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On this day - 1958 (Munich Air Disaster); February 6th
Topic Started: 6 Feb 2016, 12:06 AM (162 Views)
daib0
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Munich Air Disaster. 6 February 1958


The BEA plane returning from Belgrade had stopped off at Munich for fuel but on take off couldn't clear the slush on the runway and crashed killing 23 of the 43 on board, including 7 United players plus officials , some crew members and journalists.
Another busby babe Duncan Edwards died a few weeks later from his injuries.

So many tragedies associated with our beloved sport, Heysel 39 killed, Hillsborough 96, Bradford 56, Ibrox 66, Burnden Park 33 plus 400 injured, at Birmingham a wall collapsed same day as the Bradford fire, and Kevin Olsson murdered at Bloomfield Road, etc, etc.

So sad that this great sport has so many bitter memories.
RIP fans and players alike.


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daib0
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That really was a terrible tragedy.

Makes this seem very ordinary ...

Wednesday, February 6, 1952. : King George VI of England dies, allowing Elizabeth II to ascend the throne
Royals Rendezvous - a specialist and friendly Reading FC fan forum
Cello man... VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEVmGOEMJLE&t=12s Please share !
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Darlington
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daib0
6 Feb 2016, 12:06 AM
Munich Air Disaster. 6 February 1958


The BEA plane returning from Belgrade had stopped off at Munich for fuel but on take off couldn't clear the slush on the runway and crashed killing 23 of the 43 on board, including 7 United players plus officials , some crew members and journalists.
Another busby babe Duncan Edwards died a few weeks later from his injuries.

So many tragedies associated with our beloved sport, Heysel 39 killed, Hillsborough 96, Bradford 56, Ibrox 66, Burnden Park 33 plus 400 injured, at Birmingham a wall collapsed same day as the Bradford fire, and Kevin Olsson murdered at Bloomfield Road, etc, etc.

So sad that this great sport has so many bitter memories.
RIP fans and players alike.


So tragic.

It killed the greatest ever player in my opinion. In truth though that isn't just my opinion it belongs to a few including Bobby Charlton who still to this day maintains the greatest he has ever seen or played with is him and he's played with George Best. Terry Venables said this
"When I was growing up, there was no televised football to speak of, and if you wanted to see a particular player or team, it meant going to one of their matches....so I persuaded my dad, Fred, to come with me to Highbury to see United play Arsenal. It was an unusual trip for two committed Spurs fans, and a day I will never forget. United won a smashing match 5-4, but what happened afterwards gave the occasion a dreadful poignancy that still lingers. Just four days later, the Busby Babes were decimated by the Munich air crash. Along with everyone else, I was devastated. So many died so young - my hero among them. It was a terrible tragedy, too awful to dwell on. I prefer to remember that lovely day out with my dad, standing behind the goal at the old Clock end at Highbury. It took Duncan Edwards less than 10 minutes to show us what all the fuss was about. I remember I was a bit disappointed that United weren't at full strength. With the European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade only four days away, Matt Busby rested his centre-half, Jackie Blanchflower, the two wingers, David Pegg and Johnny Berry, and the clever, creative inside-forward, Liam Whelan. Mind you, it was still a hell of a team, with a forward line that included Bobby Charlton, Tommy Taylor and Dennis Viollet, supported from half-back by Eddie Colman and the man I couldn't take my eyes off, Duncan Edwards. Jack Kelsey, a legend at Highbury, was in goal for Arsenal but, good as he was, he was beaten all the way when Duncan opened the scoring with a cracking shot. That was my moment. We had travelled in to see him and, with the latecomers still arriving, he had me turning to my dad with a "Did you see that" look. Edwards had taken a pass from Viollet and strode forward like an unstoppable giant before shooting past Kelsey from 25 yards. There were eight more goals in a fantastic match, but Duncan's, and his overall performance, are all I really remember. Afterwards, I just couldn't get it out of my head how good United were. Duncan was marvellous.
Everything he did comes back to me as if it was yesterday. Such strength, such poise. We are talking about a long time ago - nearly 40 years - but I can still see him, and that tremendous power of his, even now. He was only 21, but already he had played for England 18 times, and there were far fewer internationals played in those days. I was always Tottenham through and through, and it was not so much the Busby Babes as the Spurs Double side that gave me a feeling for how I wanted to play the game, but I stood there that day thinking Edwards was a wonderful player, and that I wanted to play like him. United were the best around at the time, and he was their star man. I had heard tales of this real-life Roy of the Rovers a few years before. People at Chelsea spoke of a Youth Cup tie against United. Chelsea had an outstanding team that day, Jimmy Greaves and Peter Brabrook included, but the story goes that a storm broke during the game. Edwards scored two goals playing at centre-forward, then when United turned round at half-time, and had the storm against them, they played him at centre-half, and he won everything. He was blessed with an all-round ability no one had ever seen before. This was a guy who played for England at 18, unheard of in those days. Physically, he was an impressive specimen, with legs like tree trunks, which gave him unmistakable power. He usually played at left-half, but centre-half or centre-forward was no problem for him because he had everything. He was a great tackler, he was a good passer, he scored goals and he was a rock in defence. He was left-footed, but he could use the right, too. It was exciting to look at him and think how good he was going to be, and for him to be cut down like that was too tragic for words. No one can know what he might have achieved had he lived and gone on. It is a great disappointment to me, not knowing what he might have become. He was potentially the greatest player I've seen."

This lad could play any outfield position and dominated in that position. There has never been another like him and to this day Duncan Edwards will for me be the greatest footballer ever.
Edited by Darlington, 6 Feb 2016, 07:58 PM.
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