in the warm tribute inside, the following observation by his long-time United manager Busby. “There was no more graceful sight on any soccer pitch in the world than Bobby Charlton going forward, no thrill greater than when he struck that ball for goal.”
No-one at Old Trafford last night cared to argue. Not even the Copenhagen contingent. Inside the stadium, ten minutes before kick-off, when the United fans launched into a chorus of ‘There’s Only One Bobby Charlton’, the travelling Danish fans joined in.
That was the extent of his reach. The placing of a wreath in the centre circle by United manager Erik ten Hag which was accompanied on its way by a lone piper was followed by a minute’s silence.
It was beautiful. And poignant. And special. And then came the football.
