Manchester United mourns Fan Death, Donates designed Casket

A father was laid to rest in a bespoke Manchester United coffin this afternoon surrounded by friends and family.

Neil Rigby was remembered during an emotional service at St Anne’s Beech Hill, Wigan .

Almost 100 people gathered to mourn the father-of-two who died after collapsing during the Wigan and Leigh Colour Run at Pennington Flash Country Park last month.

Mr Rigby, 47, made his final journey in a Manchester United coffin carried by his close friends and family.

The gold, red and white casket paid tribute to his lifelong fandom and was adorned with the words from the Elton John song Are You Ready for Love: “Catch a star if you can, wish for somebody special, let it be me - my love is free.”

The mourners entered to the song ‘Promise Me’ by Beverley Craven. Mr Rigby’s grandsons wore touching t-shirts with his smiling face on them, while friends and family wore red roses on their lapels.

Reverend Tina Nicholson began the service by reading a tribute from the family describing Mr Rigby’s playful sense of humour.

She read: “Neil was a Man United fan. He loved watching the footie and he was at some of the great games. He was also a joker and such fun. One of the things he would do was wrap June up in the rug. June did not like this but he still did it.”