Manchester City paid a beautiful tribute to the late club legend Bernard Halford – by taking the six trophies they won last season to his graveside.
The former Blues secretary died in March, aged 77, not quite living long enough to see the men’s team make history by securing all four domestic trophies, while the women’s tea added to the haul.
So the Blues ensured that the man known to many as “Mr Manchester City” after his five decades of service to the club was not left out.
The club’s global football managing director Brian Marwood – who became close to Bernard after joining the Blues ten years ago – gave a touching speech at graveside to a small gathering of friends, family and former colleagues yesterday.
Bernard’s widow Karen said: “Brian couldn’t be at Bernard’s funeral and they had a close friendship after working together for 11 years.
“When he got back from America he said it would be nice to take the cups we have won to the grave, to show Bernard. He would have been delighted”
The club organised a security detail to accompany the Premier League trophy, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shied, FA Women’s Cup and Women’s Continental Cup to the cemetery.
Bernard famously became the first non-player to lift the FA Cup when Marwood and chief executive Garry Cook came up with a plan to acknowledge his years of loyal service, many of them through difficult years.
“Bernard loved to recount that story, about the 107 steps at Wembley – it made him unbelievably proud," Mrs Halford said.
“We had many happy years of marriage, but his first love was definitely City – they always came first.
“He put up with all those years when they weren’t playing so well, so I’m glad that for the last eight or nine years of his life, he was around to celebrate and be part of all the success.
“That changed, but Bernard remained the same, with no airs and graces – he stayed the same flat-cap Oldham lad. He never changed.
“After he became ill, and couldn’t go to all of the matches, I think I got my O and A levels in Manchester City, sitting next to him on the sofa to watch matches, and getting a running commentary.
“Towards the end, he was so frail but City had to send him home because he just wanted to keep working.”
