HOW THE MUNICH AIR DISASTER WILL BE REMEMBERED
Manchester United are pleased to confirm that the 64th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster will be marked with a fan-led ceremony at Old Trafford on Sunday.
This will be the first time since 2020 that the traditional ceremony has been held on the 6 February anniversary, after pandemic-related restrictions made it impossible to hold the event last year.
As usual, the service will be led “by the fans, for the fans”, with supporters’ group Munich58 co-ordinating and former club chaplain Rev John Boyers acting as master of ceremonies.
The ceremony will begin at 14:40 GMT on Sunday beneath the Munich memorial plaque on the East Stand forecourt of Old Trafford, and will consist of poems and songs, including a rendition of The Flowers of Manchester. The names of all those who lost their lives in the tragedy will be read out, prior to a two-minute silence at 15:04 GMT, marking the time the plane crash occurred 64 years ago.
Fans who wish to pay their respects but cannot be at Old Trafford, can still do so by watching the service live on MUTV, ManUtd.com and our United App.
Tributes will also be paid at our FA Cup fourth-round tie against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on Friday, with interim manager Ralf Rangnick placing a wreath on the pitch ahead of kick off and the team wearing black armbands during the game.
A giant banner will be unfurled by fans ahead of kick-off in the Stretford End proclaiming the powerful words, ‘We’ll never die’.
Flags at Old Trafford will fly at half-mast from Friday until after the U18’s match on Wednesday evening as a gesture of our everlasting respect.
Writing in his manager’s notes for United Review, Rangnick highlights the importance of these tributes: “This is our closest game to the anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster and, as is customary, the club will be marking the occasion ahead of kick-off.
“I have always admired how this club pays tribute every year to such a major incident in its history, and it is important that this tradition always continues because it is such a big part of the Manchester United story. I hope that we are also able to mark the occasion with an important victory this evening.”
Harry Maguire also understands how significant the Munich anniversary is and our club captain expects a unique atmosphere on Friday. “I think it is a really important day, the anniversary of the air disaster, a huge tragedy, but a tragedy where the club has built a lot of traditions and foundations to show togetherness with the fans,” says Harry. “And the club in general has shown a huge togetherness and that is what it has showed over the years, to rise again and show that spirit.
“Every game that you play for Manchester United, you always hope to play your best performance, but you know that when this anniversary comes around, the atmosphere will be really special, the occasion will be special, so we want to put on a performance and get a result that the club deserves. When you join this club, you learn about the traditions and lot does stem from that day.”
The tragic events at Munich will also be marked by our other teams this weekend. Manchester United Women will wear black arm bands in their away game against Arsenal on Sunday, and Academy players will place remembrance flowers and wear black armbands across their matches.
The anniversary will also be marked in Munich, with members of the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation resuming their annual service at the crash site, now known as Manchesterplatz. Wreaths will be placed on behalf of the club, the Association of Former Manchester United Players and the fans. Two minutes’ silence will be observed and followed by the traditional singing of The Flowers of Manchester.
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