Charlton's legacy will live on, not only in Manchester, but around the world
TRIBUTE: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag (centre) lays a wreath in tribute to Bobby Charlton prior to the Champions League Group A clash with Copenhagen at Old Trafford on Tuesday night. Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire
They came from all corners of the Manchester United empire to pay their respects; the love of people from Delhi, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam; from Salford, Redditch, and Burnley, laid bare to see, at the foot of his statue.
There were tributes from rivals and a brisk trade in hastily produced knock-off Charlton scarves and 'Charlton 7' replica shirts dating back to that immortal United vintage of the Swinging Sixties when, briefly, the holy triumvirate of Best, Law, and Charlton gave even the Beatles a run for their money at the forefront of Britain’s cultural zeitgeist.
His legacy lives on.
For example in charities like the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation which, as recently as Friday night, the eve of Charlton’s death at the age of 86, held a fundraising dinner that made £33,000 for disadvantaged children in the cities of Belgrade, Munich, and Manchester — the route that ill-fated British European Airways flight was supposed to take in February 1958.
Those cities are inexorably linked to the story of Charlton and the Munich air disaster and will be retold for as long as football is played, and Tuesday night certainly felt like a time to reflect on simpler, more wholesome, times.
A year ago to the week, the modern Charlton, Cristiano Ronaldo, was refusing to come on as a sub against Spurs, the beginning of the end of his legend at Old Trafford. Three weeks later he was appearing on the , bad-mouthing manager Erik ten Hag and his soon-to-be former employers.
By that stage, ill-health had taken Charlton out of the public eye but it was not hard to imagine what the great man’s reaction would have been to that petulant, self-indulgent outburst.
As former United youngster Sammy McIlroy, who made his United debut under Charlton’s captaincy in 1971, recalled: “He’s just Mr Manchester United, but what a lovely, lovely man as well, especially playing in the Swinging Sixties. Sir Bobby was a family man, there was nothing controversial with him.”
It explained why McIlroy was among thousands who filed past the statue of the trio on Tuesday night, laying wreaths and mementos; fans leaving personal trinkets from all over the world, tens of thousands of whom also signed a book of condolence, in person and online.
Steve Merry, who represents the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation laid a wreath on behalf of United’s Redditch Supporters’ Club and spoke for at least three generations of fans, including three in his own family.
“My first match was 1968, West Brom away,” he said. “Then ’73 here for the first home game. So I saw Bobby play.
“His legacy lives on in charities like the MMMF. He was the last of the Busby Babes era, the ultimate ambassador, the symbol of the United way and, arguably, what is missing in the current team.
“He left his imprint on the club. His statue speaks for itself. Ronaldo would never have that; he was never a Law, Charlton, Best.” Certainly, a wreath, placed in the vacant seat reserved for Charlton in the directors’ box, was a moving symbol of loss but also the jumping off point for celebration of an extraordinary life well-lived.
“I met Bobby when I was 15 years of age as an apprentice and his words have stuck with me ever since: ‘You’re at the best club in the world. Give it 100% and go out and enjoy yourself,’” recalled McIlroy.
“It’s not all about Manchester, or Great Britain, it’s the world. Everyone who knows football, you talk about Manchester United, you talk about Bobby Charlton.
“And now tonight, you see so many young people with Bobby Charlton scarves, the replica shirts, it’s just unbelievable. No matter where you go in the world, mention Manchester United and 'Best, Law, Charlton’ comes back at you. Everyone knows that.
“It’s going to be a very emotional night. I just can’t wait for the teams to come out on the park, how the fans are going to react, it’s going to be an unforgettable night.”
It was, at least before kick-off, from the moment ten Hag, Charlton’s old keeper Alex Stepney and current youth captain Dan Gore — representing the club’s proud youth legacy which started with Charlton and the Busby Babes — strode out and laid a wreath in the centre circle, accompanied by a lone piper, an echo of a tribute paid at the first game following the death of Busby in 1994.
A malfunction with the microphone attached to the bagpipes somehow enhanced the solemnity of the occasion as 70,000-plus listened in hushed reverence.
The football that followed was far less memorable and reinforced how far United are from winning the trophy first delivered by Charlton 55 years ago; concerns which will be addressed in weeks to come. But, for one night at least, it was enough to look back with nostalgia, not forward with anxiety.
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