The voice: Watson will play Matt Busby

The show follows Sir Matt's life from taking over the club in 1945 to the 1958 Munich air crash, the European Cup victory in 1968 and his death in 1994.

Current manager Sir Alex will co-host the event on Monday, reading a eulogy to Sir Matt after the manager's death has been acted out.

British opera singer Watson - who comes from nearby Salford - will play Sir Matt.

The one-off charity performance is based on a full-scale musical which producer Patrick Nally plans to launch later in the year.

There will also be a roll of honour featuring all the surviving team captains since the war, along with the present team and survivors of the 1958 Munich air disaster, in which eight players were killed.

Ferguson: To read Eulogy to Sir Matt

Sir Matt Busby's children Sandy and Sheena will also take part in the event. There will be a principal cast of more than 20 plus a full choir, orchestra and dancers.

Watson's debut album The Voice went straight to number one in the classical charts and Mr Nally said they chose Watson, 27, for his youthful appeal.

Manchester United have said that although not directly involved, they were "quietly supportive" of it.

The success of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton musical about football in Northern Ireland, The Beautiful Game, has given a boost to hopes for the full-scale production.