Munich memories

January 03, 2008

FEBRUARY 6 is the 50th anniversary of the Munich Tragedy and to mark the event, the Manchester Evening News will be producing a special 48-page supplement.

Over the last few weeks MEN readers have been writing in with their own recollections of the disaster. Click on the link below to read them.

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Bill of Bury, Lancashire (03/01/2008 at 15:30)

It is difficult to believe that it is now half a century since the Munich disaster and it took place just some four weeks before I was married. So in a strange way, as my wife and I celebrate fifty happy years, we remember also those young players and officials of our team, who lost their lives that dreadful February day in Munich. The decade before Munich was one of rebuilding the ageing team and the bombed out stadium. How difficult it was, as a kid, watching my beloved United, playing their home games at Maine Road, (for which a proper fee was paid). Bringing in a left winger to be left full back and then paying £29,999 for a centre forward from Barnsley, was the beginning of Busby's Babes. How I remember the GREAT Duncan Edwards (pride of Dudley) and snake hips Eddie Coleman (pride of Salford), Liam Whelan and the magnificent Tommy Taylor, the electric David Pegg and all others who were killed or badly injured. I remember with affection the former City goalie, Frank Swift, what a player!! and also the journalists, particularly Tom Jackson of the MEN. Then, suddenly there we were, standing in the rain in Seymour Grove, watching the "lads" coming home in that dark and wet cortege, to be placed quietly in the Stadium at Old Trafford. All of Manchester was broken and all paid their respects to the young players. So there we have it, the Phoenix reborn within the flames of disaster and to grow to be, without any question, the biggest football club in the world.

Lee , Heywood, Heywood (03/01/2008 at 15:47)

Bill, great post. I now feel educated.

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (03/01/2008 at 16:42)

Great Post Bill !
What are we to expect though from modern day Manchester? Whilst not all still broken 50 yrs on, can we expect some class from our neighbours?

I sure hope so. This is a massive chance for city to show some class as well, for Manchester to unite and show the country that it's not just those dippers from down the east lancs that have a monopoly on northern wit & Camaraderie !!

Invisible Man, Manchester (03/01/2008 at 17:04)

Bill,Bill,Bill
will you ever learn? Most decent minded folk will want to pay huge respect to the Munich tragedy. Then you sadly use the ridiculous words 'the worlds biggest club'. On what basis? Where are the facts?
Secondly do you not understand this arrogance is why you are so hated by so many and why the pillocks from many clubs use the words Munich in a sickening way. This does not excuse such idiocy but you,the media and your club don't help matters.
Yours was a good post spoilt by the arrogance of TWBFC remark. Sad really.

seamus vanisle ex-stretford, Here (03/01/2008 at 17:40)

Bill, an eloquent post, and brings tears to my eyes. I too remember that time,I distinctly recall hearing about the crash on the radio, before my dad got home from work. I told him about it, and that was the first and only time I ever saw him cry. Not that he was alone in that,it seemd like the whole city was crying. Fabulous players lost forever, along with respected coaches and journalists. A terrible tragedy, and 50 years ago! Where did the time go? This event is apart of our history and will never be allowed to be forgotten. I recall our game after the crash was against Sheff Wednesday (I think), and a certain left back by the name of Brennan( first name???) sccred directly from a corner and I still can hear the noise in OT that night, standing on the Stretford end with my dad, uncles and mates. Magic.
Let's hope the city fans show respect at OT ithis February.

bob smith (03/01/2008 at 18:10)

Invisible, why extract from a very well-written post, the one thing which you can address negatively? And why does it bother you so much that a fan of Manchester Utd might claim his club is the world's biggest? I mean he does have a case. Think of it this way. You're a City fan, right? You see Utd as your rivals. By what logical measure do you sustain this rivalry? You're club is tiny in comparison. Yet you still seek a so-called rivalry. Can't you see the irony?

Ged_MCR_SINCE73, MCR (03/01/2008 at 18:37)

Great Post Bill,

I've Grown up with the whole history, but your description of the grief suffered by the City Of Manchester was very moving.

The lads that past, and what they laid the foundations for should be remembered with respect.

G

Alias Smith, over the moon (03/01/2008 at 19:14)

Bill, one of the best comments I've seen on any thread, gave me goosebumps.

bob smith, the answer is simple - no class.

bobbyc, manchester (03/01/2008 at 19:45)

Great post Bill,sentiments to which I can relate to myself as a 50 year plus supporter.As for Worlds biggest football club a matter of opinion,and if they arent, then they are in top 5 .However its like comments from the Berties saying all their fans are from Manchester,they are only the true Manchester club .Well prove it ,and at the same time disprove United arent the biggest club in the World.Only some undisputed facts are that United have won the Premiership 9 times ,FA CUP 11 Times ,both more than anyone else ,and got to say it its 32 years since city won a trophy .
No arguments with the aforementioned facts!!!!

happy manc, margate (03/01/2008 at 20:08)

I'm City born and bred and i think it will be sad if fans from both teams City and United use this anniversary to try and score points against each other.Utd are a bigger team than City it doesn't bother me at all,because i'm City come PL the 1st div the 2 div i'm still City and the hard core Utd fans would be the same.We love our clubs and wouldn't change side's for any thing!!.The Munich Tragedy is not about Utd being the biggest club in the world, its about the lost of human life which is more important than football.Yes i love it when City beat Utd and of course the ture Utd fan loves beating us, but thats as far as it goes.I'm sure City fans will show respect as this happen to our Manchester .In those days the player's were closer to us fans, lived down the road, caught the bus to the match didn't earn much more than us.They knew us we know them, working class blokes playing the game that you and me love. So thats all pay our respect in the right manner as i'm sure both clubs will.

redforlife (03/01/2008 at 21:29)

I applaud Bill on such a wonderful post, as a red for some reason Munich is never far from my mind even though it happened 3 years before my birth.
The tales of greatness told to me by grand parents and old neighbours alike, kindle up a vision of a team that if not for Munich would most likely have dominated Europe and England may have lifted teh world cup a few more times. The club did grow after Munich and i remember my first time abroad in 1970, the only words of English the Spanish waiter could say were;- Manchester United, Bobby Charlton and Georgie Best as an 8 year old this told me everything about our great club we are the worlds biggest. Munich may have something to do with this or not, Torino were all wiped out in 1948 in an aircrash, but they are only the second team in Turin. The memories of old men live on in me and these will never die as i pass them to my kids and grandkids, the tale of the GREATEST team that ever played.

asbjorn wigdahl (03/01/2008 at 22:55)

i just saw a bbc documentary on norwegian telly. it had some facts wrong, i think. But it tuched me again, as always when i see the tragedy on tv/video. I am to young to remember, but what a team it must have been. i have read a lot about it. I was also lucky enough to get a quick talk with the maestro of that team Matt Busby once, outside scoreboard end in 1986. Only for half a minute and he impressed me. so friendly. so interested in me,and the other supporters outside Scoreboard end. A tragedy for him to have lost his greatest team, before they get out their full potensial. looking forward too the City game 9th feb. Stretty: do us all proud that day. Ps exuse my bad english.

bbcity Caboolture Australia (04/01/2008 at 03:18)

Great post Bill, as a 10 year old ( and a City fan ) I remember that dreadful afternoon when I came home from school, my mother was crying on the back street step, then she told what had happened. A sad day for United fans and football fans in general no matter WHO there team is. Utd had the best team, I for one will NEVER forget that day, lets hope we have a fantastic game when the foes meet.

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (04/01/2008 at 10:28)

BBCity, it's nice to hear such words from the blueside of the issue but i fear that your outlook & approach to this matter is fron a social life long since lost in this country.

I've no doubt there'll be some (older) city fans at the game who will respect the moment & truth be known, may even be touched by it BUT as in society, the lack of respect will emanate from the younger man. Like it or not. SAD, Very SAD.

bbcity Caboolture Australia (04/01/2008 at 10:42)

No one should be making mileage on this issue - unite! end

Invisible Man, Manchester (04/01/2008 at 10:44)

I will ask again how is it on these comments the use of the words 'Berties', 'dippers' etc and I have no class? By the way even claiming that 9 premierships quantifies being the biggest shows my point, football started before 1992. The silly arrogance is what turns people and is what i have been trying to say. This is not a 'Munich' thing,it is exactly what I fear will cause problems.
Bob locality means it's rivalry. It's a derby. Calling City tiny = arrogance. If you don't get that then I am sorry.
I WANT EVERYBODY to show respect to the tragedy, but you have to be willing to curtail this supercilious attitude as we lead up to the event.

bbcity Caboolture Australia (04/01/2008 at 11:20)

Balders :- Very True

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (04/01/2008 at 11:31)

Invisible - i sense a touch of irony there also. To get hung up on the use of a moniker - Berties, dippers, Mancs, rags et al is... well .... comical in itself, let alone trying to move away from the issue in hand !!

there'll be plenty of time for point scoring/banter after.... well, like the next 32 years ! LOL.

Happy Days! (& for you too at the moment so enjoy!)

Invisible Man, Manchester (04/01/2008 at 11:33)

BBCCity,
Yes but then balders uses the term "dippers' for no reason at all. Does this not make him as bad as the others? Are all Scousers dippers? this is my point.

Patricroft Lad, Shropshire (04/01/2008 at 12:01)

I was 10 at the time attending Lewis Street School in Patricroft and a regular at OT. The morning after, our teacher turned on the radio for the news and by the time all the names of those who died was read out the whole class was in tears, both City and United supporters. I have never forgotten this, a small symbol of a city united in grief.

bbcity Caboolture Australia (04/01/2008 at 12:02)

Invisible Man:- we're talkin' about a total different issue here - what happend on Feb 6th 1958, nothing more nothing less!

Invisible Man, Manchester (04/01/2008 at 12:07)

Balders,
Fine but there is a time and place. Those terms are ok but if we are to teach the young and stupid respect then using the 'monikers' and giving it large when talking about serious matters just isn't helping. I'll be in like a shot on other subjects ( see police state story) to take the michael, but on this matter let's show dignity and haul in the arrogance for a change.

Elano's best goal ever (04/01/2008 at 12:08)

MUEN - I lived in Manchester for the first 34 years of my life. The last 10 in Australia. I know all about the Munich tragedy, you roll it out every year.

Please send me a copy of your commemorative supplement for the next anniversary of the Bolton tragedy. However you may have to go on to the internet to learn a little more about it first. 33 people died but they were only supporters so that's OK then.

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (04/01/2008 at 13:25)

Invisible - fair enough, rebuke me or any other red for arrogance when it arises but don't trot it out carte blanche. Every football supporter displays arrogance from time to time on various topics - it's not a trait only applicable to utd fans - that in itself is a cheap shot imo.

It would be like me saying all city fans are like the guy from Oz - obviously bitter about the focus Utd get, have got & will get -

what has Bolton's tragedy got to do with Munich. It just makes him look bitter. As a city fan, can you explain that? What is his point? -
My next door neighbour died recently, no-one is mentioning that.

Invisible Man, Manchester (04/01/2008 at 13:57)

Balders I agree it has nothing to do with it. In his defence he is probably relating to the fact that united and the media have used the Munich factor far too much over the years. Indeed as early as March 1958 an MEN reporter wrote "the agony is being prolonged beyond the bounds of genuine sorrow and sympathy."
It also doesn't need me to tell you of the shall we say rather uncomfortable and cack handed ways your club has used the tragedy over the years.
However, 50 years is a major anniversary and it should be recognised and respected properly.

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