'Shameful' - Man Utd fans blast Glazer family for failing to attend funeral of club legend Sir Bobby Charlton

Around 1,000 mourners packed into Manchester Cathedral and thousands more lined the streets around the city centre and Old Trafford to pay their respects to one of English football's most iconic players. Tributes were led by Sir Alex Ferguson after a ceremony attended by players past and present as well as representatives of other clubs.

Not present, however, was any member of the Glazer family. An absence that enraged many United fans.

A statement released by the fan group The 1958 read: "It comes as no real surprise that no one from the Glazer family appears to have bothered paying their respects at the funeral of arguably our greatest ever player. The Glazers have proved time and again they are alienated from the football club and fan base and this is just another shameful example.

“I think we can speak for the majority of the fan base that we are glad they did not cause any unwelcome distractions. They would not have been welcome for a man who embodied all that is good at our club. Honour, integrity and dignity. However it is disappointing there has been no public statement from them today or about the sad passing of Lady Cathy [Ferguson, Sir Alex Ferguson’s wife].”

The Glazers' absence was anticipated and as the group's statement acknowledges would have come as an unwelcome distraction on a solemn day. But while the owners were clearly in a no-win situation regarding their attendance, it is clearly a sad indictment of their stewardship of the club that on a day when the club's most emblematic player was laid to rest, none felt able to attend.

This week's international break serves as something of timely pause to reflect on the life and times of one of football's greats. After that United will resume matters on the field with a trip to Everton on November 26.