Former Manchester United defender Denis Irwin attended the site of the Munich air disaster to pay his respects as supporters laid two commemorative plaques where the runway was once located.
Around 3,000 fans visited Trudering, a small suburb of Munich where the Munich-Riem airport once stood where 23 passengers, including eight of the Busby Babes and three club staff, lost their lives in the 1958 Munich air disaster.
“It’s amazing turn-out from our supporters, a lot of them make an annual pilgrimage out here. There’s hundreds, absolutely hundreds out here paying respects to the darkest day in the club’s history, I’m truly amazed I really am,” Irwin told Sky Sports.
“There’s old supporters out here, young one’s who weren’t even born, to come all this way out to pay their respects.
“It’s amazing how Sir Matt Busby and Jimmy Murphy picked the club back up. They went on to win a European Cup 10 years later at Wembley.
“Of course, his legacy of youth, I was involved when a group of young lads came through in the class of 92, it’s awlays been part of the club’s history and part of service of Matt Busby’s legacy.”
To mark the 60th anniversary of the crash, United provided all those supporters who attended Saturday’s home match with Huddersfield Town with a special edition match programme free of charge. Along with this, fans also received a commemorative book about the disaster and the players and staff who perished.
Since the game, it’s been noted by some supporters that several of these mementos have appeared for sale on sites such as eBay – some with an asking price of almost £50.
