It also cost the former Manchester City Goalkeeper Frank Swift, who was then working as a journalist for the News of the World his life. The Co. Pilot, Captain Kenneth Rayment also lost his life in the tragedy after suffering horrific injuries.
Among the Manchester United staff to perish were Walter Crickmer, club secretary, Tom Curry, trainer, Bert Whalley, chief coach. Journalist - along with Frank Swift - Donny Davies who was writing for the Manchester Evening News also perished at Munich. Jackie Blanchflower, brother of Spurs legend Danny, and Johnny Berry never played again. Bobby Charlton died in 2023, Bill Foulkes died in 213 - both these survivors of Munich played in the European Cup Final 29th May 1968 when United finally achieved the ‘Holy Grail’ defeating Benfica 4-1 to become champions of Europe.
Harry Gregg, Goalkeeper, who entered the wreck of the aircraft along with Bill Foulkes to recue several people, including Bobby Charlton and Dennis Violet, died in 2020. Another veteran of the squad, Kenny Morgans who did not play himself, who travelled to Red Star Belgrade where the team were returning from died in 2012. Dennis Violet died in 1999 and another Goalkeeper, Ray Wood, died in 2002. Matt Busby, whose funeral I attended, died in 1994 - a very sad day as it signalled the end on an era. The airplane pilot, James Thain died in 1975, after clearing his name. The West German authorities tried to blame him for the disaster, claiming ice on the wings - which is the pilot’s responsibility - was the cause of the crash. The reality was slush on the runway - which was and is the airport authority’s responsibility - was the cause of the disaster. It took James Thain ten years to clear his name, ironically the time of United’s European Cup victory. Ten years after the Munich Air Disaster Manchester United won what many believe they would have won in 1958, the coveted European Cup. It is the belief of many, including myself, that Matt Busby’s team would have overhauled the mighty Real Madrid that year.
Both the Chief Officer, Thain and first Pilot and Co. Pilot were former Second World fighter pilots battling the Nazi Luftwaffe. Both men were Flight Lieutenants and Kenneth ‘Ken’ Rayment was an ace downing over five Nazi aircraft. These were experienced flyers and for the West German authorities to attribute the blame for the tragedy on these men was a disgrace as well as disgusting. It was they who failed to clear the runway of slush causing the deaths of 23 people. Twice, Captain Thain tried to take off and failed. The ground crew and air-traffic controllers gave clearance for the fatal third attempt having not cleared the runway of slush! The players who perished were: Geoff Bent aged 25, Roger Byrne aged 28 - the oldest in the team and club captain - Eddie Colman (nicknamed Snake Hips because of his flair on the wing) aged 21, Duncan Edwards, regarded by many veterans as the finest ever on the planet, aged 21, Mark Jones aged 24, David Pegg aged 22, Tommy Taylor aged 26, and Ireland's Liam Whelan aged 22.
There was silence at both Old Trafford before Man United’s home game against Crystal Palace on 2nd February where wreaths were laid on the centre spot and Broadhurst Park before FC United of Manchester’s game against Hyde on 1st February. Black armbands were also worn at both venues.
The anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster is a very emotional time for Manchester United fans - past and present generations. The team was nicknamed the ‘Busby Babes’ because of their overall youth and now, after Bobby Charlton’s death in 2023, are together again. The “flowers of English football, the flowers of Manchester” gone but never forgotten RIP.
After the disaster Jimmy Murphy took over the reins of manager as Matt Busby was in hospital in Munich. Twice he received the last rites, he was so close to death. United relied greatly on the good will of other clubs loaning them players and Murphy did a great job getting United to the FA Cup Final in 1958 to lose 2-1 against Bolton Wanderers.
This is an appropriate moment to remember all those who have lost their lives in football disasters. On 9th March 1946 at Burnden Park, then home to Bolton Wanderers, 33 people died when a crush occurred at the Railway Embankment End and was the biggest loss of life at a football ground until the Ibrox disaster in 1971. In 1949 the airplane carrying the Torino side back crashed into the retaining wall at the rear of the Basilica of Superga outside Turin killing all 31 people on board. On 2 January 1971 sixty-six people died at Ibrox Park Glasgow, home of Glasgow Rangers FC after an ‘Old Firm’ game against Celtic. On 11 May 1985 at Bradford City’s Valley Parade ground 56 people lost their lives when a fire took hold underneath the old wooden main stand. On 29th May 1985 thirty-nine people, all supporters of Italian club Juventus, were killed when crowd trouble erupted before the European Cup Final of that year against Liverpool. The fans were crushed against a collapsing wall escaping or trying to escape a huge crowd of Liverpool supporters who were reportedly rampaging. Then on 15th April 1989 97 Liverpool fans were killed, 94 on the day, three more dying from their injuries later in hospital, before the FA Cup Semi-Final against Nottingham Forest. Perhaps the least known of these football tragedies would be the LaMia Flight 2933 which crashed om 28th November 2016 killing 71 of the 77 people on board. The aircraft was carrying the first team squad of Brazilian football club Chapecoense and their entourage from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, to Medellin where the team was scheduled to play at the Copa Sundamericana Finals.
A time to reflect not only on the Munich disaster, though for Manchester United fans this tragedy takes preference, but remember all those who have lost their lives, players, supporters and aircrew, and cabin crew in various terrible events over the years. RIP all of them.
This is an appropriate moment to remember all those who have lost their lives in football disasters. On 9th March 1946 at Burnden Park, then home to Bolton Wanderers, 33 people died when a crush occurred at the Railway Embankment End and was the biggest loss of life at a football ground until the Ibrox disaster in 1971. In 1949 the airplane carrying the Torino side back crashed into the retaining wall at the rear of the Basilica of Superga outside Turin killing all 31 people on board. On 2 January 1971 sixty-six people died at Ibrox Park Glasgow, home of Glasgow Rangers FC after an ‘Old Firm’ game against Celtic. On 11 May 1985 at Bradford City’s Valley Parade ground 56 people lost their lives when a fire took hold underneath the old wooden main stand. On 29th May 1985 thirty-nine people, all supporters of Italian club Juventus, were killed when crowd trouble erupted before the European Cup Final of that year against Liverpool. The fans were crushed against a collapsing wall escaping or trying to escape a huge crowd of Liverpool supporters who were reportedly rampaging. Then on 15th April 1989 97 Liverpool fans were killed, 94 on the day, three more dying from their injuries later in hospital, before the FA Cup Semi-Final against Nottingham Forest. Perhaps the least known of these football tragedies would be the LaMia Flight 2933 which crashed om 28th November 2016 killing 71 of the 77 people on board. The aircraft was carrying the first team squad of Brazilian football club Chapecoense and their entourage from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, to Medellin where the team was scheduled to play at the Copa Sundamericana Finals.
A time to reflect not only on the Munich disaster, though for Manchester United fans this tragedy takes preference, but remember all those who have lost their lives, players, supporters and aircrew, and cabin crew in various terrible events over the years. RIP all of them.
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
I was @ Dalymount 40 yrs ago today to watch - Ireland 1 2 Italy . Estimated to be 50 K attendance that night , 15 K above capacity ! It was the last senior international played there - a miracle that nobody was seriously injured ( or worse ) . Clips are on www.youtube.com
ReplyDeleteGood win for the Reds last night ; how many trophies do readers think they will win this season ? C L or P L will be fine ( preferably the latter ) . Doable , provided injuries / fatigue don't kick in as happened during recent seasons .
I owe readers an apology, I said Kenny Morgans did not play in Belgrade against Red Star, prior to the Munich Air Disaster. I was mistaken, Kenny did play that night.
ReplyDeleteCaoimhin O'Muraile