Stone Roses bassist Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield was a lifelong Manchester United fan with a deep connection to the club and Sir David Beckham and Gary Neville attended his funeral on Monday
Sir David Beckham and Gary Neville were among the mourners who attended Stone Roses legend Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’s funeral at Manchester Cathedral.
Mani, who died last month aged 63, was a devoted Manchester United supporter with profound connections to the Premier League giants – ties that went back to his father’s friendship with football great George Best. And two of his sporting heroes paid their respects to him on Monday, alongside the likes of Roses’ singer Ian Brown, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie.
The death of the iconic bassist for both the Roses and Primal Scream prompted an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from music and sporting luminaries alike. United honoured their “friend of the club”, whose tunes still echo around Old Trafford at every home fixture, particularly when the Roses’ anthem ‘This is the One’ heralds the teams emerging from the tunnel.
The club declared: “It continued to make him proud when attending fixtures with his family. Mani and the Stone Roses will always be associated with Manchester United. The club was part of his DNA and he was proud to be Red.”
Mani previously revealed to the club’s publication: “I’m a Manc and support United. It was pre-ordained because all my family are Reds – my dad is a nuts fan. He was involved in the club scene around town and he knew Besty.”
The Roses’ melodies have long fuelled matchday atmosphere, influencing both terrace songs and style, something that wasn’t lost on Mani. He explained: “I always wanted the Roses to be associated with United and the terraces.”
Most memorably, the Crumpsall-born musician flogged his treasured scooter to make it to the 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to Manchester United. He reflected: “It was infinitely worth it.”
United said: “Mani’s presence at Old Trafford will be missed. Mani performed to thousands of our supporters when DJing at the fanzone before May’s Europa League final in Bilbao, watched on by loving son Gene.
“A part of Manchester’s history, Mani will be sadly missed by everybody who knew and loved him. The club’s thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
Mani’s father, Colin Mounfield, had a remarkable connection to the club, which played a huge role in his son’s lifelong devotion. He ran a restaurant in Manchester as a chef and would prepare meals for his heroes following matches.
Best struck up a friendship with Mani’s father and fellow United legend Nobby Stiles is a distant relative of the family.
Mani passed away two years after his wife Imelda, who had fought cancer. Mani and Imelda first met whilst the Roses were recording their second album, Second Coming, and wed in 1998. They had twin boys together, Gene and George, aged 12.
Speaking at the funeral, Ian Brown said Mani was “like a brother” and a “beautiful soul and spirit”, who was “able to laugh his way through any darkness”. The singer said: “He was the life and soul of any room he was in.”
Meanwhile, Bobby Gillespie said: “Mani’s warm and welcoming manner, treating me like an equal, made me feel like a million dollars and I’ll never forget that.
“No-one was too important to escape his laser-eye ability to cut the pretentious and self-important down to size, myself included! His ability to make laughter out of any situation was our great value wherever we were in the world.”
He also compared the “aura” Mani had to that of another United legend, Eric Cantona.
