Man Utd News: Beckham says goodbye to the heart of Manchester United: “Old Trafford will never be the same without your smile”
Manchester United says goodbye to Kath Phipps, who was their receptionist for 55 years. The friendly face that welcomed and said goodbye to legendary footballers like David Beckhamwho today pay him an emotional tribute. At 85 years old, the club has made public the sad news of his death with 454 words that have been just the beginning of a multitude of messages.
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She was the heart of Manchester United, everyone knew who Kath was and everyone adored her…
The heart of Manchester United
To understand the love and respect that many of the footballers who have passed through Phipps' life have for him, you only have to look at the messages that have come from many of them. Among them were the words of a visibly affected David Beckham: “Forever in our hearts… The first and last face I ever saw was Kath sitting in the reception at Old Trafford waiting to give me my tickets for the match.“, he wrote on Instagram with a photo of himself holding hands with the eternal receptionist.
A respected, revered and loved figure who even David Beckham himself gave a place in his own Netflix documentary: “She was the heart of Manchester United, everyone knew who Kath was and everyone loved her…“he said of the woman who died at the age of 85 before telling how close his relationship was with the woman who was always there to care for them and help them in their careers.
“I moved to Manchester when I was 15 and Kath made a promise to my parents: 'I'll look after your son, don't worry', and from that first day to the last I spent with her. That's exactly what she did.“says Beckham himself, hinting at what Phipps did for him.”Old Trafford will never be the same without your smile when we walk through those doors… We love you“he concludes.
A life as a red devil
Kate Phipps He began working at Manchester United as the club's first telephone operator in 1968during the reign of Sir Matt Busby, and in May 2022, after more than five decades of service as red devilwas honored with the Football Service Award. Beckham admitted the “incredible” receptionist “really deserved” the honor for her services to football and United in general.
His contribution went beyond any particular job.
Manchester United said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved colleague Kath Phipps at the age of 85.“, it began. A career in which she became a key member of the club in ensuring that any visitor to Carrington was greeted with the warmest of welcomes: “An omnipresent figure at Manchester United from the late 1960s, Kath worked for the club for over 55 years in a variety of roles, but His contribution went beyond any particular job.“.
For the multitude of footballers who wore the red shirt alongside Kath Phipps, these words, gestures and details are now part of Manchester United history and will be remembered forever: “For regulars, that greeting extended to warm hugs and friendly chats as Kath embodied the family atmosphere that underpinned the club's culture.“concludes the club's statement.
