Untold Stories: Manchester United And The Forgotten Victims Of Munich That Will Leave You In Tears

Munich air disaster is a tragic event that remains etched in the memories of football fans worldwide. On February 6, 1958, Manchester United's ill-fated plane crash left a devastating impact, not only on the club and its players but also on the families of the victims. While the world mourned the loss of the famous "Busby Babes," it is important to remember the forgotten victims who had their lives forever altered by this tragedy.

The Immortal Busby Babes

Under the management of Sir Matt Busby, Manchester United had assembled a talented young team known as the "Busby Babes." This group of promising players had conquered hearts with their exciting style of play and awe-inspiring talent. They had the world at their feet, and their future seemed limitless. However, fate had other plans.

The Fateful Munich Air Disaster

As Manchester United embarked on their journey back from a European Cup match in Belgrade, tragedy struck at Munich-Riem Airport. The plane carrying the team crashed on its third attempt to take off after refueling. Out of the 44 people on board, 23 lost their lives, including eight members of the "Busby Babes." The world of football mourned, but amidst the headlines and tributes, the stories of the forgotten victims went unheard.

The Lost Babes: Manchester United and the Forgotten Victims of Munich

by Jeff Connor (Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1427 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	320 pages

FREE

Honoring the Fallen Players

The names of the players who perished in the Munich air disaster are forever etched in Manchester United's history: Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor, and Liam "Billy" Whelan. These young men had dreams, hopes, and unfinished stories. They were the stars who never got a chance to shine, and their loss left a void that is still felt to this day.

The Forgotten Victims

While the world remembers the Busby Babes, it is crucial to recognize that the Munich air disaster affected not only the players but also the staff and journalists accompanying the team. The forgotten victims include Bert Whalley (the team's trainer), Tom Curry (club secretary), Walter Crickmer (club chairman), and Alf Clarke (journalist) – individuals who played crucial roles behind the scenes in Manchester United's success.

The Impact on the Families

Behind every tragedy lie real people and families left shattered by the loss of their loved ones. The families of the players, the staff, and the journalists were forever changed by that fateful day. Wives became widows, children were left fatherless, and dreams were shattered. The aftermath of the Munich air disaster echoed through generations, leaving a painful legacy of loss.

Remembering their Legacy

While the names of the Busby Babes evoke pride and admiration, it is essential to keep alive the memories of the forgotten victims. They might not have scored goals or collected silverware, but their contributions to Manchester United were invaluable. It is through their dedication and sacrifice that the club could flourish, and their legacy should never be forgotten.

The Munich air disaster is a scar in the history of Manchester United. The tragedy cut short the lives of promising young players, forever altering the course of football and leaving families devastated. As we mourn the loss of the Busby Babes, let us also remember the forgotten victims whose stories remain untold. Their sacrifice should serve as a constant reminder of the fragility of life and the indomitable spirit of the human soul.

The Lost Babes: Manchester United and the Forgotten Victims of Munich

by Jeff Connor (Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1427 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	320 pages

FREE

A moving story of how a legendary football team was lost to tragedy – and how this disaster irrevocably altered the lives of the survivors and the bereaved families, and ultimately brought shame on the biggest football club in the world.

The Manchester United team Matt Busby had built in the fifties from the club's successful youth policy seemed destined to dominate football for many years. Such was the power of the ‘Busby Babes’ that they seemed invincible. The average age of the side which won the Championship in 1955-56 was just 22, the youngest ever to achieve such a feat. A year later, when they were Champions again, nothing, it seemed, would prevent this gifted young team from reigning for the next decade.

But then came 6 February 1958, the day that eight Manchester United players died on a German airfield in the 'Munich Air Disaster' – a date to be forever etched in the annals of sporting tragedy.

Duncan Edwards, Eddie Colman, Tommy Taylor, Roger Byrne…the names were already enshrined in legend before the air crash, but Munich in many ways earned them immortality. They have never grown old.

Jeff Connor traces the rise of the greatest Manchester United side of all time, alongside a vibrant portrait of England in the 1950s, but he also paints a dark picture of a club that enriched itself on the myth of Munich while neglecting the families of the dead and the surviving players. The repercussions and the toll the disaster took on so many linger to the present day.

Drawing on extensive interviews with the Munich victims and players of that era, The Lost Babes is the definitive account of British football's golden age, a poignant story of the protracted effects of loss and a remorseless dissection of the how the richest football club in the world turned its back on its own players and their families.