|
Published: 19 January
2000
Sir
Matt's Anniversary - by
OUR SALFORD LASS
Six
years ago tomorrow I, like United fans everywhere, stood in stunned silence
when I heard the news that Sir Matt had passed away, had gone to join
"his boys". On that day, Manchester went into mourning, as it had in 1958.
Thousands of us made our way to Old Trafford and left a mark of respect
- a cherished scarf, a flag, flowers. A few days later, I was one of hundreds
of United fans who stood in the pouring rain outside Old Trafford, waiting
for the cortege to make it's way to the stadium on it's way to Southern
Cemetary. We stood in silence as the rain stopped and a watery sun shone
down on us whilst Sir Matt paused outside Old Trafford for the last time.
All around me people of all ages and backgrounds stood with tears running
down their faces and paid their respects to the greatest manager Manchester
United had ever known - men and women, pensioners and children, United
and City fans. All joined together in mourning for a man who some knew
personally and others knew only through the stories that they had been
told by their parents and grandparents.
Those
six years have flown by as if on wings but Sir Matt is with us still -
he is with us at Old Trafford (as Sir Alex said, he is part of the brickwork
of the place), he was with us in Barcelona last May, and he will always
be with us. Even when we who remember Sir Matt, the man, are long dead
and gone, he will live on in the legends and folklore of Manchester United.
Tomorrow
I will pause and remember those black ribbons on his seat at the Everton
game and I will know that around the world United fans will be remembering
not only a man they respected and admired, but a man they loved.
God
bless Sir Matt.
SALFORD LASS
|
