59 Years since Munich 1958

1504, February 6th 1958, the world of football was shocked to the core,when the BEA Flight carrying home the Manchester United team crashed on its third take off attempt at Munich airport. 23 people were killed, including eight players. 

Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Liam "Billy" Whelan were killed instantly. Duncan Edwards was taken to hospital where he sadly died 15 days later on 21st February.

In summer 2007 I received an email offering me work experience as part of my one year top up degree at Salford university with MUTV working on the documentary they were producing for the 50th anniversary in February 2008. Working for MUTV and getting to research more into part of my beloved clubs history I was thrilled! 

I spent many hours sat in Manchester central library looking through the reels of the newspaper coverage of the last match and then the reporting of the crash. 

The finished documentary was narrated by Albert Finney and it is amazing! Nine years on I am still so proud of my work and the team I worked with at MUTV.

I have the documentary on DVD that I was given by MUTV, just like every other member of the team.

A broken heart a broken dream
A broken plane a broken team
No words were said a silent vow
We loved you then we love you now The red flag will always fly
For Man United will never die
Never to be forgotten-6th February 1958

Munich Remembered 57 Years

One thing I try not to go on about is football. But yep I'm a football geek. When it comes to eleven men kicking a ball about for ninety minutes I'm the nerd who wants to watch.

I am a massive Manchester United fan and by massive I mean massive. When I was growing up my bed room was floor to ceeling Manchester United. James even has my old duvet cover on his bed. 

But today is an important day in the history of my club. 57 years ago at four minutes past three, seven of our young and talented players perished on the snowy runway in Munich. The eighth player to die - Duncan Edwards lost his life fifteen days later. The team had been returning from a European cup match against Red Star Belgrade when the plane had to stop to refuel.

2008 was the 50th anniversary of the disaster and at that time I was a student at Salford University and I was lucky enough to get some work experience with MUTV working on the documentary they were making to mark the disaster. I spent many hours in Manchester central library looking at old film of the newspapers in the days after the crash, the funerals of the players and the first game after.

My dad was only four when Munich happened yet as a fan he learned about it, he the. Passed it onto me. I remembered hearing about Munich from an early age. 

I aim as James grows up to teach him about the history of our great club.

Munich 1958 players numbered 1 9 5 & 8 were the only players to survive.