On the banks of the River Irwell, under the same roof where they once parted ways with Bobby Charlton and George Best, Manchester United on Monday afternoon welcomed another treasured figure, one of English football’s most beloved receptionists. said his final farewell.
Cass Phipps, who died last month aged 85, was remembered at a ceremony at Manchester Cathedral on Monday afternoon after 56 years of outstanding service to the club. “I did it 26 times and I thought it was unbelievable,” Sir Alex Ferguson told reporters afterwards.
Such longevity means United was among the 400-strong faithful who came to pay their respects, including Brian Kidd, Bryan Robson, and David Beckham, who is famously one of Cass’s favorites. This meant that there were people representing every period of modern history.
Beckham was one of the first to arrive, accompanied by his parents Sandra and Ted. Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes were all sitting in the same row. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been joined by Michael Carrick.
The entire current first-team squad arrived en masse, led by Ruben Amorim, 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony, with the most senior executives in attendance being Sir Dave Brailsford and chief executive Omar Berada.
Tributes poured in on the day of Cass Phipps’ funeral ❤️
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 6, 2025
Around 30 academy players were also in attendance, with Mark Skinner, Maya Le Tissier and Ella Thun representing the women’s team.
As the ceremony began, Ferguson led the eulogy, saying after Sunday’s exciting 2-2 draw with Liverpool, “I’m glad the team got the result last night.” . “I’m sure Kathy would be happy,” he said.
The Scot was one of a number of club officials who had visited Cass regularly in recent months to cheer him up, sometimes secretly sharing a Bacardi and a Coke with her. I found myself doing pretty well.
“Did you talk to your doctor about it?” Ferguson said she asked after discovering what she was drinking. “I never asked him,” she replied.
Ferguson recalled that in his early days as manager, when United were still training at The Cliffs, all internal calls had to go through Cass’s desk. “No matter who you wanted to talk to, she had their number right away,” he said. “You just realized that Manchester United is run by a girl.”
Given that level of responsibility, it wasn’t long before Cass’s reputation began to precede her, with players arriving at United for the first time expecting the warmest of welcomes. That was certainly the case for Jonny Evans, who gave a moving reading on behalf of his current team.
An avid collector of club books and magazines from an early age, Evans said his first memory of Cass was reading about him during a Q&A with Beckham, where he revealed that Cass was their first kiss. “It wasn’t until I joined the first team a few years later that I got my own kiss from Cass,” he told those in attendance. “We all were.”
He added: “Not a single person walked past Kath without a quick hug.” Even if it was after her “polite words” over the practice field’s PA system instructing players to go to reception to pick up their bags.
Tribute to Cass Phipps at Old Trafford last month (Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images)
There have been plenty of hugs and kisses over the years, but Evans particularly remembers one earlier this season when Cass was suffering from an ear infection.
“She wrapped her arms around me, but this time instead of kissing me on the cheek, she put her head on my chest.” Evans noticed that she was crying. Cass said she has trouble listening to others and is starting to worry that others will think she’s not doing a good job.
“I couldn’t help but marvel at the dedication of this amazing woman. Even after all these years, Cass still took pride in her work,” Evans said. looks back. “It was her life.”
But it was a life she loved, and she found as much joy in the days as in having tea with Peter Schmeichel or reminding Tom Heaton that Heaton was his maiden name. Ta. He gives Jaap Stam some advice on how to defend.
“I can’t think of a moment that she didn’t enjoy it,” Ferguson said after descending the cathedral steps. “She was a real United person.”
even deeper
Remembering Cass Phipps: ‘She treated everyone at Man United like royalty. She was royalty herself.’
(Top photo: Manchester United staff and players at Cass Phipps’ funeral, courtesy of Manchester United, via Getty Images)
