57 years ago, 23 people lost their lives in Munich as the plane carrying Manchester United back from their European Cup quarter final against Red Star Belgrade crashed upon take off after refuelling. 20 people died aboard the Airspeed Ambassador, 3 others would later succumb to the injuries they sustained in the crash. Eight Manchester United players, three members of the Manchester United staff, two crew members, eight journalists and two passengers made up those that lost their lives on that fateful day in Munich.
The people who lost their lives as a result of the Munich Air Disaster are:
- Geoff Bent
- Roger Byrne
- Tom Cable
- Alf Clarke
- Eddie Colman
- Walter Crickmer
- Tom Curry
- Donny Davies
- Duncan Edwards
- George Follows
- Tom Jackson
- Mark Jones
- Archie Ledbrooke
- Bela Miklos
- David Pegg
- Kenneth Rayment
- Henry Rose
- Willie Satinoff
- Frank Swift
- Tommy Taylor
- Eric Thompson
- Bert Whalley
- Liam Whelan
The human tragedy shows that football is just a game and yet has the power to heal and bring hope to so many. Manchester United rose from the ashes of Munich, like the Phoenix that emblazoned their shirts at the 1958 FA Cup final.
Football has seen many tragic loses in and around the game. It is at times like this that we should remember all those that have lost their lives in and around the beautiful game whether they be a player, coach, staff, fan or journalist.
It is at times like this that the tribal nature of football is put aside and fans respect the bigger picture. The 50th anniversary coincided with United’s league game against local rivals Manchester City. Both sides wore special kits that bore no sponsors logos and all fans respected the minute’s silence. This year fierce rivals Liverpool have sent a tweet to commemorate the anniversary stating that “Some things are more important than football rivalry”. Never was a statement relating to football truer.
Memorials stand at Old Trafford and in Munich and many tributes have been made to those who died. One of the most famous was “The Flowers of Manchester”, written by Eric Winter. I leave you with this as we remember the 23 men who lost their live 57 years ago and also all those others who have lost their lives so tragically playing and following a game they love so much. T
The Flowers of Manchester
One cold and bitter Thursday in Munich, Germany,
Eight great football stalwarts conceded victory,
Eight men who will never play again who met destruction there,
The flowers of English football, the flowers of Manchester
Matt Busby’s boys were flying, returning from Belgrade,
This great United family, all masters of their trade,
The Pilot of the aircraft, the skipper Captain Thain,
Three times they tried to take off and twice turned back again.
The third time down the runaway disaster followed close,
There was a slush upon that runaway and the aircraft never rose,
It ploughed into the marshy ground, it broke, it overturned.
And eight of the team were killed as the blazing wreckage burned.
Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor who were capped for England’s side.
And Ireland’s Billy Whelan and England’s Geoff Bent died,
Mark Jones and Eddie Colman, and David Pegg also,
They all lost their lives as it ploughed on through the snow.
Big Duncan he went to, with an injury to his frame,
And Ireland’s brave Jack Blanchflower will never play again,
The great Sir Matt Busby lay there, the father of his team
Three long months passed by before he walked again.
The trainer, coach and secretary, and a member of the crew,
Also eight sporting journalists who with United flew,
and one of them Big Swifty, who we’ll ne’er forget,
the finest English ‘keeper that ever graced the net.
Oh, England’s finest football team its record truly great,
its proud successes mocked by a cruel turn of fate.
Eight men will never play again, who met destruction there,
the flowers of English football, the flowers of Manchester
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