The Soccer Blogger
Today, 6th February, is the 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster that killed 23 people including 8 of the then Manchester United team, known as the “Busby Babes”.
Survivors of that Munich air crash are to fall silent at a memorial service timed to coincide with the moment of the accident, at 3.04pm.
Sir Bobby Charlton will be one of the survivors at the ceremony at Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground.
There will also be a ceremony at the crash site and a minute’s silence at Wembley before England’s evening friendly against Switzerland.
England’s Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says he hopes the supporters will remain silent in tribute to the people who died.
“I’m sure the fans will respect it - it’s a poignant moment and we’ve got fantastic fans in this country,” said Ferdinand.
“It’s not just about Manchester United, it’s about English football too.”
As well as the ceremony at Old Trafford, at which Charlton will be joined by Albert Scanlon, Harry Gregg, Bill Foulkes and Kenny Morgans, there will be another ceremony in Munich.
At 1330 GMT, an English-speaking Catholic priest will conduct a religious ceremony at the crash site in Trudering.
The names of the dead will be read out, along with the lyrics to The Flowers of Manchester, a song penned after the disaster as a tribute to the dead.
On a day of commemoration at Old Trafford, the centrepiece will be the unveiling of a free, permanent exhibition of the Busby Babes in the South Stand tunnel - to be renamed Munich Tunnel.
On Sunday, there will be another minute’s silence prior to Manchester United’s home Premier League game against Manchester City.
Former City goalkeeper Frank Swift - then working as a journalist - also died in the crash and United chief executive David Gill says he is confident the City fans will fall silent in tribute.
“We’ve been working closely with City and discussed it with them. Frank Swift was one of their greatest goalkeepers and we’ve talked to them about the plans for the day,” said Gill.
“We’re working to ensure they remember that it wasn’t just Manchester United, it was the city of Manchester that was affected and it was the world of football that was affected.
“We hope and believe that the minute’s silence will be observed appropriately.”
United players will wear a 1950s-style kit, free from sponsorship and numbered one to 11. City are also planning to wear a special strip.
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