Manchester United pay respects to Munich air disaster victims on return to Belgrade

Eight members of the ‘Busby Babes’ were among the 23 people killed

Ed Woodward, Bryan Robson and Mickey Thomas remember the victims of Munich air disaster (Manchester United via Getty Imag)

Manchester United held a memorial ceremony at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade on Thursday morning to remember those who lost their lives in the Munich air disaster.

Eight members of the ‘Busby Babes’ were among the 23 people killed in a plane crash while United travelled back from a European Cup quarter-final against Red Star Belgrade in 1958.

On Thursday night, United return to the site of that quarter-final, the home of Red Star’s rivals Partizan Belgrade, for only the second time since the disaster.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side face Partizan in a Europa League group stage clash and United officials paid their respects to those who lost their lives on the morning of the game.

“It was incredibly important to come here and mark the occasion,” said Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman. “As soon as the draw happened, our attention turned to wanting to remember those who lost their lives in 1958.

“This was the last place, on this very ground, against Red Star Belgrade, when they played as a team together before they got on that fateful plane to stop over in Munich and tragedy struck.

“So for us as a club, there is a game tonight but for us the trip is also important for remembering those who lost their lives and paying respects, which we have just done by laying the wreath.”

Woodward was joined, among others, by club secretary Rebecca Britain and director of football operations Alan Dawson. Former United winger Mickey Thomas and captain Bryan Robson, now a club ambassador, were also present.

“You can feel the emotion,” Robson said. ”When you have been at the club for as long as we have, you get that history and you have met a lot of the families who have lost people in the Munich air disaster.

“I have even heard Bobby Charlton talk about the game when they were over here in 1958. It was supposed to be a great performance by the team and you can sense that when you come into the stadium.”