Denis Law: Fans to bid farewell to United legend

Thousands of football fans are expected to pay their final respects to Denis Law later, ahead of the Manchester United legend's funeral.

The former striker's cortege will leave the club's Old Trafford stadium at 13:10 GMT before making its way to Manchester Cathedral for the service.

Law, whose 30 goals for Scotland made him his country's joint top scorer, died on 17 January aged 84.

One third of the "United Trinity", alongside fellow greats George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton, his goalscoring exploits saw him earn the nickname of "The King" amongst fans and he remains the only Scotsman to have won the award for the world's best player, the Ballon d'Or.

The star, who was born in Aberdeen in 1940, grew up in poverty but became one of the sport's biggest stars.

Starting out at Huddersfield Town at the age of 15, he first made his name on the other side of the Pennines at United's great rivals, Manchester City.

He left City for Italy's Torino after a year, but found life abroad difficult and moved back to Manchester, this time to join The Red Devils, in 1962.

It was the third transfer in a row involving him that set a new British record fee.

Law spent 11 years at Old Trafford where his 237 goals in 404 appearances have seen him remain third on United's all-time goalscorers list, behind Wayne Rooney and his former teammate Sir Bobby.

His time at the club saw him help them capture two league titles, win the FA Cup and become the first English team to lift the European Cup.

His United career ended with a free transfer in 1973, when he journeyed back across the city and played out his final season in football in the blue of Manchester City. He ended the season by appearing for Scotland at the 1974 World Cup, earning his 55th and final cap in their opening match against Zaire.

After football, he regularly worked in radio and television and he had been living with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia for more than three years when he died.

A Manchester United representative said the former star's hearse and funeral procession will pass the ground at about 13:10 GMT before processing along Chester Road, Sir Matt Busby Way and the East Stand forecourt.

It will pause in front of the Trinity Statue, which depicts him alongside Sir Bobby and Best, before exiting the stadium complex.

They said flags around Old Trafford will be lowered while the club bids farewell to the "iconic figure" and a book of condolence will open for fans between 12:00 and 14:00 in the hospitality reception in the East Stand.

The United megastore will also be closed between 13:00 and 13:30.

The service at the cathedral will begin at about 14:00 with many of United's former stars expected to attend, along with the present-day squad.

• There will be rolling coverage of the funeral of Denis Law on the BBC News website later

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