BLUE was the colour as Hyde said farewell to one of its own.
But the main emotion as Ricky Hatton travelled through his hometown for the final time was pride, with memories of him bringing smiles to faces.
Thousands of people lined the streets of Tameside – he had one last stop to the Betta Bodies gym in Denton he trained at too – as the world champion boxer toured the streets he knew following his death at the age of 46.
And the people he knew and took him to their hearts said goodbye.
The applause that echoed through the streets of Gee Cross, Hattersley and Hyde town centre said it all – Ricky is one of their own.
The wagon carrying the ubiquitous Trotters Independent Traders’ Reliant Regal, which he became closely associated with during his career, was followed by the funeral cortege.
At every step, many in sky blue – most in the shirt of his beloved Manchester City – showed how much he means to Hyde, as much as Hyde means to him.
“He was Hyde, he still is,” said Nicola Edwards, of Hyde Pet Food on Market Street, as she wore a City shirt and hung a City flag from her window.
“And he always will be.
“Ricky never forgot his roots. He’s a Hyde lad through and through and this is a chance for Hyde to say thank you to him.
“He actually signed my child’s picture 19 years ago and he came in here twice as a customer.
“He always used to walk past and let on. That’s what he did, that’s what he was. He was Hyde.”
The scale of the farewell hit home as people were in place to pay their respects before 8am on Friday, October 10 – two hours before the procession started in Gee Cross.
After departing from the Cheshire Cheese pub, it was to the Hattersley estate he grew up on and the Harehill Tavern, where he celebrated many of his 45 victories in the ring.
He went to where it all began, the site of the New Inn pub parents Ray and Carol owned and where he trained in the cellar, before visiting the gym he set up that bears his name and passing the town hall.
“Ricky was just an ordinary Hyde lad,” said Hyde Cllr Betty Affleck as she waited at then town hall.
“He would have you in stitches. I remember him just being a crazy lad who was great at boxing.
“He never lost that ordinariness. He was always down to earth and a real good laugh.
“The turnout was absolute marvellous. I did expect there to be quite a few people, but I’m amazed at how many there were.
“It’s a shame he’s gone so young. I’m sure he had a lot kore to give.”
Businesses, the owners of whom knew Ricky or what he means to the area, marked his life with displays.
The estate agent who replaced all its featured properties with pictures of him, My Back Home Chai had a photo of him on its TV, Hair Lounge nearby had blue and white bunting in its window.
Helens Partington, of Pampered Paws on Market Street – which had a City flag surrounded by blue boxing gloves, said: “It’s a sad situation but I hope he gets a good send off.”
Colleague Emma Smith wore a City shirt and Roberto Mancini scarf, she was not the only one.
Gordon Harrison, who hails from Hyde and now lives in New Mills, Derbyshire, stood outside the town hall with ‘Hatton 1’ on the back of his shirt.
Ricky’s hometown football club, Hyde United, was also represented while people also wore the badge of Belle Vue Aces speedway and even Manchester United!
From Hyde and Denton, it was on to Manchester Cathedral for a service, which showed the impact he made on people – in Hyde, the city it is alongside and in boxing.
Frank Bruno, Tyson Fury. Tony Bellew, Amir Khan, Wayne Rooney, Liam Gallagher and City icons Mike Summerbee and Gary Owen were among mourners.
After that, a visit to City’s Etihad Stadium – where the club he supported classily lay a wreath on his seat after his death – ended an emotional day.
In the perfect words of the van driver on Market Street who wound his window down and shouted: “There’s only one Ricky Hatton.”