I wouldve loved to have seen Edwards play just to see if he was as good as everyone makes out. Not wanting to take this off topic and talk about Italian football again but the whenever Munich is remembered I always think of Superga and how hardly anyone knows about it. This article sums it up perfectly: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/rob-atkinson/superga-footballs-forgotten-air-disaster_b_2628422.html The entire all-conquering Torino team, the best in Italy by a mile at that point, were killed and, unlike United, they never recovered. At the time every one of the outfield players for the Italian national side played for Torino. Just imagine that, it's ****ing incredible. Both truly awful disasters.
RIP There but for the grace of God. Manchester United players: Geoff Bent Roger Byrne Eddie Colman Duncan Edwards (survived the crash, but died in hospital 15 days later) Mark Jones David Pegg Tommy Taylor Liam "Billy" Whelan Manchester United staff Walter Crickmer, club secretary Tom Curry, trainer Bert Whalley, chief coach Journalists Alf Clarke, Manchester Evening Chronicle Donny Davies, Manchester Guardian George Follows, Daily Herald Tom Jackson, Manchester Evening News Archie Ledbrooke, Daily Mirror Henry Rose, Daily Express Frank Swift, News of the World (also former England and Manchester City goalkeeper; died on his way to hospital) Eric Thompson, Daily Mail Other passengers Bela Miklos, travel agent Willie Satinoff, supporter, racecourse owner and close friend of Matt Busby
One of the blackest days in the history of football. A tragic loss of life. RIP. You shouldn't single out individuals but Edwards could have gone on to be the greatest English footballer of all time.
I can't remember where I was when JFK was shot or when Churchill died or other landmark events we are told everyone remembers but I have a picture in my mind of being stood at a bus stop waiting to go home after choir practice (for our younger members church choirs were a big thing in those days) when one of my mates told me the news. I didn't wait for the bus but ran home and only believed the news when my dad confirmed it.A sad day for all football fans.
Yes, a very sad day. I was very fortunate to see them play a few times as I was a student at Manchester Tech.
On the night of the tragedy the BBC cancelled a television programme (a play I think) starring Wilfred Pickies - apparently it was set in Manchester and might have included reference to United. Although I never saw the team play "live" my first ever recollection of televised football was the FA Cup Final the previous year when (I think) they lost against Aston Villa and Jackie Blanchflower ended up as the stand in goalie - no subs in those days of course. He immediately became a hero in my eyes but, although he survived at Munich, he wasn't able to play again.
My dad was in the army based at Chelsea Barracks. He went to watch the last game they played at Highbury on Feb 2nd against Arsenal. It ended 4-5 to United. He still says it the best match he has ever seen. Freezing weather muddy pitch the Babes all in white playing some great football. He said Edwards scored first a tank of a man dominating the pitch and spraying passes everywhere, Bobby Charlton scored a couple, he had just started to become a regular. He has still got the programme, or should I say I have, he gave it to me many years ago, something I will always treasure. Apart from my play off final programme!!!!!
