Video

Thousands gathered at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground to pay their respects to their soccer heroes. It's 50 years since eight Manchester United players died in an air crash in Munich. The so-called Busby Babes perished with 15 other victims. Actuality Manchester United stopped being just another football club on February 6 1958. A plane carrying the English champions crashed on take off from Munich airport where it had stopped to refuel. Seven players died at the scene - one two weeks later. Matt Busby's young team had been champions of England for the previous two years. The deaths of so many shocked soccer-mad Britain One of the survivors was Bobby Charlton. He went on to become one of England's greatest footballers. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BOBBY CHARLTON, FORMER ENGLAND AND MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER, SAYING : "I thought that I was a good player but I learned very quickly that I wasn't as good as I thought because there were so many great players playing at Manchester United at that particular time - Eddie Coleman, that we've already seen and, of course Duncan Edwards." Many of Manchester United's current team attended the ceremony, along with other survivors and families of victims. Fans also gathered in Germany for a memorial service at the site of the tragedy. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVID COTCAM, MANCHESTER UNITED FAN, SAYING: "I think just being a United fan and everything the club stands for, it's about youth and flair and exciting teams, and it's the "Busby Babes" that set that tradition, and the teams before them. Everything I enjoy about United now is probably down to these players who died here, on the players who played with them and survived and went on." But this was Manchester's day. It may be 50 years ago but this city will never forget. Sonia Legg, Reuters.