Manchester United Supporters Travel In Droves To Site Of Munich Air Disaster

Manchester United fans paid tribute to the victims of the Munich air disaster in the largest ever commemoration of the tragedy on its 60th anniversary.

Some 3,000 turned out to pay their respects on the site of the tragedy, which killed 23 passengers, with some making the journey from as far afield as Australia and America.

Supporters made their way to Trudering, a small suburb of Munich where the Munich-Riem airport once stood, to place flowers, wreaths and banners upon the site of the 1958 disaster.

A two minutes' silence was held at four minutes past three, the time of the crash in February of 1958.

Bayern Munich executive board chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was in attendance, as was ex-United defender and club ambassador Denis Irwin.

"It's amazing turn-out from our supporters, a lot of them make an annual pilgrimage out here. There are 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.

Matt Busby's side were making their way back from a European Cup tie against Serbian side Red Star Belgrade when a stop in Munich was required for the aircraft to be refuelled.

As part of the tributes, former player and current coach Nicky Butt led the United U19 team in a wreath-laying service at Partizan Stadium in Belgrade - the venue of the last match played by the Busby Babes.

A ceremony was also held at Old Trafford, where fans gathered outside the tribute to the disaster at the stadium to recite Flowers of Manchester - the poem turned into a song in remembrance of those who died in Munich.

The Old Trafford tribute was also attended by Munich survivors Harry Gregg and Sir Bobby Charlton, plus manager Jose Mourinho, club captain Michael Carrick and former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Credit: Skysports.com