The panel stated: “Manchester United may well be one of the biggest brands on the planet, but it remains at its heart a ‘family club’ – and, for 52 years, Kath Phipps has been like a mum to so many at the club. She started working for Manchester United FC in 1968, in the same year that United became the first English club to win the European Cup.

“Working initially for Sir Matt Busby, she has since worked for another 10 managers, including the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. Today, she is based at the Carrington training ground (greeting all players and coaching staff every morning) but she has been a crucial link with the club at the highest level to the FA, Premier League, UEFA and FIFA. On matchdays, Kath is the first person to greet all VIP guests at the Directors' Entrance.