Lewin's loss of friends at Munich

Derek Lewin trained with the Busby Babes (PA)

Former England amateur footballer Derek Lewin has remembered the friends he lost in the 1958 Munich air disaster.

Lewin, who lived in Lancashire at the time and trained with the United side ahead of the Olympic Games, recalls how he felt when he heard the news.

He told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I knew probably all of them, they were all friends of mine, and one or two had even been round to my house.

"They were just close friends so that was a tragedy for me."

At the time Lewin played for Bishop Auckland and it was his United contacts that helped forge a link between the clubs at this devastating time.

"It was at that time that Jimmy Murphy, who had taken over as acting manager, asked me if I could get a couple of players to come and play for Manchester United.

"It was to play for the reserve side because most of the players were moving from second team to first team."

Manchester United returned that favour back in 2006 when they donated their old floodlights to the club.