IT was Manchester United's darkest hour, a tragedy permanently etched in football history yet the Munich air disaster could soon be forgotten, even by some of the club's vast army of followers.
Survivors, supporters and those whose lives were transformed by what happened on February 6, 1958, claim memories of Munich are fading fast.
"Of course they are and I suppose it is inevitable. As the years go by it will mean less and less to people, especially those who were not around at the time," said Harry Gregg, the goalkeeper who survived the horror crash which claimed the lives of eight of his teammates 47 years ago today.
"People will forget, it is only natural," added the former Northern Ireland star.
England's pioneers in the European Cup, United were returning from a quarter-final success over Red Star Belgrade the previous night when disaster struck. After refuelling at Munich Airport, the BEA Elizabethan, with 43 people on board, crashed while attempting to take off on the snow-covered runway.
The club was struck a devastating blow but, according to Gregg, it was also a significant moment in Manchester United history.
"Matt Busby had broken the mould by bringing youngsters into his side which is why they were known as the Babes. Everybody loved them, even the opposition loved them. They would try to kick lumps out of us, but they loved them. There wasn't that anti-United feeling there is today.
"When the accident happened they were no longer Manchester United, they became a world institution. The day after the disaster the first of United's overseas supporters clubs was launched in Malta and is still going strong today along with many, many more," he said.
Wing half Wilf McGuinness missed the fateful flight because he was injured and left out of the squad for the game in Yugoslavia. He feels older supporters can maintain the Munich memory.
Signficant
He said: "It is up to them to pass on the story to their children, to make sure they realise how significant Munich was, but when we heard last week that many people know nothing about something of the magnitude of the Holocaust, I suppose it is understandable how things are forgotten through the passage of time.
"People don't realise what an impact it had on football, not just United.
"It was a World Cup year and England were also forced to rebuild. They lost Duncan Edwards, Tommy Taylor and Roger Byrne, who were three regulars. David Pegg might have been in the squad, Eddie Colman was on the fringe.
"Three definites, five possibles, all of them gone. What might have happened had those boys been there? Many say Duncan would have gone on to captain England in 1966. Who knows?"
Republic of Ireland forward Liam Whelan was another international who died, along with former England schoolboy Mark Jones and Geoff Bent, a young full back who had captained Salford to the English Schools trophy before joining United.
Club secretary Walter Crickmer trainer Tom Curry and coach Bert Whalley perished and the crash claimed the lives of eight journalists, including Frank Swift the former Manchester City and England goalkeeper who was working for the News of the World.
"As many journalists as players were killed," said David Meek, whose career was changed dramatically by the disaster.
"I had been a political reporter for the M.E.N. for two years but when our United man Tom Jackson was killed, I was asked to bridge the gap... temporarily. I stayed in the job for 37 years.
"My memories are vivid, but when I have been invited to speak at functions I have noticed how many of the audience are surprised to learn so many football writers were killed. People soon forget."
The other journalists who died were Alf Clarke from the Manchester Evening Chronicle, Don Davies of the Guardian, Daily Express writer Henry Rose, George Follows (Daily Herald), the Daily Mirror's Archie Ledbrook and Eric Thompson (Daily Mail).
Manager Matt Busby recovered from serious injury to lead the club to more success. Survivors Bobby Charlton, Dennis Viollet, Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg, Albert Scanlon, Ken Morgans and Ray Wood continued playing after the tragedy but defender Jackie Blanchflower and winger Johnny Berry had their careers cut short by the injuries they sustained.
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47 years ago while I was having tea in the canteen of the school hostel where I was staying my classmate excitedly passed me a newspaper for me to read and there was this horrible news of the crash staring at me.I was grief-struck but there was some consolation that both Bobby Charlton and Duncan Edwards survived.However worse was to come as the great Edwards succumbed to injuries after a three-week struggle.The pain I felt then has not disappeared with the passage of time.
The spirits of the brave men live with us at OT -
it is a reminder of ultimately what is important in sport and life - the grace of the survivors and their endeavours to re-climb to the mountain top are what defines this club.
I was not born until five years and a week on from the crash, but the memory still stirs me- but please remember I have no reason to grieve, that is left to those attached to their loved ones and memories. What I feel is the pride of a club reinventing itself.
It will never be forgotten by the vast majority of United fans; and it is not something to 'score points' with - it is just life.
It is human nature to forget - but for those of us for whom that day changed our lives, we will never forget. God can watch the Busby Babes every week - we still watch them in our minds - even today they live on for me.
I, like many, wasn't born but like many grew up with the story and the legend that is Duncan Edwards. Stories like that when they used to go to training on the bus (yes public transport) Duncan would have a double-seat to himself because he was so broad, or when he used to take penalties he'd just blast it into the middle of the net and if the goalie got in the way it would usually take him in with the ball. Of course another thing helped us remember that fateful day, growing up on the terraces and having to listen to that horrible song from away fans. What that accident has taught us though is that this club is one big family that now stretches to the four corners of the world and whatever happens, win or lose their memory will always unite us.
Frank why do you have to mention those horrible Munich songs from away fans,its just emotional blackmail,we all recognise what an awful tragedy it was but have you not heard your fellow United fans singinging about HEysel,Hillsborough and in particular Bill Shankly? Furthermore what about Wayne Rooneys shocking show of disrespect to the family of the late Emlyn Hughes,all of it is bad but please remember the obscene songs we used to hear off your own fans,in other words Frank DONT THROW STONES IN GLASS HOUSES ,,OK?
Simon J, this is not the place for this arguement but I have to reply. I stated a fact and the songs you mentioned were a frustrated response from some fans who had endured years of cruel disrespectful abuse. I do not condone those actions but you're going into a chicken and the egg debate. And please, since when was Rooney a United fan? I'm sure he's being educated at OT but those actions had absolutely nothing to do with United. I'm certainly not trying to blackmail anybody and just wanted to show my respect, if you were a decent person you would do the same instead of slinging mud.
I remember that so well we were out in the Street playing football,a lot of us were crying my dad and most of the boys.
Thats why we are United in our support of the worlds greatest club.