JOHN VIRGO’s ashes were scattered on Manchester United’s pitch during a private ceremony before the last World Snooker Championship, a new book has revealed.

The popular professional player and BBC broadcaster – known universally as JV – died on February 4 at his home near Malaga in Spain. He was 79.

The son of a Salford dock crane driver, Virgo was a huge United fan, standing on the terraces as far back as the 1950s, a witness to the formation of the Busby Babes.

He was also a close pal of George Best – United’s famous winger and 1968 European Cup winner – from his days practising in snooker halls of Greater Manchester and Lancashire in the 60s and 70s.

And thanks to the intervention of good friends Dennis Taylor and Ken Doherty – both former snooker champions – part of his remains have been dispersed on the famous Old Trafford turf.

Details of the informal gathering are revealed in a new book – Where’s the Cue Ball Going? The Final Memoir by John Virgo.

Former world champions Doherty, 57, and Taylor, 77, were invited by Sir Alex Ferguson for a VIP lunch on April 13 before Man Utd’s 2-1 home loss to Leeds United – just days before the Crucible action began in Sheffield.

Doherty said: “I said to (Virgo’s wife) Rosie: ‘Give me some of his ashes. I don’t know whether they’re going to let me spread the ashes on the ground.’

“I said: ‘They get inundated with requests all the time. But even if they don’t, I’m going to spread them next to Alex Ferguson, where we’re sitting.’

“Because we were invited to the director’s box for dinner. So I had them in my pocket, and I asked the MC, a fellow called Alan Keegan.

“I said: ‘I’m coming to Old Trafford tonight. I’ve got John Virgo’s ashes with me. I don’t know whether we’re allowed to spread them or not. Can you find out for me, please?’

“I added: ‘I’m a guest with Dennis and Alex Ferguson in the director’s box. We’re going for dinner. I’ll be there at about 6pm.’

“So Dennis and I are sitting next to Alex, having dinner. And I get a text from Alan: ‘Ken, the head groundsman is coming in to see you.’.

“The groundsman said: ‘You have John’s ashes there. You want to spread them, do you?’

“I said: ‘I know you get inundated with requests, but John was a big fan of Man Utd. He lived in Salford.’

“He said: ‘Yeah, I know. We all loved John. After the game, I’ll come look for you and Dennis. When everybody’s cleared out.’

“After the game, he knocked on Alex Ferguson’s door. We went out onto the ground. It was just the groundspeople out on the pitch.

“He took us around the other side and said: ‘Go ahead. Do your thing there.’

“Dennis and I, we said a few little words to John. I took out the ashes and I spread them along the touchline.

“The groundsman told us: ‘Don’t post any pictures. We’re not allowed to do this. This is just for you and Rosie and the family.’

“We offered a few little prayers and said: ‘This is for you, John.’ So his ashes are actually at Old Trafford.”

It is clear from the many tributes in the new book – part memoir, part a collection of memories from friends and former world champions – just how much the top players loved and respected Virgo.

In his playing career, he won the 1979 UK Championship in Preston, beating Welshman Terry Griffiths 14-13 in a final that was marred by TV production strikes.

Yet he gained national fame for his role on BBC’s Big Break, having honed his talent on that popular quiz show during thousands of exhibitions across the country.

Away from snooker, he loved horseracing – he was a regular visitor to race tracks and knew all the top trainers – and golf.

Yet away from the baize, United was his first sporting love and he saw the Treble-sealing Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in Barcelona 27 years ago.

Doherty, the 1997 Crucible King, said: “I remember Alex Ferguson telling me a story about the 1999 Champions League.

“He said he’d never forget it. John Virgo was staying in their hotel in Barcelona, and he came out to the bus and waited for all the players.

“Before they stepped on the bus, he shook all their hands and wished them all the best. Alex Ferguson told me that story a few times.

“John was only too delighted – just to shake everybody’s hand and wish them the best. That was the type of man he was.”