Saturday will mark the 58-year anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster and United fans will meet around the Munich memorial at Old Trafford to sing ‘The Flowers of Manchester’ in tribute to those who perished as a result of that fateful night on 6 February 1958.
This mark of respect and unique tradition was started by Reds supporter Gez Mason in 2000. It is now organised by Pete Martin, a South Stand season-ticket holder from Rawtenstall who will lead the singing at 3.04pm, the exact time of the crash. As the 66-year-old explains, everybody is invited to attend and remember those who were lost when travelling home from a European Cup quarter-final tie.
“We always sing 'The Flowers of Manchester',” Pete says. “I usually print out 500 to 1,000 copies of the lyrics too, so fans can join in and sing along if they want to. It is not a solo by any means!”
Although Pete has been coming to Old Trafford all of his life - previously walking to the stadium from his
Salford home as a boy before attending these days with his son Rob - he did not get involved in the Munich services until 2006, when asked to record a new version of ‘The Flowers of Manchester’.
“I am one half of a folk comedy duo called Hanky Park and the guy that I sing with, Tony Downes, recorded
'The Flowers of Manchester' 40 years ago,” he explains.
“Tony was asked to offer his recording to a great website called Munich58.co.uk but didn’t like his version, so we created another one together. That is now played at Old Trafford every year, which is a great honour for us both. The Busby Babes mean so much to us and the club, so it’s vital that we remember them.”
Fans who attend the gathering on Saturday will also be invited into Old Trafford's Ability Suite from 14:00 GMT, where complimentary refreshments will be served.
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