Munich 58

The 1957/58 season will always hold extremely sad memories and a place in the heart of every Manchester United fan, young or old.

The Busby Babes were nowhere nearing their full potential but were already among the best sides in England and Europe. The early stages in the European Cup saw United cruise past both Shamrock Rovers and Dukla Prague. At home, despite losing seven games, they were still on course for a hat trick of league titles.

The quarter final of the European Cup saw United drawn against Red Star Belgrade. The first leg was at Old trafford and United won 2-1, giving them confidence for the trip to Belgrade.

A hard fought 3-3 draw allowed United to progress 5-4 on aggregate but the return journey was to see the end of potentially the greatest ever English side.

On February 6th, 1958 the travelling party made a refueling stop at Munich Airport in Germany. The weather that afternoon was terrible, with snow swirling thickly across the runway. Two take off attempts had to be abandoned and on the third attempt something went terribly wrong. The BEA Elizabethan aircraft overshot the runway and ploughed into some buildings, bursting into flames as the plane came to rest.

23 of the 43 on board perished in the wreckage. Matt Busby and Duncan Edwards were alive but in critical condition when pulled from the plane. Busby was given his last rites in hospital but would not die and eventually he pulled through. He was not informed of the deaths of several of his young players until his life was safe.

Duncan Edwards, only 21, clung on to life for 16 days before finally slipping away, such was his will to live.

The heart had been torn out of Manchester United, so many young, gifted players, so many sons, partners and husbands had been taken away in one go by a tragedy that should not have been allowed to occur.

In Manchester, across England and across Europe the footballing world mourned. The full list of the players lost in the tragedy is: Liam Whelan, Duncan Edwards, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Geoff Bent.

Three members of United's backroom staff also perished; Walter Crickmer, so long a symbol of what Manchester United stood for; Tom Curry; and Bert Whalley, the coach responsible for developing the Busby Babes.

Eight journalists, two crew members and two passengers also lost their lives.

The decision was taken to continue the season in honour of the dead and of those on the flight that day, only Harry Gregg and Bill Foulkes were fit enough to turn out for the next match, an FA Cup tie with Sheffield Wednesday.

United's hastily assembled team won 3-0 and the programme that day had a message from United chairman Mr Hardman:

Although we mourn our dead and grieve for our wounded, we believe that the great days are not done for us. The sympathy and encouragement of the football world and particularly of our supporters will justify and inspire us. The road back may be long and hard but with the memories of those who died at Munich, of their stirring achievements and wonderful sportsmanship ever with us, Manchester United will rise again.

United won only one of their remaining 14 league games that season, drawing five, and finished ninth. They did make the final of the FA Cup, losing to Bolton Wanderers after another disputable goal from Nat Lofthouse. He bundled the ball and Gregg oper the goal line for the winner.

The club crashed out of the European Cup in the following round, losing 5-2 on aggregate to Inter Milan. The spirit was their but the losses incurred at Munich were too much.

Quite what Manchester United would have achieved had the tragedy not occurred can only be guessed at, but most would agree that the trophy room at Old Trafford would be a LOT fuller than it is now.

Highbury Classic

The skill, heart and passion the Busby Babes had was best illustrated in the last League match before the team flew out to Belgrade, against Arsenal at Highbury.

The side that day had Harry Gregg, a recent purchase, in goal, Bill Foulkes and captain Roger Byrne at fullback and halfbacks of Eddie Colman, Mark Jones and Duncan Edwards. The frontline consisted of Ken Morgans, Bobby CHarlton, Tommy Taylor, Dennis Viollet and Albert Scanlon.

Liam Whelan, Johnny Berry and David Pegg were all rested ahead of the match in Belgrade.

The match kicked off and within ten minutes United led. Viollet laid the ball of to Edwards and he hit one of his typical rocket-like shots. Jack Kelsey, the Arsenal keeper had no chance with it as it flew past him.

Arsenal were stung and came back at United, forcing Gregg into a superb save. His clearance was put out wide to Scanlon on the left. He took the ball the full length of the pitch before crossing in to the Arsenal area. Charlton met the cross with a thunderous shot and United led 2-0.

United scored again before the halftime break, Scanlon again finding space down the left hand side before crossing in. This time his centre found Morgans, who chipped the ball back into the penalty area for Tommy Taylor to notch his 111th goal for United.

The second half kicked off and for 15 minutes it looked like there would be no more goals. But then Arsenal grabbed themselves a lifeline through David Herd, later to be a United player.

United faltered and Arsenal managed to equalise with two goals in as many minutes. First Jimmy Bloomfield scored from a knock down by Vic Groves. Bloomfield grabbed his second, meeting a cross from Nutt with a full length divind header to put the ball past Gregg.

Such was the spirit, will to win and attacking mentality instilled the Babes by Busby, United did not falter or attempt to settle for a draw. They pushed on in search of a winner and their ambition was rewarded when Scanlon and Charlton combined to set up Dennis Viollet to take United back inot the lead.

But still the Babes were not finished. Minutes later Eddie 'Snake Hips' Colman found Morgans on the right. Morgans hit an accurate pass to Taylor and he made no mistake, scoring United's fifth and his second.

That was to be Taylor's last ever goal.

Arsenal managed to claw another one back through Tapsfott but that was the last goal and United ran out 5-4 winners.

Every single fan packed into Highbury that day - both United and Gunners fans - knew they had seen something special that day. They knew they had seen what could potentially become one of the greatest sides the world had seen, let alone England. As the players collapsed into each others arms, exhausted but elated, the fans stood and showed their respect to such an exciting, inventive and attacking side.

Make no mistake, Arsenal played their part that day. They matched United in almost every department but fell short when it came to desire, passion and sheer bloodymindedness!

That game now stands as testament to the Busby Babes. It is their epitaph. And a fitting one it is a fitting one.