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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
George Flood

Sir Bobby Charlton funeral confirmed for November 13 by Manchester United

Manchester United have confirmed that Sir Bobby Charlton's funeral will take place on November 13.

The Old Trafford and England icon and influential 1966 World Cup winner sadly died last week at the age of 86, plunging the football world into mourning.

United, with whom Charlton spent 17 years and won three league titles, a European Cup and the FA Cup, announced on Tuesday that the funeral service for arguably their greatest-ever player would be held at Manchester Cathedral on Monday, November 13 at 2pm GMT, with the procession to stop at Old Trafford en route to allow fans the chance to say their goodbyes.

"The ceremony will celebrate and pay tribute to Sir Bobby’s incredible life as a husband, father, grandfather and, of course, as one of the finest footballers this country has ever produced," United said in a statement.

Sir Bobby Charlton was one of the most beloved figures in Manchester United history (PA)

"The procession to the Cathedral will pass by Old Trafford for a moment of reflection and provide an opportunity for fans to say a final farewell to a true Manchester United legend.

"Further details of the service and the procession will be communicated in due course.

"The family will then hold a private committal for Sir Bobby and have requested privacy around the arrangements for this."

Tributes have continued to pour in for Charlton since his passing, with memorabilia and floral tributes surrounding the 'Holy Trinity' statue outside Old Trafford where he is honoured along with fellow United greats George Best and Denis Law.

United added that more than 80,000 fans had so far signed a book of remembrance for Charlton, who scored 249 goals in 758 total appearances for the club between 1956-73 and remained synonymous with them for the rest of his life as a great ambassador.

Those figures stood as long-time club records until Ryan Giggs became United's all-time appearance maker in 2008 and Wayne Rooney later topped the scoring chart in 2017.

Charlton - Ballon d'Or and World Cup winner in 1966 - also scored 49 times in 106 caps for England, also records that were later broken.

United said the memorabilia left by fans at Old Trafford in tribute to Charlton had now been relocated to the Old Trafford Museum to join the tributes to legendary former manager Sir Matt Busby, who died in 1994.

"In addition, all the plastic will be removed from the floral tributes and will be recycled, and the flowers will be composted and used in the gardens at United’s Carrington Training Complex," the statement finished.

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