Munich - the club remembers

12:10pm Friday 25th January 2008

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A FREE permanent exhibition telling the story of the Busby Babes is the centrepiece of Manchester United's commemorations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.

The exhibition in the renamed "Munich tunnel" - formerly the south stand - has been designed to educate younger fans about the Busby Babes' early triumphs, the tragedy of the crash, the rebuilding process and United's eventual European Cup triumph in 1968.

The alternative (to a minutes silence) would have been a minute’s applause - but eight footballers died. We decided that for a tragegy such as this applause isn’t appropriate.”

Club secretary Ken Ramsden

The week long activities also include: * A memorial service involving survivors, relatives of those who died, guests and fans on Februay 6 * United players wearing a retro 1950s-style kit against Manchester City on February 10 * And all fans attending the derby game are to receive a memento of the occasion.

Club chief executive David Gill said: "The Munich air crash was not just about Manchester United. It devastated the lives of the 23 families of those who died, as well as those who never played again and united a city in grief.

"Those who are able to remember it say it was Manchester's 'Kennedy moment': everyone knows where they were when the terrible news came through.

"It is a heavy responsibility that those of us who work for this great club and those who live and work in this magnificent city have to show respect, admiration and regret over that loss some five decades ago."

Speaking about the derby game events club secretary Ken Ramsden said: "It was an event that hit the whole of Manchester and it's been a great challenge, reponsibility and a honour to be part of something like this.

"The alternative (to a minutes silence) would have been a minute's applause - but eight footballers died. We decided that for a tragegy such as this applause isn't appropriate."