Tributes have been paid to the man known as 'Mr Manchester City', Bernard Halford, who has died aged 77.
Bernard spent nearly four decades working as the club secretary at his beloved Blues before being named as the club's life president upon his retirement.
He was man who locked the gates at City's former home Maine Road for the final time and also signed off hundreds of transfers throughout his career.
Bernard, from Oldham, passed away aged 77 after a short illness the club said tonight.
The M.E.N understands the last game he attended at the Etihad was the 6-0 thumping of Chelsea last month.
City's chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak led the tributes tonight, saying: “The loss of Bernard Halford marks an extremely sad day for our football club.
“Bernard was an incredibly dedicated, loyal and wonderful part of the City story for almost five decades.
"I was fortunate and privileged enough to know him for ten of those years.
"He lived and breathed Manchester City and was a tireless advocate for us.
“His depth of knowledge about Manchester City was unparalleled and his enthusiasm for the Club infectious.
"Even as his health deteriorated, he was a familiar face at the City Football Academy or at the Etihad Stadium.
City's manager Pep Guardiola, who visited Bernard whilst he was receiving treatment in hospital, said: “It is such sad news to hear of Bernard Halford's passing.
“It was an honour and a privilege to meet and talk football with him and his knowledge of this football club was amazing.
“He was a great man, but moreover, he was also a great football man with a complete understanding of the game from grass roots level up.
“His whole life was dedicated to the game, but mostly to Manchester City and we were lucky to have him.”
A lifelong City fan, Bernard, born in May 1941, watched his beloved Blues from the terraces of Maine Road as a child, during 1950s and 60s.
Born and raised in Chadderton, he completed his education at St Gregory's in Ardwick in 1956 and after a spell in the cotton industry Bernard joined Oldham Athletic as secretary before eventually fulfilling a boyhood dream by taking up a key role at City 13 years later.
Joining in 1972, he became synonymous with the club during nearly 40 years as club secretary.
His role involved him signing off on transfers which from spanned Denis Law's shock move back to City from United in 1972 to the transfer that shook the world, when Robinho joined City from Real Madrid for a then British record of £32 million in 2008.
He locked the gates for the final time at Maine Road after City played their final game at their former home in May 2003.
And he instrumental in the club establishing its new home at what's now called the Etihad Stadium as well as setting up its famed academy.
He named as only the club's second ever life president in 2010.
And after City ended their 34 year wait for a trophy by winning the FA Cup against Stoke at Wembley in May 2011 he was allowed up to the royal box with the players to lift the cup.
He later said of that day: "On the day of the match, I got told that if we won the Cup, I was going up to receive it. The only person, other than a player or a manager, to lift the Cup at Wembley!
“I was 69 years old and I lifted the FA Cup in front of 90,000 people at Wembley. Can you imagine? I remember sitting watching Stanley Matthews win it in 1953. Fifty-eight years later, it's Alice In Wonderland stuff.”
He was also the only non-player to be inducted into the club's hall of fame when he was honoured in 2006.
Tributes also flooded in from fans and former players as the sad news emerged tonight.
Blues legend and now club ambassador Mike Summerbee said: "Bernard was a fantastic man and a fantastic servant for this football club.
"His work with local football at grassroots level often went unseen, but even up to last year just before he became poorly, he was going to local schools with trophies and doing fantastic work.
Paul Dickov said: "Mr Manchester City, a true gentleman & an absolute legend. It was a pleasure & an honour to know you Bernard Halford, you will be sadly missed by all at Man City & beyond Thoughts & prayers to all friends & family #RIPBernard."
Former City player Fred Eyre added: “As far as I'm concerned, he means everything to the Club and has done for so many years. The Club wouldn't have even functioned if Bernard hadn't been guiding everything behind the scenes. As far as City are concerned, he's been invaluable for what seems like forever."
Kevin Parker, the General Secretary of City's Official Supporters Club said: “I've known Bernard since 1976 and his passing is a shock to us all. He was always around, helping supporters' clubs up and down the country, opening branches right, left and centre and it is the end of an era for this football club.