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| Munich '58 remembered | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 6 2008, 09:33 AM (32 Views) | |
| Ninja Boi | Feb 6 2008, 09:33 AM Post #1 |
The Lego Master
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Munich '58 remembered The Munich air disaster cost the lives of 23 people including Manchester United players, backroom staff and journalists. And left a city shocked. As Manchester commemorates the 50th anniversary, we want your memories and tributes. On Thursday 6 February 1958, an aeroplane carrying the legendary Busby Babes back from Belgrade crashed in a blizzard after re-fuelling at Munich airport. Eight Manchester United players were killed along with eight newspaper journalists and seven staff and crew out of a total of 44 passengers. The untimely death of such talented young sportsmen - the cream of the crop of British football in the 1950s - seemed to remind everyone of their own mortality. In the aftermath, Manchester was a city in mourning. Indeed, the tragedy stunned the entire nation and etched itself into the memory of all those who were alive at the time. Your memories/ tributes Ray Stout, Atherton I can remember vividly the night Man U played the home leg of the Match against Red Star, as my Dad was one of the Press Photographers at that Match. I was ten and had just came back from Cubs, and was due to have a bath before bed when my mum said to wait to see if my dad would be seen on the T.V. as the match finished. Sure enough, he was filmed going down the tunnel at the end of the match. On the away games, the papers had to depend on "agency" photos, and my dad had persuaded 3 different papers to share expenses to allow him to go to Belgrade. He didn't get there because, whilst drawing the curtains in the bathroom, my mum had to stand on the edge of the bath, overbalanced, and put her arm through the window, severing most of the tendons and Bood vessels. My dad had to look after me, and gave his seat up to the Daily Mail Photographer, Peter Howard, who along with Frank Taylor were the only Pressmen to survive the crash. Most people forget just how much of a blow the crash was to the Press Community, leaving virtually no well known Football Reporters in the North. Anton Tungate, Bury St.Edmunds I was only nine at the time of the crash and I started supporting Manchester United at that point. Yes I'm one of those much derided "southern" supporters but I've stuck with them ever since. My mother was Lancastrian and a Man U supporter but that was not an influence at the time. I did not realise until I watched a TV film of non football supporters how devastated everyone in our country was by the disaster. I realised then that what influenced me to start supporting Man U was their need at the time for my support. It still brings tears to my eyes now typing this and thinking of all those young hopes dashed, but let's not forget that a number of other people died too and how their relatives must feel each time this tragedy is remembered again. Cass Cassidy, Masterton, New Zealand When the news came through I was working at Kendall & Gents engineering works in Gorton, and work stopped in very short order. There would have been plenty of City supporters there, as well as a few who evinced no interest in football, but it affected them all in the same way. A sort of shell-shocked silence ensued. That evening my sister, Vera, told us how she'd reacted to the news. She worked in town at Thompson & Co in the Corn Exchange buildings, Hanging Ditch, and they had downed tools and sat talking quietly. However, across the way was a building site, and very obviously the workmen hadn't heard the news and were continuing as normal. So Vera and her mates grabbed a pile of typing paper, and began drawing very large letters on each sheet. Then they managed to attract the building worker's attention, and began to hold one sheet at a time against the window ... U, N, I, T, E, D, P, L ,A, N, E, C, R, A, S, H until the message was sent, and work had stopped over the road too. Mike Farrow, Beckenham I was an eight year old when this tragedy happened although not a Man U supporter, football was the most important thing in my life and when I found out about it, my mother had to keep me off of school for a week, because I just couldn't stop crying. Bobby Charlton was a youngster at the time, but losing the likes of Tommy Taylor, Roger Byrne, David Pegg, Duncan Edwards and all the other players, I think Jackie Blanchflower, Danny's brother was crippled for life. It was amazing how they carried on and got to the Cup Final that year with a tremendous number of new players. I know it is 50 years tomorrow, but I have thought about every February 6th since it happened. It is one of those things that change your life. T. Balcerski, Bury Although I have always supported Liverpool , in those days United were my "second team". I was only 10 and I had not seen the previous night's news when I came downstairs in the morning & read the paper, I burst into tears. My godfather, who lived in Manchester, took me to Old Trafford once in the Autumn of 1957, I don't even remember whom United were playing against, but this wing half who seemed to be the only player on the pitch. Duncan Edwards was a giant amongst dwarves, he seemed to be involved in everything, wanted to be involved. Liverpool were in the 2nd Division then & I thought "Wish we had him". Tom Chamley, Manchester I was born just a few weeks after the Munich air crash that took away some of the best players ever to play for Manchester United, I have the honour of being named after two of them, So come February 6th 2008 marking '50 Unforgotten Years' it will be a very special time for 'All football fans' not just Manchester United's. These lads lit up the game and back then there was No anamosity, No Ill feeling against rival fans, Just 'Respect' going to the game and Enjoying it. The Busby Babes made sure you enjoyed the game and you went home with a smile on your face. Even today, fans around the World remember 'Febraury 6th 1958'. And lets not forget those others that also lost their lives on that tragic day. God Bless them All. Tony Charters, Frankfort, Kentucky I still remember that fateful day as vividly as if it were yesterday. The unforgettable day occurred less than a week before my sixteenth birthday and only five days after I had stood on the terraces at Highbury and watched the greatest team in the land defeat a talented Arsenal side in a 5 - 4 thriller. I could not have been happier as, for the first time in my life, I went behind the stadium after the game to watch my team board their bus before leaving to drive back to Manchester. I was there just a few feet away from all the players, congratulating them on their performance and wishing them well for their trip to Belgrade. When I got home from school that tragic Thursday afternoon, I was met by my mother who asked if I had heard the news. "What news?", I asked. The rest of that afternoon was a blur of voices and tears. My idol, Duncan Edwards, and some of England's best footballers had been killed in their prime. I was devastated and I remember my best friend, John, taking me to the cinema that Friday evening to console me - I had cried almost incessantly from the moment I heard the news. I don't recall the name of the film we went to see....just that it was snowing that day. John loved the cinema. Although I really loved watching Tommy Taylor - what a great centre forward he was - my idol was left half, Duncan Edwards. He has never been far from my thoughts nor my heart since......for I named my son after him in honour of his greatness and the style he brought to both Manchester United and England's national team. I still treasure the newspaper clippings of that dreadful day, although they are brown and slightly faded. And, when I can bear it, I bring them out and read them and Frank Taylor's book "The Day A Team Died". I will take my memories and love for those who died, as well as those who came after them, to my grave. Fr. Bernard McDermott, Melbourne I remember standing on bus on way home from school and a man jumped on at Stretford and told us that the United plane had crashed at Munich. What a shock ..the only time I saw my father cry that night as we listenend to the radio at home as the news came in from Germany. Never to be forgotten... especially Duncan Edwards (The Tank) and all who died that day. May They all Rest in Peace. Barbara Heaton, Hollingworth I was in bed ill with tonsillitis my father shouted up the stairs United's Planes crashed it was frustrating my Mum wouldnt let me get out of bed no TVs or radios in bedroom than, we were devastated at 14 me and my friend Hilary would stand behind the goals at Old Trafford most Saturdays never any trouble all behaved themselves, my claim to fame is being knocked out by the ball, and I never knew who kicked it. Sim Goldblum, Manchester I was 11 and a regular home game attendee since the age of 5; I heard the news with disbelief that evening. Crying my eyes out, my mother said without hesitation or regret "you'll never cry over me as you are over this team". She's still alive at 85 but the death of Duncan in particular was very hard to take - even then a brilliant footballer. The next, so vital memory is from the Sheffield Wednesday game - a blank team sheet in the programme, a packed crowd, standing behind the goal with my father and being passed down over the heads of the adults so I wouldn't get crushed. It's a sequence of events whose images are burnt into my consciousness, which still brings tears to my eyes and yet allows me to glory in the team's achievements over so many years. Graham Jackson, Tisdale On Feb 6th 1958 I was delivering evening papers along Barton Lane in Eccles and as usual was reading the Manchester Evening News Stop Press which always carried any late news before the paper was delivered to the newsagents. About halfway down the list I came across the news of the disaster. I remember seeing a friend across the street and yelled at him to come and have a look. Soon i was surrounded by a large crowd of men all wanting to see the news for themselves. Needless to say the rest of my paper round was done at breakneck speed and I spent the rest of the evening watching the TV and listening to the radio for any bit of news.When it came time for the funerals most of the boys in my class at St Andrews School in Eccles attended Eddie Colmans In Salford the crowd was huge,it's something i've never forgotten. http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/features/munich_1958/ |
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| Neptune | Feb 9 2008, 04:00 AM Post #2 |
Newbie
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Did anyone else watch the special programmes that have been on about this? Its so sad watching them. What a terrible waste of young talented men. |
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