With Stuart being an avid Manchester United supporter and today being the anniversary of the clubs most tragic event, I found it vital to say a few words on the matter. For those who aren’t familiar with English football, Manchester United is arguably the most talented and popular club in the country. With previous players such as Eric Cantona, George Best and David Beckham and current players including Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez the team certainly has impressive credentials.
However, on this day in 1958, seven Manchester United players were among 21 dead after a plane crash in Munich. The air craft was returning the Manchester United entourage from a European Cup match in Yugoslavia and had stopped at Munich airport to refuel. On the planes’ third attempt to take off, a build up of slush on the runway caused the plane to veer off, hit two nearby houses, and burst into flames.
As well as eight British sports journalists and several club officials, the loses included seven extremely talented young footballers. With an average age of 24, they included Roger Byrne - the captain - Mark Jones, Eddie Colman, Tommy Taylor, Liam Whelan, David Pegg and Geoff Bent. Another player, Duncan Edwards, died in hospital 15 days later. United’s captain of the time, Matt Busby survived but was in critical danger and had to undergo several blood transfusions.
The players who tragically died were nicknamed the Busby Babes and the current Manchester United captain Gary Neville had this to say about the anniversary:
“As a United fan, who came to the ground at the age of four or five with my dad and grandfather, singing about the Busby Babes, it’s impossible not to know about that.
This is a magic club and it’s a huge moment in its history. The Busby Babes were almost mythical figures. If you are a United fan you think of them as godlike. To follow in their footsteps, training at The Cliff, wearing the blazer, winning the Youth Cup, all these things are special.”
However, football being the sport it is now, some fans of rival teams such as Manchester City have absolutely no respect of those who died or their families. Just the other day Stuart was talking to a Manchester City fan and he called Stuart ‘a Munich’ and then referred to Manchester United as ’scum’.
There are also worries about the up and coming Manchester derby where Manchester United and Manchester City will play each other. Although United fans are planning on having a minutes silence in memory of the Bubsy Babes, there are concerns that the small minority of City fans will not pay their respects. However, Ryan Giggs, a current player, had this to say on the matter:
“I think the majority of the supporters at the Manchester derby will respect the minute’s silence. There might be one or two idiots and you can never stop those. I think in general City fans will be respectful. We’ll do everything we can to make it a special day.”
Despite the rivalries in football today, I think it’s not so much a day of celebrating Manchester United as a club, but more about celebrating and remembering those who died.
Click here to watch the Munich air crash news footage on Youtube.
A poster of the Busby Babes on the front of Manchester United’s stadium Old Trafford
