'Any fan will have a pain in their heart': supporters gather to pay respects to Bobby Charlton

Perhaps it was apt that the skies cleared and the sun shone. That Storm Babet chose this day to subside in Manchester, the clouds lifting over a city united to celebrate, as well as mourn, one of its greatest sons

- Dominic Booth

Sir Bobby Charlton was born in Ashington, Northumberland, but common consent agrees he found a home for life at Manchester United.

The son of a miner forged by the steel of Sir Matt Busby's homegrown teams steered the club into the modern day with Sir Alex Ferguson; three red knights who shaped United's history.

How much Charlton means to United fans is almost unquantifiable; yet the masses who made the trip to Old Trafford a day after his death, to pay their respects, was a mark of how beloved he was. Each came with their own stories of meeting the great man, explaining how he'd take time to shake the hands of young fans before games.

They stopped at the United Trinity statue, where Charlton is immortalised alongside his friends and teammates, George Best and Denis Law. His stone cast was draped in a red and black scarf yesterday as flowers, shirts and flags were laid at his feet.

"He was just United, wasn't he?" said one supporter, who brought a bunch of red roses. "We owe everything to him. We wouldn't be what we are without him."