Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster in which 23 people including eight Manchester United players, several journalists and United employee's were killed.The date was February 6th 1958. The time 15:04. After three attempts of a take off from Munich airport in Germany the plane carrying the United players and staff crashed with devastating effects.
A team tipped to dominate English football for years to come, ripped apart by one accident. The "Busby Babes" as they were better known as, managed of course by the late, great Sir Matt Busby.
Duncan Edwards (21-years old), Liam "Billy" Whelan (22-years old), Tommy Taylor (26-years old), David Pegg (22-years old), Mark Jones (24-years old), Eddie Colman (21-years old), Roger Bent (28-years old) and Geoff Bent (25-years old) all perished in the disaster.
As you can see, all young players that had bright future's ahead of them. Families left to mourn the loss of loved ones, loved ones who were, no doubt, destined for glory. I can personally relate with the families greaving at this time.
Liam Whelan was my grand-uncle. A player that had 4 caps for his country. He played 98 times for United scoring 52 goals in the process. My grandad, who was very close to Liam, still tells me stories about Liam's days at United.
Several great players survived the crash including Bobby Charlton, Harry Gregg and Bill Foulkes, all of whom helped to resurect the depleated Busby Babes after the crash. It is amazing to think that United came back and won the European Cup less than a decade after the disaster under the guidance of manager Matt Busby.
Busby managed to integrate players like George Best and Dennis Law into the United first team back in the 60's, players who you immediatly think of when you hear someone say Manchester United.
United will celebrate the anniversary during Sunday's game with Manchester City and I can only hope the City fans are on their best behaviour. I am a City fan myself and I will be attending the game and I can honestly say now that I will be ashamed to be a City fan if the travelling support in anyway disrupte the minute silence.
Both sides will wear special commenrative kits for the game on Sunday to mark the occasion and I can only hope the players play with the same fight and desire that the United and City players of old will be proud of.
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