Tied to a railing on Sir Matt Busby Way on Tuesday night was a blanket-sized print of the great man’s 1968 European Cup-winning team.
A squad of 18 red shirts unadorned by sponsorship logos. Eighteen pairs of black boots. Law and Charlton either side of Busby and the trophy on the front row. Best and Crerand immediately behind. Best’s smile almost a smirk.
‘I can name every one of those players,’ said a Manchester United supporter of late middle-age.
‘That was my team – the reason I still support United.’
Law and Charlton still make their pilgrimages to this great theatre and so do many thousands who once watched them play.