Here is the
squad from that fateful day.
Harry Gregg (goalkeeper) was 24. He had joined them 2 months
before the crash, but was immediately welcomed into the fold. He
survived, and was cited for bravery for going back into the
burning wreckage to rescue passengers.
Bill Foulkes (defender) was 26. He
survived as well, and went on to play a major part in the
European Cup campaign of 1968.
Dennis Viollet (striker) was 24. A
prolific goalscorer and a great player before the crash, he went
on to set a United scoring record in 1959-60 with 32 league
goals. Later joined Stoke City and served them well for many
years. It is said he was never quite as good after the crash, and
that he was potentially one of the best strikers in the history
of the game.
Johnny Berry (winger) was a
relative veteran at 31. A very brave and fast winger who scored
plenty of goals. Never played again.
Albert Scanlon (winger) was 22. A
player of great potential who suffered terrible head injuries at
Munich. Recovered and played well for several years, scoring 16
league goals the season after the crash.
Ray Wood (goalkeeper) was 26. Lost
his place to Harry Gregg, but one of United's legendary
goalkeeping heroes. Another who suffered terrible head injuries,
he rarely played again.
Jackie Blanchflower (defender) was
24. Understudy to Mark Jones, and a very versatile player. Never
played again.
Ken Morgans (winger) was 18. Fast,
tricky and brimming with confidence before the crash. Kept Berry
out of the side. Never recovered his form after Munich.
Bobby Charlton (forward) age 20.
Just breaking into the team at the time of the crash, he scored
twice in Belgrade the night before. Went on to become one of the
game's greatest players and remains one of its most respected
ambassadors. Lost all his hair shortly after the crash.
Roger Byrne (full back, captain)
aged 28. Inspirational captain, fast, overlapping fullback and
former winger. An England regular at the time. Died in the crash.
Geoff Bent (fullback) aged 25.
Understudy to Byrne. Hard as nails, very good defender. Would
have walked into any other side. Preferred to stay in the squad
at United. Died at Munich.
Tommy Taylor (centre forward) aged
26. England's centre forward, and a prolific goalscorer.
Prodigious heading ability. Incredible scoring record: 112 goals
in 166 league games at United. Died at Munich.
Liam Whelan (striker) aged 22. 43
goals in 79 league games for United. Appeared slow, but able to
turn defenders inside out and score great goals. Died at Munich.
Eddie Colman (midfield / halfback)
aged 21. When I moved to Birmingham in the late 70s I used to
talk football with a chap in his sixties who reckoned Eddie
Colman was the driving force behind the Busby Babes; the creative
spark that fired the whole team. This guy was a Brummie through
and through, but he had been so inspired by the Babes that he
never stopped referring to them, and still rated Eddie
"Snakehips" Colman the best he'd ever seen. Salford's
Eddie Colman died at Munich.
David Pegg (winger) aged 22. The
best young left winger in England, he was on the verge of a
spectacular career when he died at Munich.
Mark Jones (defender) aged 24.
Powerful centre half; very hard on the field, and a true
gentleman off it. Died at Munich.
Duncan Edwards (halfback) aged 21.
Only 16 when he made his United debut, Duncan Edwards is widely
regarded as the greatest footballer in history. Big, strong,
skillful, fast, hard, fair, great natural ability, thunderous
shot with both feet, fiersome tackler. Lived for football. Lived
for Manchester United. Refused to sign for any other club. Died 2
weeks after the crash from terrible injuries.
This team had won its last game on
English soil 5-4 at Highbury, and drew 3-3 in Belgrade in the
European Cup Quarter Final (to go through 5-4 on aggregate). They
were lying 4th in the table, with a home game against Wolves -
the leaders - coming up the following Saturday. A win would have
put them back on top. This Manchester United team was awesome,
and an inspiration to football fans all over England - and indeed
Europe.
Take a look at the ages of the players who died. Try to imagine
the feelings of the survivors when they discovered that so many
of their comrades had perished. Now imagine yourself as a
youngster, so inspired by these footballers only a few years
older than yourself. Then try to feel the shock, pain and anguish
and disbelief and utter helplessness of hearing about their
sudden demise. This was not just the biggest tragedy in English
football, it was the defining moment in the history of Manchester
United. The groundswell of passion that followed was
unbelievable. Millions of folks - some not even football addicts
- wept openly. Schools were closed. Memorial services and
tributes proliferated all over Europe. The greatest club side in
English football history was wiped out at Munich. This is what
moved Iain Matthews to write "Busby's Babes", a simple
yet extremely poignant song:
I'll see you again my Red Devil
friends
I'll hear you around my door
Touching my life like so many memories before
I was a child and so easily led
You were the leaders of men
Now I doubt in my life if this ever happens again
Oh, how I cried when my mama said
Busby's Babes, son, they're dead
Oh how I remember that miserable
day
When something was taken from me
Out on a snow covered runway in West Germany
Oh, how I cried when my mama said
Busby's Babes, son, they're dead
(Iain Matthews, from the album
"Pure & Crooked")
May all those that died Rest in Peace