Former Manchester United director and top sports lawyer Maurice Watkins was laid to rest in his funeral today.
A handful of well-wishers were present at Old Trafford where the funeral cortege including many members of 79-year-old Mr Watkins' family paused in the shadow of the world-famous ground showered by light rain before making its way to Manchester Cathedral for a service.
The man described by ex-Red Devils' boss Sir Alex Ferguson as 'a true gentleman' has left an indelible mark on his beloved football club on whose board he served for 28 years until 2012.
Colleagues at the Manchester legal firm Brabners where Mr Watkins was head of sports law took to Twitter to express their condolences to the family, with one posting: "We will be remembering and celebrating the life of Maurice Watkins today."
Mr Watkins famously brokered the deal to keep Sir Alex at the club after he had decided to quit - with fans chanting his nickname 'Mo' from the stands.
He is also credited with navigating United through a legal and media minefield after Eric Cantona's infamous kick out at a Crystal Palace fan in 1995.
A father-of-four and step-father, Mr Watkins had battled prostate cancer for some years.
It wasn't just the world of football that benefited from his expertise.
Mr Watkins was interim chairman of the Rugby Football League in 2012; chairman of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain from 2009 to 2014; a director at Lancashire County Cricket Club; chairman of the European Swimming Legal Committee; a trustee of the Professional Footballers Pension Scheme and a former chairman of the British Basketball Federation.
He was also chairman of Barnsley Football Club for four years.
