remembering munich and the babes...

50 years to the day, a tragedy befell not just manchester united or england, but the entire world of football.

8 young men, whose long careers in the world of football lay at their feet, perished when their plane crashed along with 3 staff, 8 journalists, 2 crew and 2 passengers. this tragedy occurred after the plane stopped over in munich for a refuel following the team's european cup match against red star belgrade.

amazingly, some of the players managed to pick themselves up from the shock and return to action some 13 days later. 10 years later, the busby babes, led by sir matt busby, himself a victim of the crash, completed a miraculous turnaround, having not only reclaimed the league title within the time frame, but also winning the competition they were competing in when the tragedy struck, the 1968 european cup.

while the likes of best, charlton, stiles and law stepped to the fore to carve their names in united lore as a result, one could only imagine what was to be had those 8 players lived to see their potential fulfilled. especially so for young 21 year-old duncan edwards, who was described as the boy in a man's body, whose talent was so immense that he made the great bobby charlton feel inferior.

these were the men that set in motion the foundations of the modern day united - flowing attacking football that was pleasing on the eye with the emphasis on the effervescence of youth.

on this dark day, 50 years on, we still remember them, keeping them in our prayers.

players
roger byrne,28
geoff bent, 25
eddie colman, 21
david pegg, 22
mark jones, 24,
duncan edwards, 21
tommy taylor, 26
liam "billy" whelan, 22

club staff
walter crickmer, club secretary
tom curry, trainer
bert whalley, coach