The tragedy occurred at four minutes past three at the Munich-Riem Airport (West) Germany as the flight, returning from Belgrade where United had progressed to the semi-final of the European Cup, stopped to refuel. United had taken a 2-1 lead from the first leg at Old Trafford over to Yugoslavia and secured a 3-3 draw and advancement in the competition, where Milan awaited in the semis. In those days flights were not as straight forward as modern aviation and the Airspeed AS-57 Ambassador, Elizabethan class, aircraft had to make the stop.
The European Cup was a new inter-European competition involving the winners of the domestic leagues in competing countries. The full title of the competition was “The European Champions Cup”. The competition began in 1955 and involved 16 teams, the first winners being Real Madrid who beat Stade de Reims at Parc des Princess in Paris. Real Madrid won the first five European Cups of the competition as the tournament expanded to 22 teams for the following year. This would grow to 32 competing sides which was ideal for playing five ties, round of 32, round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final.
The European Cup was a new inter-European competition involving the winners of the domestic leagues in competing countries. The full title of the competition was “The European Champions Cup”. The competition began in 1955 and involved 16 teams, the first winners being Real Madrid who beat Stade de Reims at Parc des Princess in Paris. Real Madrid won the first five European Cups of the competition as the tournament expanded to 22 teams for the following year. This would grow to 32 competing sides which was ideal for playing five ties, round of 32, round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final.
The inspiration behind the competition was the South American Champion of Champions, the South American tournament for club teams. The modern so-called equivalent is the misleadingly called “European Champions League” which is nothing of the sort. The top four, not only the domestic champions, enter the competition thus expanding the number of clubs involved and diluting the prestige of winning, as the winners do not have to be the respective domestic champions. Not that this dilution bothers the money men involved, their only aim is to increase profits and to hell with the honour of winning the competition.
So, in today’s bizarre world of football (refereeing by television set being the final straw for me, certainly at the highest level) a team does not even have to win their domestic league to enter the once prestigious and greatly honoured European Cup. Normally these top four clubs are those with the most money at their disposal for transfers, certainly in the English Premier League. Every now and again the apple cart is upset by the inconvenience of teams like Leicester City winning the league, as in the nineties Kenny Dalglish’s Blackburn Rovers upset the status quo. If such trends continued it may be safe to say the bent authorities would find a way of preventing such inconvenient and “disgraceful atrocities” from happening.
The then Assistant Secretary of the English Football League, Alan Hardaker, who was opposed to European competition in general, was taken aback when Manchester United manager, Matt Busby, did the unthinkable in 1956. Matt Busby defied the all-powerful Football League and their authoritarian Secretary in waiting (Hardaker became the league's Secretary on 6th January 1957), Alan Hardaker. taking Manchester United into Europe, becoming the first English club to enter the competition. Matt saw, correctly, European competition as the way forward for the game with an exciting future. He therefore, with the support of the FA Chairman, Sir Stanley Rouse, entered the competition, reaching the semi-final and losing to Real Madrid in April 1957, 3-1 in Spain: attendance 120,000 and drawing 2-2 at Old Trafford in front of 65,000 supporters.
The then Assistant Secretary of the English Football League, Alan Hardaker, who was opposed to European competition in general, was taken aback when Manchester United manager, Matt Busby, did the unthinkable in 1956. Matt Busby defied the all-powerful Football League and their authoritarian Secretary in waiting (Hardaker became the league's Secretary on 6th January 1957), Alan Hardaker. taking Manchester United into Europe, becoming the first English club to enter the competition. Matt saw, correctly, European competition as the way forward for the game with an exciting future. He therefore, with the support of the FA Chairman, Sir Stanley Rouse, entered the competition, reaching the semi-final and losing to Real Madrid in April 1957, 3-1 in Spain: attendance 120,000 and drawing 2-2 at Old Trafford in front of 65,000 supporters.
It was largely due to Hardaker’s objection to the competition, and Manchester United’s defiance of him, that he was so insistent that, come what may, United would be back to fulfil their domestic fixture against League leaders, Wolverhampton Wanderers on 8th February. Hardaker stated if United did not fulfil this fixture they would be “deducted points.” This insistence was to cost twenty-three people their lives, including eight of England’s finest. Matt Busby was aware of Hardaker’s not so idle threat. In fact, the league supremo may well have relished deducting points from the rebellious United and their troublesome manager.
Am I being too hard on Hardaker? No, I don’t think so, he was one of these “little Englanders”, reportedly with xenophobic, even racist views of foreigners. He could not, or refused to see, that the future of the game lay in such competitions as the European Cup (people may say the similar things about my opposition to modern alterations to the game. This is not the case, Hardaker opposed the European Cup, played under the sensible rules of Association Football, not making up new daft rules, like VAR, essentially bastardising the game).
The overall commander of the aircraft was Captain James Thain, with Captain Kenneth “Ken” Rayment, Co. Pilot, actually flying the craft when the take-off attempts were made. Aware of the urgency to get back to England, Thain and Rayment refused the offer of a stop-over at Munich even though two take-off attempts had to be aborted. The entire party were under pressure, pressure which was brought about in no small part by Hardaker’s dictatorial attitude. The third attempt at takeoff was to prove fatal, as Captain Rayment was given clearance to takeoff, clearance which would run out at four minutes past three! Snow had started to fall, causing slush to accumulate on the runway. As the aircraft ploughed down the runway it failed to gain enough thrust and traction to get the plane off the ground, as the aircraft sped down the runway at an unstoppable pace crashing into a shed. Captain Rayment would be one of the fatalities.
The West German aviation authorities tried to blame Captain James Thain for the disaster, blaming him for not clearing the wings of ice. The truth was there was no need to clear the wings because no ice had formed on them. Witnesses clarified this important point at the inquest, their evidence was largely - and conveniently for the authorities - ignored. This was a blatant attempt to shift blame from themselves, whose responsibility it was to clear the runway of slush, which they failed to do before giving clearance. They should not have given Captain Rayment clearance to take off in the first place knowing the danger. They therefore tried to scapegoat Captain Thain as overall commander. It took Captain Thain ten years to clear his name, finally bringing some kind of closure in 1968, ironically the year Manchester United finally lifted the European Cup themselves. The first English club to enter the competition and fittingly the first English club to win it!!
It is my contention but for the Munich tragedy, that United side, the Busby Babes, would have stopped the all-conquering Real Madrid that year, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskás great players as they were, included. I firmly believe the United team of 1958, with the quality of Duncan Edwards, Tommy Taylor, Eddie Colman and Liam Whelan to name a mere few, would have overwhelmed the mighty men from Madrid. With great respect and appreciation to Real Madrid they offered, as eventual winners of the European Cup that year, to give the trophy to Manchester United. A kind and thoughtful gesture. Whether United would have stopped Real Madrid is academic now, we’ll never know, but it is my contention but for Munich the history of the European Cup would have been different as far as winners were concerned.
United secured a 2-1 win over AC Milan (there was only one team bearing the name Milan in those days, and technically there still is. Internazionale, are called Inter who just happen to play in Milan) with goals from surviving Busby Babe, Denis Violet and Ernie Taylor, loaned from Blackpool to help out in the crisis, Taylor would sign for north east giants Sunderland later that year. If the full complement of the Busby Babes had faced Milan the score may well have been out of the Italian side's reach. In the second leg, at the San Siro, Milan came out 4-0 victors, going through to face Real Madrid in the final, 5-2 on aggregate. It is all ifs, buts and maybes, but I believe Matt Busby’s team in full complement would have destroyed Milan in the semis of 1958 and gone on to defeat Real Madrid.
United’s manager, Matt Busby, was twice given the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church in the Rechts der Isar Hospital in Munich, so close was he to death. Duncan Edwards, United’s rock-solid Left-Half and tipped by many to become the finest player on the planet, succumbed to his injuries in the same hospital two weeks after the crash. A sorry loss to English and indeed global football, as they all were.
On his recovery Matt Busby questioned whether he should carry on. The day to day running of the team had been carried out by his assistant, Jimmy Murphy, who carried out sterling work in Matt Busby’s absence. Murphy would have been in the crash himself but for he was managing the Welsh national side at the time and he was away at a game in Cardiff. Matt Busby was persuaded, not least by his wife, Jean, to carry on and this he did thankfully. He reckoned it would take five years to rebuild the team after the Munich tragedy, and five years it did take.
The overall commander of the aircraft was Captain James Thain, with Captain Kenneth “Ken” Rayment, Co. Pilot, actually flying the craft when the take-off attempts were made. Aware of the urgency to get back to England, Thain and Rayment refused the offer of a stop-over at Munich even though two take-off attempts had to be aborted. The entire party were under pressure, pressure which was brought about in no small part by Hardaker’s dictatorial attitude. The third attempt at takeoff was to prove fatal, as Captain Rayment was given clearance to takeoff, clearance which would run out at four minutes past three! Snow had started to fall, causing slush to accumulate on the runway. As the aircraft ploughed down the runway it failed to gain enough thrust and traction to get the plane off the ground, as the aircraft sped down the runway at an unstoppable pace crashing into a shed. Captain Rayment would be one of the fatalities.
The West German aviation authorities tried to blame Captain James Thain for the disaster, blaming him for not clearing the wings of ice. The truth was there was no need to clear the wings because no ice had formed on them. Witnesses clarified this important point at the inquest, their evidence was largely - and conveniently for the authorities - ignored. This was a blatant attempt to shift blame from themselves, whose responsibility it was to clear the runway of slush, which they failed to do before giving clearance. They should not have given Captain Rayment clearance to take off in the first place knowing the danger. They therefore tried to scapegoat Captain Thain as overall commander. It took Captain Thain ten years to clear his name, finally bringing some kind of closure in 1968, ironically the year Manchester United finally lifted the European Cup themselves. The first English club to enter the competition and fittingly the first English club to win it!!
It is my contention but for the Munich tragedy, that United side, the Busby Babes, would have stopped the all-conquering Real Madrid that year, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskás great players as they were, included. I firmly believe the United team of 1958, with the quality of Duncan Edwards, Tommy Taylor, Eddie Colman and Liam Whelan to name a mere few, would have overwhelmed the mighty men from Madrid. With great respect and appreciation to Real Madrid they offered, as eventual winners of the European Cup that year, to give the trophy to Manchester United. A kind and thoughtful gesture. Whether United would have stopped Real Madrid is academic now, we’ll never know, but it is my contention but for Munich the history of the European Cup would have been different as far as winners were concerned.
United secured a 2-1 win over AC Milan (there was only one team bearing the name Milan in those days, and technically there still is. Internazionale, are called Inter who just happen to play in Milan) with goals from surviving Busby Babe, Denis Violet and Ernie Taylor, loaned from Blackpool to help out in the crisis, Taylor would sign for north east giants Sunderland later that year. If the full complement of the Busby Babes had faced Milan the score may well have been out of the Italian side's reach. In the second leg, at the San Siro, Milan came out 4-0 victors, going through to face Real Madrid in the final, 5-2 on aggregate. It is all ifs, buts and maybes, but I believe Matt Busby’s team in full complement would have destroyed Milan in the semis of 1958 and gone on to defeat Real Madrid.
United’s manager, Matt Busby, was twice given the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church in the Rechts der Isar Hospital in Munich, so close was he to death. Duncan Edwards, United’s rock-solid Left-Half and tipped by many to become the finest player on the planet, succumbed to his injuries in the same hospital two weeks after the crash. A sorry loss to English and indeed global football, as they all were.
On his recovery Matt Busby questioned whether he should carry on. The day to day running of the team had been carried out by his assistant, Jimmy Murphy, who carried out sterling work in Matt Busby’s absence. Murphy would have been in the crash himself but for he was managing the Welsh national side at the time and he was away at a game in Cardiff. Matt Busby was persuaded, not least by his wife, Jean, to carry on and this he did thankfully. He reckoned it would take five years to rebuild the team after the Munich tragedy, and five years it did take.
In 1963 Manchester United beat Leicester City 3-1 in the FA Cup final with goals from David Herd (2) and Denis Law (1). Busby would rebuild United around a new generation of players led by the “Holy Trinity” of George Best, Bobby Charlton 9another Munich survivor0 and Denis law (who missed the European Cup final 1968 due to injury). Winning the league in 1965 once again entering, the now broadly accepted (even by Hardaker])European Cup. They reached the semi-final, Best having almost single-handed destroying Benfica in the second leg in the Estadio da Luz (Stadium of Light) in Lisbon. He scored two goals and assisted in the build up to the rest, United came out 8-3 victors winning 3-2 at Old Trafford in front of 64,000 fans and 5-1 in the return leg in Lisburn, one of the first examples of travelling support as around 1,500 United fans made the journey. Manchester United were defeated in the semi-final by Partizan (Belgrade) 2-1 on aggregate.
Manchester United went on to win the Football League Division one title again in 1967, supporters taking over London’s East End as they defeated West Ham United 6-1, and thus entered the European Cup again. This time they reached the semi-final where at last they had their showdown with Real Madrid. United secured a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in front of 62,000 fans and drew 3-3 at the Bernabeu (we got rid, of Real Madrid, hallelujah). They faced Benfica, Eusebio, Graca, Torres, with Jose Henrique in goal in the final played at Wembley Stadium. United were victors 4-1 after extra time, as Nobby Stiles marked Eusebio out of the game. The Black Panther (Eusebio) lost his marker once which, but for the brilliance of United Keeper, Alex Stepney, would have destroyed Busby’s dreams of winning the European Cup once and for all. Stepney saved Eusebio’s shot and in extra time United ran riot. Goals that night came from; Bobby Charlton (one of two, along with Bill Foulkes, who survived the Munich Disaster, who played that night) George Best scored the second with a piece of genius, Brian Kidd (on his 19th birthday) the third, and a fourth came from Bobby again. A night to remember, a team to recall, the great Man Utd the kings of football.
In that same year, ironically and fittingly, Captain James Thain finally cleared his name of any responsibility for the Munich Air Disaster. It took him ten years to prove the fault lay, as far as the take-off was concerned with the German Authorities at Munich Airport, whose responsibility it was to clear the runway of slush. This they did not do at great cost of human life. From and English football viewpoint, the late Alan Hardaker was largely to blame for his insistence, fear of having points deducted, that Manchester United must play their game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 8th February at all costs. All costs it turned out to be!
Twenty-three people perished in the Munich Air Disaster, including former Manchester City Goalkeeper Frank Swift who was by then a reporter for the News of the World. Ironically Swift played with Matt Busby at City before the war at Maine Road, the man now fighting for his life in hospital.
In memory of the twenty-three who died at Munich:
Geoff Bent aged 25, full-back.
Roger Byrne aged 28, Full-back, Captain and England International.
Eddie Colman aged 21 Wing-half nicknamed Snakehips.
Duncan Edwards aged 21, Left-half and England International (succumbed to his injuries in hospital after two weeks).
Mark Jones aged 24, Centre-half.
David Pegg aged 22, Outside-left and England International.
Tommy Taylor aged 26, Centre-forward and England International.
Liam Whelan aged 22, Inside forward and Irish International.
Walter Crickmer, former club secretary and manager during the war.
Bert Whalley, Chief Coach.
Tom Curry, Club Trainer
Don Davies Journalist Manchester Guardian
Alf Clarke, Journalist Manchester Evening Chronicle
George Follows, Journalist Daily Herald
Tom Jackson, Journalist Manchester Evening News
Archie Ledbrooke, Journalist Daily Mirror
Henry Rose, Journalist Daily Express
Eric Thompson, Journalist Daily Mail
Frank Swift, Journalist News of the World (Former Manchester City Goalkeeper)
Captain Kenneth “Ken” Rayment, Co. Pilot, died later in hospital of his injuries.
Bela Miklos, Travel Agent (who arranged the trip).
Wille Satinoff, Manchester United Supporter
Tom Cable, Steward on the Aircraft.
The Survivors
Matt Busby (Manager), Bill Foulkes (Defender), Harry Gregg (Goalkeeper), Johnny Berry (Winger), Albert Scanlon (Winger), Kenny Morgans (Winger), Bobby Charlton (Forward), Jackie Blanchflower (Defender), Denis Violet (Striker), Ray Wood (Goalkeeper).
Frank Taylor (Journalist), Peter Howard (Journalist), Ted Ellyard (Telegraphist), Mrs Vera Lukic and baby Vesna (The Wife of a Yugoslav Diplomat, rescued by United Keeper Harry Gregg. An urban myth surrounded Vera, who was pregnant at the time, that she was the mother of future Arsenal and Leeds United Keeper, John Lukic. This is untrue, the future Goalkeeper made his first appearance in 1960, two years after the tragedy.), Mrs Milkos (The Wife of Bela Milkos, the travel agent who arranged the trip), Mr N. Tomasevic (Passenger), James Thain (Captain), Rosemary Cheverton (Stewardess), Margaret Bellis (Stewardess), George (Bill) Rodgers (Radio Officer).
A minute’s silence will be respected at Old Trafford before Manchester United’s FA Cup tie against Middlesboro on Friday 4th February.
FC United of Manchester will hold a one minutes silence at Broadhurst park before our game against Witton Albion on Saturday 5th February for all those who died in the Munich Air Disaster at four minutes past three on the 6th February 1958.
“Two United’s just one soul, as the Busby Babes carry on.”
Manchester United went on to win the Football League Division one title again in 1967, supporters taking over London’s East End as they defeated West Ham United 6-1, and thus entered the European Cup again. This time they reached the semi-final where at last they had their showdown with Real Madrid. United secured a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in front of 62,000 fans and drew 3-3 at the Bernabeu (we got rid, of Real Madrid, hallelujah). They faced Benfica, Eusebio, Graca, Torres, with Jose Henrique in goal in the final played at Wembley Stadium. United were victors 4-1 after extra time, as Nobby Stiles marked Eusebio out of the game. The Black Panther (Eusebio) lost his marker once which, but for the brilliance of United Keeper, Alex Stepney, would have destroyed Busby’s dreams of winning the European Cup once and for all. Stepney saved Eusebio’s shot and in extra time United ran riot. Goals that night came from; Bobby Charlton (one of two, along with Bill Foulkes, who survived the Munich Disaster, who played that night) George Best scored the second with a piece of genius, Brian Kidd (on his 19th birthday) the third, and a fourth came from Bobby again. A night to remember, a team to recall, the great Man Utd the kings of football.
In that same year, ironically and fittingly, Captain James Thain finally cleared his name of any responsibility for the Munich Air Disaster. It took him ten years to prove the fault lay, as far as the take-off was concerned with the German Authorities at Munich Airport, whose responsibility it was to clear the runway of slush. This they did not do at great cost of human life. From and English football viewpoint, the late Alan Hardaker was largely to blame for his insistence, fear of having points deducted, that Manchester United must play their game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 8th February at all costs. All costs it turned out to be!
Twenty-three people perished in the Munich Air Disaster, including former Manchester City Goalkeeper Frank Swift who was by then a reporter for the News of the World. Ironically Swift played with Matt Busby at City before the war at Maine Road, the man now fighting for his life in hospital.
In memory of the twenty-three who died at Munich:
Geoff Bent aged 25, full-back.
Roger Byrne aged 28, Full-back, Captain and England International.
Eddie Colman aged 21 Wing-half nicknamed Snakehips.
Duncan Edwards aged 21, Left-half and England International (succumbed to his injuries in hospital after two weeks).
Mark Jones aged 24, Centre-half.
David Pegg aged 22, Outside-left and England International.
Tommy Taylor aged 26, Centre-forward and England International.
Liam Whelan aged 22, Inside forward and Irish International.
Walter Crickmer, former club secretary and manager during the war.
Bert Whalley, Chief Coach.
Tom Curry, Club Trainer
Don Davies Journalist Manchester Guardian
Alf Clarke, Journalist Manchester Evening Chronicle
George Follows, Journalist Daily Herald
Tom Jackson, Journalist Manchester Evening News
Archie Ledbrooke, Journalist Daily Mirror
Henry Rose, Journalist Daily Express
Eric Thompson, Journalist Daily Mail
Frank Swift, Journalist News of the World (Former Manchester City Goalkeeper)
Captain Kenneth “Ken” Rayment, Co. Pilot, died later in hospital of his injuries.
Bela Miklos, Travel Agent (who arranged the trip).
Wille Satinoff, Manchester United Supporter
Tom Cable, Steward on the Aircraft.
The Survivors
Matt Busby (Manager), Bill Foulkes (Defender), Harry Gregg (Goalkeeper), Johnny Berry (Winger), Albert Scanlon (Winger), Kenny Morgans (Winger), Bobby Charlton (Forward), Jackie Blanchflower (Defender), Denis Violet (Striker), Ray Wood (Goalkeeper).
Frank Taylor (Journalist), Peter Howard (Journalist), Ted Ellyard (Telegraphist), Mrs Vera Lukic and baby Vesna (The Wife of a Yugoslav Diplomat, rescued by United Keeper Harry Gregg. An urban myth surrounded Vera, who was pregnant at the time, that she was the mother of future Arsenal and Leeds United Keeper, John Lukic. This is untrue, the future Goalkeeper made his first appearance in 1960, two years after the tragedy.), Mrs Milkos (The Wife of Bela Milkos, the travel agent who arranged the trip), Mr N. Tomasevic (Passenger), James Thain (Captain), Rosemary Cheverton (Stewardess), Margaret Bellis (Stewardess), George (Bill) Rodgers (Radio Officer).
A minute’s silence will be respected at Old Trafford before Manchester United’s FA Cup tie against Middlesboro on Friday 4th February.
FC United of Manchester will hold a one minutes silence at Broadhurst park before our game against Witton Albion on Saturday 5th February for all those who died in the Munich Air Disaster at four minutes past three on the 6th February 1958.
“Two United’s just one soul, as the Busby Babes carry on.”
 |
Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist |
No comments