Manchester United players pay tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson's wife, Lady Cathy Ferguson, vs Brentford

Manchester United players are wearing black armbands in their Premier League clash with Brentford in tribute to Lady Cathy Ferguson, the late wife of club hero Sir Alex Ferguson.

Lady Cathy's passing was announced in a family statement on Friday. A round of applause preceded the game at Old Trafford in her memory.

Flags at Old Trafford have been lowered to half mast since her passing. The couple met in 1964 and went on to have three sons - Mark and twins Jason and Darren.

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Lady Cathy famously talked Sir Alex out of retirement 12 years before he eventually stepped down as United manager. The decision to finally call time on his managerial career was partly due to the passing of Lady Cathy’s twin, Bridget Robertson, in 2013.

Sir Alex later revealed: “I definitely would have carried on. I saw [my wife] was watching television one night, and she looked up at the ceiling. I knew she was isolated. Her and Bridget were twins, you know?”

“When I told her this time I was going to retire she had no objection whatsoever. I knew she wanted me to do it."

Announcing her death on Friday, a family statement said: "We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing yesterday of Lady Cathy Ferguson, survived by her husband, three sons, two sisters, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The family asks for privacy at this time."

United then released a statement of their own that read: "Everyone at Manchester United sends our heartfelt condolences to Sir Alex Ferguson and his family on the passing of Lady Cathy, a beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a tower of strength for Sir Alex throughout his