David Beckham, Sir Alex Ferguson and Man United's entire first-team squad pay tribute at funeral of beloved receptionist Kath Phipps, who died aged 85 after 55 years working at the club
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Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham and other Manchester United icons paid their respects at the funeral of a legend in her own right on Monday: the club's beloved former receptionist Kath Phipps. Phipps worked for United for 56 years and was described as a 'one-woman institution' when the club announced her death aged 85 on December 5.
![[Ruben Amorim led his Man United playing squad into the ceremony on Monday]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/13/93786015-14232959-image-a-32_1736170673592.jpg)
Tributes poured in for Phipps at the time and it emerged that countless members of her 'Manchester United family' had visited her in the weeks leading up to her passing, including Sir Alex Ferguson. The legendary United boss was seen arriving before the ceremony at 2pm and was followed by Beckham and John O'Shea.
![[Manchester United's much-loved former receptionist Kath Phipps died aged 85 in December]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/11/92830167-14232959-Manchester_United_s_much_loved_former_receptionist_Kath_Phipps_h-a-42_1736164153540.jpg)
United hero Beckham attended Monday's funeral alongside his mother Sandra and told reporters the former staffer was the 'the heartbeat of Manchester United. 'The first and last face I would always see was Kath sat at reception at Old Trafford,' he said. 'Waiting to give me my tickets for the game.'.
![[Phipps, who appeared in David Beckham's Netflix documentary, started working at Man United as the club's first switchboard operator back in 1968]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/11/92832521-14232959-Phipps_who_appeared_in_David_Beckham_s_Netflix_documentary_start-a-53_1736164264954.jpg)
Sir Alex Ferguson attended Kath Phipps' funeral on Monday afternoon at Manchester Cathedral. Ruben Amorim led his Man United playing squad into the ceremony on Monday. David Beckham, his mother Sandra and dad Ted arrive for Kath Phipps’s funeral #mufc pic.twitter.com/8jk7GwL5ia.
![[Phipps pictured with ex-Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (left) and Michael Carrick (right)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/11/92830165-14232959-Phipps_pictured_with_ex_Man_United_manager_Sir_Alex_Ferguson_lef-a-43_1736164168160.jpg)
Manchester United's much-loved former receptionist Kath Phipps died aged 85 in December. Current United manager Ruben Amorim led his playing squad into Manchester Cathedral, with captain Bruno Fernandes and club stalwart Jonny Evans at the front of the group.
![[Wayne Rooney was among the first to pay tribute to Phipps with an emotional post on Instagram]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/11/92830599-14232959-Wayne_Rooney_was_among_the_first_to_pay_tribute_to_Phipps_with_a-a-44_1736164176383.jpg)
