Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has spoken about the honour of representing his teammates when players, staff and supporters honour the Busby Babes.
Monday, February 6, will mark 65 years since the Munich air disaster, which saw 23 people die as a result of a plane crash in Munich. The plane was carrying the United team - nicknamed the 'Busby Babes' - and supporters and journalists back from a European Cup match in Belgrade, Yugoslavia [now Serbia].
Ahead of the Reds' Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, first-team manager Erik ten Hag will lay a commemorative wreath on behalf of the club to mark the 65th anniversary.
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All United players in action this weekend will wear black armbands, and a minute's silence will be held to mark the occasion. Reds captain Maguire has also written a column on the club's website, insisting that it is his responsibility and other players' responsibility to educate everyone around the club about the Munich air disaster.
Writing in United Review, Maguire said: "As Manchester United players we know what effect the Busby Babes had on this club. Their attacking football still has a big influence now, so it’s really important for myself, and it’s really important for the lads as a team, to pay our respects on the anniversary.
"I think when I first came to the club you knew about the Munich Air Disaster, but you didn’t know too much in detail. Now I think it’s my responsibility and other players’ responsibility, and staff as well, to educate everyone around the club because we know how important it is to the club and the way we want to be, the way we want to move forward.
"These games closest to the Munich anniversary are always really emotional. You feel the affection from everyone in the stadium. The respect is so high and it’s an emotional game on an emotional weekend, and it’s great that we get to pay our respects. I feel really honoured to be a part of it."
Maguire visited the memorial stone at Manchesterplatz while away on international duty with England. The club captain admitted that it was important to him that he was able to visit the memorial and pay his respects.
He added: "I was away with England last year and managed to go to Manchesterplatz over in Munich, and that was really important to me. I was pleased to be able to see the memorial and pay my respects. A few England staff came with me there and they told me about how emotional it was for them as well.
"So it’s not just us as a club, it’s us as a country that was affected and has this affection towards the Busby Babes. I think the United fans, I can’t speak highly enough of them in terms of the atmosphere they bring, but also the respect they bring to situations. As a club, they handle things really well, they always have done, and the fans are right behind us in that. It’s really important they carry on paying their respects and I’m sure they always will.
"I have always said this is one of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the biggest, and I’m the captain of it... that is a huge honour for me, a real privilege. A club with so much tradition, so much history. I’m really proud and honoured to move the club forward."
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