Ferguson's tribute to Busby Babes

8:00am Monday 4th February 2008

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SIR Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to the eight "Busby Babes" who lost their lives in the Munich air crash and the strength of character shown by their manager to rebuild a team playing a style of football that honoured their memory.

Manchester United's manager, at a special remembrance day at the club's Carrington training ground, spoke about the impact the tragedy had on him as a 16-year-old boy in Glasgow.

"The saddest part is that all these young players lost their lives before they’d even started to really enjoy their football."

Sir Alex Ferguson

He explained: "On a personal note I remember I had been in the library studying that night and then I went to training with my local junior club and of course it was cancelled.

"I remember seeing grown men in a terrible state and that was my first knowledge of it at about half past six at night.

"It had an impact on everybody, I think particularly for Scottish people with Sir Matt being the manager here.

"He'd gathered a great affection for the way Manchester United were playing and the way he'd built his teams."

He added: "What we see today is all the foundations he laid back in those days and particularly the way it was done with young players and that brings upon you the saddest part that all these young players lost their lives before they'd even started to really enjoy their football.

"Duncan Edwards, 21 years of age, Eddy Coleman, David Pegg just young lads starting their careers - it was a terrible tragedy for them but it probably brought a great deal of sympathy at the time.

"And from there on the romance has built purely because of the way Matt rebuilt the team and won the European Cup in 1968 and he did it the right way; in the final itself I think eight or nine of them were all produced by the club.

"The affection around the world we see today is based on this and the entertaining attacking football we play.

"But when it comes to the February 6 - 50 years on - it's going to be an emotional day around this place felt by everyone."