Manchester United and England legend Sir Bobby Charlton’s memorial service is set to take place at Manchester Cathedral on Monday, 13 November as fans prepare to say farewell to the greatest English footballer there ever was.
That being said, a formal memorial service is also scheduled to take place in the city centre, where fans will be able to pay their respects to a beloved sporting hero.
The memorial procession will pass the club’s home ground, with fans advised to use the E2 car park and arrive at the East Stand forecourt from 1pm before the car passes the Trinity Statue around 1:30pm on its way to Manchester Cathedral, where the private funeral service itself will take place at 2pm.
Sir Bobby Charlton's funeral will take place on Monday 13 November at 14:00 GMT.
Full details and information on how you can pay your respects at Old Trafford and Manchester Cathedral can be found below. #MUFC
United confirm the timings and details surrounding Sir Bobby Charlton’s memorial service.
As confirmed in an update from United, although Sir Bobby‘s funeral service will obviously be a solemn occasion, it will focus on celebrating and paying 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.
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“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.”
It is expected that up to 1,000 guests will be present at the cathedral where eulogies will be delivered by relatives and members of the club.
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During their two competitive fixtures following Charlton’s death, the club held a minute’s silence and a minute’s applause for their former player and long-serving Director, as well as holding an emotional pre-match dedication on both occasions.
The memorabilia placed by mourning fans has now also been carefully relocated to the Old Trafford Museum and will join the tributes left by fans following the passing of Sir Matt Busby in 1994.
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In addition, the club has confirmed that all the plastic will be removed from the floral tributes and will be recycled, with all flowers being composted and used in the gardens at the Carrington Training Complex. Sir Bobby’s family have also asked that instead of flowers, fans donate to one of the charities that meant so much to him:
It’s hard to find the words to sum up a man who meant so much not only to football but countless people in Greater Manchester and beyond, but we gave it a go nonetheless. RIP.
Featured Image — The Manc Group/Man United (via X)
Sport
Tributes paid to former Manchester City winger Ian Mellor, dead at 74
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring following the death of former Manchester City star, Ian Mellor, who has sadly passed away at the age of 74.
Mellor, from Sale in Greater Manchester, played as a left winger for Man City as well as the likes of Norwich City, Brighton, Chester, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford.
With his family and former club confirming the death on Wednesday, 1 May, social media has been awash with people paying their respects to the seasoned ex-pro who sadly died following a long battle with amyloidosis, a rare and incurable disease which affects organs such as the heart, brains and kidneys.
Replying to his son and ex-Liverpool turned Sky Sports broadcaster, Neil Mellor, the club paid their respects to the former Blue who made 50 appearances for the club.
We're saddened to learn of the passing of our former player, Ian Mellor.
Mellor began his career just down the road at Wythenshawe Amateurs before going on to represent City from 1970 to 1973.
A boyhood fan of the club, he scored 10 goals whilst wearing Sky Blue and also went on to win the Charity Shield with them back in 1972.
Eventually nicknamed ‘Spider’ for a good chunk of his career due to his long-legged stature, he remained attached to the beautiful game for years after his retirement and went on to become a committee member for the Former Players Association at City.
Joining the likes of all his former clubs, Chester City said: “Everyone at [the club] is saddened to hear of the passing of Ian Mellor. Sending all our love to you and your family, Neil Mellor.
His son Neil’s goodbye has touched many online too, calling his dad his “hero” and his “everything”.
He also went on to thank locally-based end-of-life care organisation and charity, St Ann’s Hospice, who have facilities all over Greater Manchester and who helped care for Ian in his final days.
Our thoughts are with his friends and family as well as those whose lives he touched through football during this difficult time.
Featured Images — Manchester City/Neil Mellor (via X)
Sport
Manchester MMA star Tom Aspinall slams ‘unfair’ start times for UFC 304 at Co-op Live
Danny Jones
Local MMA star Tom Aspinall has come out to criticise the start times for UFC 304 here in Manchester, calling it ‘unfair’ for fans here in the UK.
In case you missed that rather big announcement, the UFC is returning to Manchester after nearly a decade and will be the very first sporting event held at the brand-new Co-op Live Arena, which is finally set to open this week following multiple delays (touch wood).
However, in an effort to keep broadcasters and the UFC‘s massive audience back in the US, the fight card will be starting until around 3am – and that’s at the very earliest.
Responding to the decision the Atherton-born and Salford-based fighter posted a video on his socials saying, “As a fan who wants to watch it live, I think it is absolutely terrible”.
He goes on to say that “it’s just not fair on the fans – the UK fans obviously. It’s predominantly an American audience so I understand that, they want to sell to them, but why can’t they sell to them in the afternoon which is our evening time?
While he admitted it “doesn’t make that much difference” to him as a fighter, the 31-year-old went on to ask, “Why can’t the American watch it in the afternoon and Manchester, the UK and European fans can all fly to the event and sell out this new arena?”
“I mean, it’s going to sell out regardless, mate”, Aspinall reiterated, adding that “we’re very lucky to have a pay-per-view event in Manchester” but that forcing the British audience and Mancs to watch something just down the road at a US-convenient time just doesn’t seem right.
There’s been plenty of backlash amongst MMA fans online too, with many stating that it simply goes to show that the UFC as an organisation “don’t care” about overseas supporters as much as they claim to.
As the current interim heavyweight champion, Aspinall will be right up at the top of the billing for UFC 304, which is the first time the event has been in the UK full stop since 2016.
We can only hope for similarly victorious scenes for the North West this July.
As for the shiny new venue, Co-op Live, after a fair few teething problems it looks like they are now on course to open just a week or so after the initial launch date. Not so bad.
Danny Jones -
1st November 2023 
