Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral: City of Manchester prepares to honour Man United legend with thousands of fans to line the streets at Old Trafford and the cathedral

• The funeral of Man United and England great Charlton takes place on Monday
• Prominent figures from the worlds of football and sport will pay their respects
• Funeral cortege is expected to pass Old Trafford at around 1.30pm 

Preparations are underway outside Old Trafford ahead of the funeral of Manchester United and England legend Sir Bobby Charlton.

Family, friends, fans and luminaries from the football world will celebrate Charlton’s extraordinary life on Monday afternoon with his funeral cortege set to pass Old Trafford before heading on to Manchester Cathedral for a memorial service.

Beneath the statue of Charlton’s manager at United, Sir Matt Busby, a platform has been erected with thousands of fans expected to line the route.

An enormous poster depicting Charlton, who died on October 21 aged 86, in United colours hangs from the stadium’s exterior.

His cortege will pass the ‘Holy Trinity’ statue, which depicts Charlton celebrating a goal with fellow United greats Denis Law and George Best, at around 1.30pm.

Preparations have been made outside Old Trafford ahead of Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral, with the cortege set to pass the stadium en route to Manchester Cathedral at around 1.30pm

A platform had been erected on the Old Trafford forecourt with thousands of fans and well-wishers expected to line the route 

The statue of Matt Busby – Charlton’s manager at United – above the platform at Old Trafford

A Manchester United flag is seen flying at half-mast at Old Trafford ahead of Charlton’s funeral

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There was a visible police presence in Manchester city centre ahead of the legend’s funeral

A United representative invited fans and members of the public to ‘pay their respects along the route’ ahead of the service, which begins at 2pm.

A large police presence was visible in Manchester City centre on Monday morning.

A large poster depicting Charlton in Manchester United colours hangs outside the stadium

The service at the cathedral will be led by Canon Nigel Ashworth and feature eulogies by family members and the club. It will remain private and not be filmed.

The great and the good of the football world will be among an expected 1,000 guests with United inviting representatives from every Premier League club.

It is expected every club will send a senior official to pay their respects to one of the best footballers England has ever produced.

Every living United captain has been invited to the service, alongside prominent former players including the Class of 92.

Many of the current squad members have already travelled off to represent their countries in the upcoming internationals and so won’t be present.

United manager Erik ten Hag will also not be present because of ‘an unbreakable and long-standing personal commitment in the Netherlands.’

Charlton’s funeral cortege will past the Holy Trinity statue – depicting him with George Best and Denis Law – en route to Manchester Cathedral 

Images of Charlton outside Old Trafford ahead of United’s home fixture against Luton

Charlton died at the age of 86 on October 21 following a fall at his Cheshire nursing home

Tributes were paid to Charlton ahead of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on October 29

The United club legend will be sadly missed with thousands set to pay their respects

The club’s unpopular owners, the Glazer family, will also stay away amid fears of abuse from fans.  

Other greats from the world of sport, including former Olympic champion Daley Thompson, are also expected.

Tens of thousands have signed a book of condolence opened at Old Trafford following Sir Bobby’s passing in the early hours of October 21.

Charlton, who battled dementia in his later years, died following an accidental fall at a care home in Knutsford, Cheshire, coroners ruled.

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