Man United chiefs cave in and restore gold plaque honouring club legend Sir Matt Busby
Old Trafford diehards were left gobsmacked after we revealed seats used by the hero Reds’ boss and his family had been removed
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MAN United chiefs have caved in to fan fury to reinstall a gold plaque honouring club legend Sir Matt Busby.
Old Trafford diehards were left gobsmacked after The Sun on Sunday told how seats in the director’s box used by the hero Reds’ boss and his family had been removed.
which was started following the revelation the plaques marking the seats had been sent to the family in the post.
The petition attracted more than 2,500 signatures with supporters voicing their outrage and urging the club to rethink their decision.
The daughter of Sir Matt’s first captain at Manchester United said she was “horrified” at the decision.
FA Cup winning Johnny Carey formed a close bond with Sir Matt after returning from national service to captain the team.
His daughter Marie Frost told The Sun: “I was horrified to hear of this, as Manchester United was and is Sir Matt! No matter if the clubs new owners feel the need to (move on) they cannot deny the club’s history, and should not disrespect a great man in this way. The remark about the plaque I found totally out of character with the club.
“I will admit in recent years the club has not been as approachable as it used to be, maybe new rules have been laid out.
“When my father died, flowers were sent, Sir Alex and a lot of older players attended (the funeral), and on his anniversary, they cleared the stadium of both workman and tourists whilst I paid my respects to my Dad whose ashes were scattered at the Stretford End.
“This is the way the club always have treated myself and family.”
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And online support was given from around the country.
Paul Moores commented: “The man built the club and this is disgrace and extremely disrespectful to his name and his family.”
Robert Pratt said: “I am not a United supporter, but feel this action by the current MUFC ‘powers that be’ is appalling. Matt Busby rescued United from the dark days of post Munich and set the wheels in motion for the club and style of football which has been the mainstay of the club for over 50 years."
The club are now designing a new plaque made for the seat which Busby sat in, similar to those which were created to mark the achievements of both Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton.
And the family will continue to be able to make use of six season tickets provided in the Sir Matt Busby stand.
Following Sir Matt’s death in 1994, the directors’ box seats were transferred to his children, Sandy and Sheena, who both died in the 2014-15 season.
Sir Matt, who also spent eight years at Manchester City as a player, was boss at the time of plane crash in Munich in 1958 and which claimed 23 lives, including eight players and which left him seriously injured.
However after recovering and resuming the role as manager he played a key part in the club’s revival leading the club to its first European Cup a decade later.
He also won the league title five times and the FA Cup twice and when he retired the club gave him seats in the directors’ box, where a plaque was placed to mark his achievements.
Season ticket holder Malcolm Allen said: “Sir Matt was the true father of Manchester United and the club’s fantastic ethos. Recognition will always be due to the support of his family which helped make us the club we are today.”