Kath Phipps funeral brings out the best in Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson and Jonny Evans eulogies

As the organist played the first notes that reverberated around Manchester Cathedral, rays of light shot through the stained-glass windows. Kath Phipps was a lady who brightened up people's days.

400 guests rose when her slight coffin was carried in. Kath's 56-year tenure at Manchester United was represented by the good and the great. Brian Kidd, scorer in the European Cup final win in 1968 - the year Kath joined the club - conversed with Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

There was Kidd, Scholes, Giggs, Beckham, Neville, Butt, Keane, Parker, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin, Hughes, Carrick, Brown, O'Shea.

Eric Cantona sent his apologies as he was filming. Nemanja Vidic and Juan Mata's absences were also owed to commitments in Serbia and Australia. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, another one of the greats, flew in.

In a thoughtful service part organised by former club employees, there was a sweet poem about Kath's presence at Carrington. Jason Leach, the receptionist at Old Trafford, accompanied Kath to the '99 premiere at the Printworks only in May and gave a touching eulogy.

Ferguson ascended the Cathedral's steps with the aid of the former kit man Albert Morgan. "He's my helper," Ferguson chuckled. Ruben Amorim offered a polite hello when he led the United first team squad inside.

Ferguson strode up to the pulpit and thanked all of the players - past and present - for their attendance. He then turned to the current squad.

"Good result last night. Well done. Kathy would have loved that."

When Ferguson visited Kath in The Christie, she was enjoying a Bacardi and Coke.

"Have you asked the doctor about that?" Ferguson enquired.

"I haven't told him," Kath replied. Ferguson billed her as the woman who ran United.

Ferguson remembered the