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Manchester United pay their respects to the Munich victims

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Manchester United fans gathered at Old Trafford to pay tribute on Monday

Manchester United marked the 59th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster on Monday by holding a memorial service at Old Trafford.

Eight United players were among 23 people who died when their plane crashed as it tried to take off from Munich-Riem Airport on February 6, 1958.

Hundreds of United fans gathered at Old Trafford by the Munich memorial on Monday and a minute's silence took place at 15:04 - which was the time when the accident took place.

Poems were recited prior to the minute's silence and there were also readings from the club chaplain and renditions of 'The Pride of Football' and 'The Flowers of Manchester'.

A number of the club's greats past and present posted tributes to the victims of the Munich disaster on Twitter, led by captain Wayne Rooney.

United play host to Watford in the Premier League on Saturday and there will be a further ceremony at the south east corner of the stadium from 13:45.

The families of the victims have been invited to attend the match and the players will wear black armbands during the game.