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| Time Stood Still On That Numbing Day |
Even though the catastrophic crash claimed the lives of eight first-team United players on that cold, snowy February day, it initialed the day that a team died and a club was born.
The players who lost their lives were Geoff Bent, 25 years old; Roger Byrne, 28 years old; Eddie Colman, 21 years old; Duncan Edwards, 21 years old; Mark Jones, 24 years old; David Pegg, 22 years old; Tommy Taylor, 26 years old and Liam 'Billy' Whelan, 22 years old.
On top of those eight players, United was also forced to go on without its club secretary, Walter Crickmer, their trainer, Tom Curry, and first-team coach, Bert Whalley, from that unforgettable heart-shattering wreck.
The 12 other people that perished from the wreckage were Kenneth Rayment (co-pilot), Tom Cable (steward), Alf Clarke (journalist), Donny Davies (journalist), George Follows (journalist), Tom Jackson (journalist), Archie Ledbrooke (journalist), Henry Rose (journalist), Frank Swift (journalist), Eric Thompason (journalist), Bela Miklos (travel agent) and Willie Satinoff (supporter).
Events
The infamous Busby Babes were already starting to stamp their authority in English football, but, like Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby wanted the club to spread its influence, style and flare all across Europe.
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| A Tribute To Lives Lost |
With the wintry weather worsening with every passing moment, the pilots were having a unyielding time trying to get the plane off the slushy runway, and the third attempt of asking, the plane plummeted back down to earth shredding the plane into thirds, which showed the true colors of the club for the heroism that was shown by everyone.
Courageous
Everyone that was willing and able did their utmost to help save their fallen teammates and comrades, but the injuries that they suffered as a result of the crash were much too great and seven players were killed almost immediately.
However, Edwards showed exactly why he was already one of the most feared players in England by nearly showing the strength to survive from life-threatening injuries, but he eventually succumbed 15 days later.
Sir Bobby Charlton, who was not only one of the 21 survivors but is the club's all-time leading scoring, paid the ultimate tribute to Edwards by claiming that he was "the only player that made me feel inferior."
The United spent nearly two months in the hospital recovering from his almost fatal injuries, but Busby used the love, support and admiration of not only his wife and family, but his other family - Manchester United.
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| The Horrific Aftermath |
Rivals
Almost as tragically, some of Manchester United's rivals' fans have shown complete disregard for this unwanted tragedy by displaying deplorable acts of intolerant behavior.
There is even video evidence from United's FA Cup win over Liverpool with one of their poorly advised fans chanting "Munich!," and some of those simpletons make the sounds and pretend that they are an airplane going down by having their arms extended.
Leeds United is another adversary that still chants about Munich, and has fans that refer to Manchester United as "Man U," which stems from Munich Air Disaster.
However, must respect needs to be given to the set of Manchester City supporters that were inside of Old Trafford for honoring the moment of silence for the fallen victims, which included one of their former players, Frank Swift.
The 23 human beings, who had their lives shaved short 53 years ago, were not only filled with so much promise within the sport, but in life, itself, so it is no wonder that February 6, 1958 has been dubbed the "Darkest Day" in Manchester United's history.
Flowers Of Manchester
One cold and bitter Thursday in Munich, Germany,
Eight great football stalwarts conceded victory,
Eight men will never play again who met destruction there,
The flowers of English football, the flowers of Manchester
Matt Busby's boys were flying, returning from Belgrade,
This great United family, all masters of their trade,
The pilot of the aircraft, the skipper Captain Thain,
Three times they tried to take off and twice turned back again.
The third time down the runaway disaster followed close,
There was slush upon that runaway and the aircraft never rose,
It ploughed into the marshy ground, it broke, it overturned.
And eight of the team were killed as the blazing wreckage burned.
Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor who were capped for England's side.
And Ireland's Billy Whelan and England's Geoff Bent died,
Mark Jones and Eddie Colman, and David Pegg also,
They all lost their lives as it ploughed on through the snow.
Big Duncan he went too, with an injury to his brain,
And Ireland's brave Jack Blanchflower will never play again,
The great Matt Busby lay there, the father of his team
Three long months passed by before he saw his team again.
The trainer, coach and secretary, and a member of the crew,
Also eight sporting journalists who with United flew,
and one of them Big Swifty, who we will ne'er forget,
the finest English 'keeper that ever graced the net.
Oh, England's finest football team its record truly great,
its proud successes mocked by a cruel turn of fate.
Eight men will never play again, who met destruction there,
the flowers of English football, the flowers of Manchester.
- Unknown (October, 1958)
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