Celebrating Sir Bobby Charlton

Sunday 3 April 2016 will be a special day in a life that is already filled with landmarks and significant achievements - the life of Sir Bobby Charlton, one of the greatest players in the history of Manchester United and the England national team.

This will be the day when the South Stand at Old Trafford, the stadium where he played around half of his 758 matches for United, is officially renamed in his honour before his beloved Reds take on Everton in the Barclays Premier League.

The unveiling of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand comes in the year when the 60th anniversary of his United debut will be commemorated. He went on to make 758 senior appearances for the club - we emphasise senior because prior to his first-team breakthrough, he served the Reds for three years as a fresh-faced apprentice from Ashington, Northumberland. During that period, he tasted success for the first time by helping the Busby Babes to lift the FA Youth Cup, a competition United won for five consecutive years from its inception. As a professional player, he helped his club to land three league championships, the FA Cup and the European Cup and helped his country to become world champions for the first and only time so far in 1966. Sir Bobby, a club director and ambassador, remains the Reds' all-time record goalscorer with 249 strikes. This remarkable tally started with two on his debut, somewhat appropriately against Charlton Athletic, on 6 October 1956. United won 4-2 at Old Trafford, the stadium that will now bear his name on the roof of its oldest side, the south side. It was there where Sir Bobby would proudly lead the team out on hundreds of matchdays as captain, emerging from the original players' tunnel into the arena.

The United and England legend commented: "This is a great honour and I am very proud – for myself and my family – that the club has chosen to name the South Stand after me. Manchester United has been such an important part of my life and I have so many wonderful memories of this Theatre of Dreams. As a player, I remember the goals and the marvellous players I played with. As a director, I have seen some outstanding matches and players. It is a special place indeed.

"I would like to thank everyone connected with Manchester United. So many people work so hard to keep us at the top; their effort should never be forgotten. But most of all, I would like to thank Norma, my wonderful wife, and my family for the support and encouragement they have always provided. This is for them."

Celebrations around the stand renaming include a special pre-match lunch attended by Sir Bobby's family, friends and figures from the football world, a souvenir edition of the matchday programme, United Review, and a new MUTV documentary which will premiere a few days beforehand on 31 March and be shown again on the big day at 7pm.

Fans attending the Everton match are urged to take their seats in the stadium early, to witness the unveiling of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand and to help create a crowd mosaic.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said: “Bobby is, quite simply, the most iconic figure in English football history. A player, a diplomat, a gentleman and a tireless worker for charity, he represents everything that is good about football and Manchester United.

"It has been a privilege to know him and humbling to work alongside him for the last 10 years. Renaming the South Stand, which contains both the Directors’ Box and the old players’ changing rooms, is a fitting tribute to all that Bobby has contributed to the club both as a player and a director."

For more news, features and videos, visit www.manutd.com/thankyousirbobby.