United Fans to Honor Sir Matt Busby

By: Taylor Rockwell | May 22nd, 2009

United have received permission from UEFA to hold a tribute for Sir Matt Busby prior to the start of the Champions League Final. One half of Rome’s Olympic Stadium (the Curva Nord) will be transformed into a 16,000 piece mosaic/mural meant to honor the late Manchester United manager, who would have been 100 years old the day before the final. According to the plan, which was originally conceived by the Stretford End Flags Group, the individual pieces will be held aloft by the traveling United fans and, when completed, read “For Sir Matt.”

United chief executive David Gill confirmed the plan, stating, “We wanted to do something to mark Sir Matt’s 100th birthday and we were approached by the fans with an idea that would recognize the role he had played in the club’s unique place in Europe. Alex liked the idea straight away. The mosaic will remind millions of people around the world what a great man Sir Matt was.”

Aside from the strangeness of hearing someone refer to Sir Alex Ferguson as Alex, I think Gill summed it up rather well. Busby managed the team to their first European Cup in 1968, and is often remembered as one of the greatest and most influential managers in English football history. And, on a superstitious note, United won their Champions League Final on what would have been his 90th birthday, May 26, 1999.

United have invited Busby’s son Sandy and daughter Sheena to be the club’s guests in Rome and attend a dinner with their directors on Tuesday. Sandy Busby stated, “It’s going to be really heart-rending when the mosaic is lifted up, and I’m sure there are going to be a few tears from my sister and myself. My dad would have been so proud and pleased. He was a sentimental man and he would be absolutely delighted that the fans still remember him with such affection and still sing songs in his honour. But this is something else – he will be the proudest man in heaven.”

A classy move by the United fans (specifically Stretford End Flags Group) who thought up the plan and proposed it to United. I didn’t think there was any way I could be more excited about the upcoming final, but after reading about this tribute and looking at the rough mockup, my eagerness is reaching a fever pitch. Hopefully, this tribute reminds the players of how much history their club has, and just what the cup they’re playing for represents. Thanks to “babysenorita” at http://www.manutdtalk.com for the image.