From Hyde to the heart of the city, thousands turned out to pay their respects to the boxing legend
A mural, unveiled today, of Ricky Hatton adorns the Harehill Tavern pub(Image: Getty Images)
The applause began before Ricky Hatton’s funeral cortege even turned out of his street.
On a grey Manchester day, thousands turned out to pay tribute to the pride of Hyde, who sadly passed away at his home last month at the age of 46.
The former world champion’s cortege made its way from his hometown for a service at Manchester Cathedral today (October 10), passing the pubs, gyms and landmarks that shaped his life and career.
Hundreds gathered for the start of the procession outside his former local, the Cheshire Cheese, around the corner from his home.
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Leading the procession was a flat-bed truck carrying his beloved bright yellow Reliant Regal which starred as the Trotters’ van in Only Fools and Horses. Hatton was a super-fan.
Mourners, clad in sombre black with splashes of sky blue scarves and buttonholes in honour of Hatton’s beloved Man City, laid more wreaths on the truck – one most memorably in the shape of a pint of Guinness, his favourite tipple – and drank pints of the black stuff in his honour.
Other floral wreaths included HITMAN in bright yellow and simple arrangements spelling out BROTHER, SON, UNCLE and DAD.
Regulars from the pub left flowers and tributes, many with tears streaming down their faces. They, like their hero, were unafraid to show emotion.
The grief and pain were palpable – but so was the swell of love and affection for their neighbour and friend.
There was continued applause, cheers and chants of his name as the hearse passed, carrying a sky-blue coffin adorned with a colossal wreath of lilies and roses and bearing the simple inscriptions ‘Blue Moon’, ‘Ricky’ and Richard.
Outside the pubs and gyms where he once trained and socialised, crowds applauded, cheered and wept.
At the Harehill Tavern in Hattersley, where Hatton grew up, mourners unveiled a mural in his honour, with blue and white flowers spelling ‘There’s only one Ricky Hatton’ outside the pub.
Some wept as the artwork was revealed, while others shared stories of a man they’d known and loved for decades, applauding as the hearse drove past.
Roses on the hearse carrying the coffin of Ricky Hatton(Image: PA)
After pausing at the New Inn for a poignant dove release, the funeral procession moved on to Hatton’s former gyms, including the one he founded in 2009, now called Energie Fitness Hyde Ricky Hatton.
Tributes lined the streets, including one reading ‘Blue Moon Rising – Ricky ‘Hitman’ Hatton’, and a City shirt scrawled with ‘Ricky, sleep tight. RIP’.
Blue flares lit the air as chants of ‘There’s only one Ricky Hatton’ echoed through the crowd.
From there, the cortege travelled through Denton – where Ricky once trained at Betta Bodies gym – before arriving at the AO Arena, formerly the M.E.N. Arena, the site of some of his biggest triumphs.
Mourners outside the Cheshire Cheese pub in Gee Cross.(Image: Ryan Jenkinson)
Fans gathered to applaud The Hitman one final time at the venue where he famously defeated Kostya Tszyu in 2005. Outside Manchester Cathedral, a steady stream of mourners began to fill the Cathedral Gardens.
A number of celebrities from the world of sport and TV were in attendance, including Tyson Fury, Freddie Flintoff, Amir Khan and Paddy McGuinness.
Fittingly for a local hero, there was a distinctively Manchester feel to proceedings, with a star-studded guest list including Liam Gallagher, Wayne Rooney and Happy Mondays stars Sean Ryder and Bez.
Slowly they filed into the 1,000 capacity cathedral, with every invitation checked carefully by security, while adoring fans gathered outside in their hundreds to pay their respects, many wearing City tops and jackets bearing his name.
Floral tributes at the funeral of Ricky Hatton(Image: Getty Images)
They broke into rapturous applause and more chants of ‘there’s only one Ricky Hatton’ as the funeral cortege made its way onto cathedral grounds, the bonnet of the hearse strewn with carnations and roses.
A sudden and respectful silence followed as members of the Hatton family emerged from the vehicles and hugged one another, tears already flowing.
Members of the party – including Hatton’s son, nephew and long-time manager Paul Speak – then approached the hearse and carefully, soberly, lifted it onto their shoulders.
Tributes outside Ricky’s gym in Hyde(Image: PA)
The coffin was lifted high, flowers bobbing on the breeze. Restrained emotion gave way to and a tide of cheers, whistles and applause.
Shouts of ‘go on Rick’ and ‘we love you Rick’ rang out as the champion was borne by his nearest and dearest under the arch into the privacy of the cathedral.
While the service was private, the audio feed was broadcast out onto Cathedral Gardens, where crowds listened in dignified silence to the prayers and hymns.
Pall-bearers carrying the coffin of Ricky Hatton at his funeral at Manchester Cathedral(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Beautiful and moving tributes read out by Hatton’s children Campbell, Millie and Fearne – whose voices trembled with emotion as they spoke about their beloved dad – were each met with applause.
After just under an hour, the service concluded.
“He was an absolute legend, adored by everybody,” one man shouted as the crowd cheered and applauded. “You should be so proud.”
Man City fan Barry Edwards was there with his wife. “We had to come – I couldn’t not,” he said. “I felt a pull to come here.
The coffin of Ricky Hatton is carried into Manchester Cathedral by his son Campbell and brother Matthew. (Image: PA)
“I met Ricky quite a few times and he was always an absolute gentleman, so humble and approachable. I am actually wounded that he has gone.
“When you’re a bloke growing up in Manchester, you’re wired the same – you love Man City, boxing, and having a pint with the lads,” he continued. “He was one of us.
“I feel like I grew up watching him, all those late nights staying up watching him fight. You thought, if someone from Hattersley, Hyde, can do it, maybe I can too.
“I know it sounds a cliche but he has taken a piece of me with him.”
A floral tribute left at the Etihad Stadium as part of the funeral procession for Ricky Hatton(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Outside the Etihad Stadium, where Ricky’s journey came to an end, more Man City colours filled the memorial gardens. Citizens flags were held flat in tribute and chants of ‘Walking in a Hatton Wonderland’ rang out.
“It’s a shame he can’t see it – how loved he was,” one mourner said.
Among the crowd were City fans Claire Robinson and Imogen Hesley, from Failsworth.
“City is a community – we’re here to pay our respects,” Claire said. “I’ve met him a few times – at a charity football match, just out and about. He was dead down to earth.”
Hundreds of fans turned out to pay their respects (Image: PA)
Members of Woodside City Supporters Club also made the trip to pay tribute. They said they’ve followed Ricky since he was 12 after seeing him box in Oldham. At the time, spectators said “he’s going to go far”.
“He was a proper man of the people. He was always stopping for photos. He always had time for people,” said Karen, from Middleton.
It was a poignant day for Manchester – and a fitting farewell to a true Mancunian legend.