Rest In Peace, Kath Phipps

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved colleague Kath Phipps at the age of 85.
An omnipresent figure at Manchester United since the late 1960s, Kath worked for the club for over 55 years in a variety of roles, but her contribution went beyond any particular job title.

A childhood United fan from Irlam, Kath became the Reds’ switchboard operator in September 1968, shortly after the Reds’ first European Cup success, and was soon forging friendships with Sir Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy and United’s star-studded squad, spending countless hours with Ballon d’Or winners George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law as they signed autographs to send to their fans.
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Having become a key member of the club’s office staff in the ensuing years, Kath later became a matchday fixture at Old Trafford’s directors’ entrance and took on the role of training ground receptionist, ensuring that any visitor to Carrington was greeted by the cheeriest of welcomes. For regulars, that greeting would extend to warm hugs and friendly chats as Kath came to embody the familial atmosphere underpinning the club's culture.

If Kath ever had a bad day, she never brought it to work; her positive attitude helped set the mood for everyone entering the training ground, always ready to lend an ear and offer words of encouragement to anyone who needed them – be they megastar footballers, casual staff or occasional visitors.
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“I don’t think I’ve had one cross word with anybody in all the years I’ve been here,” she said in a 2023 interview, marking her 55th anniversary at the club. “I look forward to coming in and having a smile on my face every day, wishing people ‘good morning’. I just enjoy being here. Not everybody can say they enjoy going to work but I do. Football has been my life.”

Kath’s contribution to the cause was always recognised by those around her. When her husband, Richard, passed away, Sir Alex Ferguson took his squad along to the funeral to pay their respects and stand in solidarity with Kath as she grieved. During 2020’s mid-pandemic lockdown, she was visited at home by players and staff members who wanted to ensure she had company. In 2022, she was recognised by the League Managers’ Association with a Service to Football award, prompting public tributes from David Beckham, Gary Neville and others who appreciated her role in their careers and in the day-to-day workings of the club.
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Kath was a one-woman institution, whose memory will be cherished by everyone at the club who had the privilege of knowing her. She said last year: “I can’t imagine doing anything else.” Well, we can’t imagine the place without her.

Rest in peace, Kath.
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Aw man. Amazing how long she’d been there. What a great story.

RIP.
 
Hopefully there will be a beautiful tribute in her honour on Saturday.
 
She was held with the utmost respect and was an integral part of Manchester United for decades. A very sad day. RIP.
 
Ah no that's very sad. I don't k ow here at all obviously but if you've been a fan of United, you hear about her all the time from people. She seemed absolutely lovely. I feel like she has been in some documentaries and stuff like that too maybe?

I'm sure the training ground won't be the same without her.
 
That statement from the club, and all the things I’ve heard people say about her, speaks volumes about the sort of person she was.

RIP Kath
 
rip to a united legend.
 
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Awful news.

The players and managers all spoke so highly of her - she was held with the upmost respect amongst them.

Thoughts go out to her family.
 
Lovely to read so many thank yous and tributes from current and former United players, former academy players, current and former staff members etc. You can see how widely she touched everyone at the club.
 
Aww, that is sad to hear. You can see how much she meant to everyone that she came into contact with and what a massive part of the United family she was.

RIP Kath
 
55 years of service in a male-dominated environment. What a woman, a true United treasure.
 
It's sad to lose a bridge between different eras, no doubt she'll have seen it all in footballing terms

Rest in peace
 
RIP to this most magnificent woman! The whole club and all fans will miss her.

God Bless and keep her.
 
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