New tribute to Manchester United captain who died in the Munich Air Disaster

  • Granada
Roger Byrne pictured in February 1958. Credit: Press Association.

A plaque is being unveiled later to Roger Byrne, the Manchester United Captain who died in the Munich air disaster.

Former United and Manchester City players are expected to attend the unveiling ceremony at his former school, Abbey Hey School in Manchester.

Twenty Three people, including 8 Manchester United players, died in the air crash on February 6 1958.

The aircraft carrying players and backroom staff plus a number of journalists, supporters and flight crew, crashed in a blizzard on its third attempt to take off from Munich airport.

United were returning from Belgrade where they had just played Red Star in the European Cup and had stopped off at Munich for re-fuelling.

Byrne, who was born in Gorton in Manchester, was 29-years-old when he died. His widow was expecting their first child at the time of the disaster.

The full back made 245 appearances for United between 1951 and his death.