50th anniversary of Munich crash

LONDON – Services marking the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash were held in England and Germany yesterday as survivors fell silent to remember those who died.

Bobby Charlton, who survived the crash that killed 23 people including eight of his Manchester United team mates, was at a commemoration service at Old Trafford while there was also a ceremony at the site of the crash in Munich. A minute’s silence was held before England’s friendly international against Switzerland at Wembley Stadium yesterday.Another silence will be ordered before Manchester United play Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.United will be playing in a replica of the 1958 kit.City, whose former goalkeeper Frank Swift was killed in the crash while working as a journalist, will also wear a special kit on the day.A permanent exhibition honouring that United side – the Busby Babes – in the South Stand tunnel at Old Trafford was opened yesterday, with the tunnel being renamed the Munich Tunnel.”That day 50 years ago is still very clear in the minds of the family and friends of those who died,” United chief executive David Gill told BBC Radio yesterday.”It wasn’t just Manchester United, it was the city of Manchester and the world of football that was affected.”A lot of people who were involved at the time and people from the world of football, together with ordinary fans will be attending at Old Trafford this afternoon.”Newspapers, magazines and television programmes have been running for several days in the build-up to the anniversary, with The Times newspaper noting in its leader column yesterday that the disaster changed the face of English soccer, culture and society.”Before Munich, football was a working class game.Since Munich it has become the national sport.Before Munich, the players were English boys paid workmen’s wages.Since Munich footballers have become millionaires.Before Munich, football was another sport.Since Munich, it has become an obsession.”Nampa-ReutersA minute’s silence was held before England’s friendly international against Switzerland at Wembley Stadium yesterday.Another silence will be ordered before Manchester United play Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.United will be playing in a replica of the 1958 kit.City, whose former goalkeeper Frank Swift was killed in the crash while working as a journalist, will also wear a special kit on the day.A permanent exhibition honouring that United side – the Busby Babes – in the South Stand tunnel at Old Trafford was opened yesterday, with the tunnel being renamed the Munich Tunnel.”That day 50 years ago is still very clear in the minds of the family and friends of those who died,” United chief executive David Gill told BBC Radio yesterday.”It wasn’t just Manchester United, it was the city of Manchester and the world of football that was affected.”A lot of people who were involved at the time and people from the world of football, together with ordinary fans will be attending at Old Trafford this afternoon.”Newspapers, magazines and television programmes have been running for several days in the build-up to the anniversary, with The Times newspaper noting in its leader column yesterday that the disaster changed the face of English soccer, culture and society.”Before Munich, football was a working class game.Since Munich it has become the national sport.Before Munich, the players were English boys paid workmen’s wages.Since Munich footballers have become millionaires.Before Munich, football was another sport.Since Munich, it has become an obsession.”Nampa-Reuters

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