United’s tributes to Munich Air Disaster victims

MANCHESTER UNITED yesterday paid their respects to the victims of the Munich Air Disaster on an emotional day at Old Trafford.

A minute’s silence was observed before the kick-off against Huddersfield Town, which followed readings, prayers and the singing of the Flowers of Manchester song in a ceremony on the Old Trafford forecourt.

The commemorations will continue at Old Trafford on Tuesday – the day that marks 60 years since the tragedy occurred, which claimed 23 lives.

The fatalities included eight members of Sir Matt Busby’s famous team, who will always hold a special place in

United’s history as

“The Busby

Babes”.

A service will also be held on Tuesday, ahead of a minute’s silence at 3.04pm, marking the precise time of the crash.

Munich survivors Sir Bobby Charlton (above) – now a United director – and Harry Gregg were at Old Trafford.

And United boss Jose Mourinho said: “It was a terrible, black day 60 years ago but it is a big part of the story of the club.

“It is always important, whoever is manager, whoever is out there playing, that we always recognise our history.”

And the author of a new book on the Munich AIr Disaster has called for the eight journalists killed in the tragedy to be inducted into football’s Hall of Fame.

Those writers included Manchester City legend Frank Swift. The England goalkeeper was working for the News of the World.

A new book – The Day Two Teams Died, written by Roy Cavanagh and Carl Abbott – spotlights the reporters who perished alongside Old Trafford legends like Duncan Edwards – who died 15 days after the crash through the injuries he suffered – Tommy Taylor and Roger Byrne.

Cavanagh wants the journalists who lost their lives to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, which is based at the National Football Museum in Manchester.

He said: “If the Busby Babes were the best team in the country then the journalists who reported on them were the cream of British sports journalism. “They were huge personalities who rubbed shoulders with Matt Busby and the players as equals.

“In the days before Sky Sports News and social media, football supporters up and down the country hung onto every word they wrote.

“I think who they were and what they meant has become a little bit forgotten down the years.

“I think it would be a great idea for them to be honoured by the National Football Museum.”

In addition to Swift, the football reporters who were killed at Munich were:

Alf Clarke (Manchester Evening Chronicle), Donny Davies (Manchester Guardian), George Follows (Daily Herald), Tom Jackson (Manchester Evening News), Archie Ledbrooke (Daily Mirror), Henry Rose (Daily Express) and Eric Thompson (Daily Mail).

Ledbrooke was a former national chairman of the Football Writers’ Association.

PAUL HETHERINGTON