Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has described how he is still affected by the Munich air crash, 55 years on from the disaster.

Ferguson was 16 and unconnected to the club when eight United players and 15 others died as a result of a failed take-off on a slush-covered runway.

"I've been affected since a young boy. It was a sad time," said Ferguson, 71.

"For many it's probably long forgotten but for someone like me who remembers the day, you won't forget it."

Players who died

Geoff Bent: Full-back, aged 25

Roger Byrne: Full-back, aged 28

Eddie Colman: Wing-half, aged 21

Duncan Edwards: Wing-half, aged 21

Mark Jones: Centre-half, aged 24

David Pegg: Outside-left, aged 22

Tommy Taylor: Centre-forward, aged 26

Liam "Billy" Whelan: Inside-forward, aged 22

At the time, the "Busby Babes" were attempting to become only the third club to win three successive English league titles.

Former Aberdeen and St Mirren boss Ferguson paid tribute to those who helped rebuild the club, which went on to win the European Cup 10 years later.

"How we rose to get over that is remarkable in terms of [manager] Sir Matt [Busby] and [assistant manager/temporary manager] Jimmy Murphy and all the staff at the time," he said.

"It was a fantastic group of young men who were destined to be great and that was the tragedy of it in how it was taken away from them."

And Ferguson says the event is one that should not be forgotten.

"When you were caught up in the aftermath of it and the publicity, and when the papers detailed what had happened, you couldn't help but feel that enormous loss for anyone football-minded," he added.

"That has carried on for a long, long time and every year you have to remember that."