Remembering the 8 players of Manchester United killed in Munich's air catastrophe

At 3.04 pm on February 6, 1958, the plane holding the Manchester United team from a European Cup tie against the Red Star Belgrade crashed from the bottom of a runway after a routine fuel stop in Munich, Germany.

The plane had been tried twice, but failed to be removed in snowy and icy conditions. The passengers left and returned to the terminal building. At that point the united players even discussed leaving for home, but the plane was soon ready to board it again.

There was a sense of concern as a third attempt began the fate of elevation and then it was that tragedy. Slush on the runway meant that the plane failed to collect enough speed and slide through the perimeter of the airport and in a house on the other side of a road.

Eight players lost their lives as a result, like trainer Bert Whalley and Tom Curry, club secretary Walter Crickmer and eight journalists – Alf Clarke, Donny Davies, George Folrows, Tom Jackson, Archie Ledbrooke, Henry Rose, Eric Thompson and former Manchester City goalkeeper Frank Swift.

Ken Rayment captain, crew member Tom Cable, travel agent Bela Miklos and supporter Willie Satinoff also lost their lives.

Johnny Berry and Jackie Blanchflower survived but were injured so badly that they never played football, while legendary manager Matt Busby spent more than two months in hospital in Germany and gave the last rites twice before making a recovery.

The team had dominated English football in the previous two seasons, clinking two first division titles and had been trailblazers for English clubs in European competition.

Busby blamed himself for the tragedy and considered the departure as he had personally opposed the football association and pushed the club to compete abroad. Eventually he was essentially convinced to remain on top, not to give up the European dream, and to honor the fallen.

A new team got up from Ashes, but those who lost in Munich will be remembered forever.

Less well known among tragic victims, Geoff Bent was born and grew up in nearby Salford. He never played for another club, but, at the age of before the substitutes, had made only 12 first team appearances for United when he was killed in Munich at the age of 25.

The full defender joined Old Trafford Club as a student after leaving school in 1948, returning a professional three years later. Bent made his high debut in the League match against Burnley in 1954, but spent most of the time in United playing a second enigma for real estate captain Roger Byrne.

Known as a harsh striker, Bent had passed the months that led to his premature death by feeding a broken fo and, recently recently, had made the trip with the team as an additional cover, which was eventually proven to be unnecessary.

Mark Jones was originally from Yorkshire, but joined United as a student about his 15th birthday in 1948 and made his professional debut just over two years later.

Jones had to wait a little longer for his real chance, though, serving as a skilled mind in the center of Captain Allenby Chilton after the club won a first league title in more than 40 years in 1952 .

By 1955, the 'hard-as-thundo' defender was a regular team and hardly lost a game while United stamped in the league titles in 1956 and 1957. At the time of his death Jones was only 24 years old, But he had already made 120 appearances in all competitions and was knocking on the door of the England squad.

Another Yorkshireman, David Pegg, was snapped by Matt Busby and United when he left school in 1950. At that time he had already been called from England to school level and was one of the most sought after talents in the country.

He made his united debut at the age of tender 17 against Middlesbrough in 1952 and immediately became regular for the rest of the season. A left -wing and unpredictable wing, Pegg was later firmly set to the first team at the beginning of the 1955/56 season and would continue to play a key role in the winning campaigns of successive title.

It began 1957/58 in similar form. However, at the time of Pegg's collision he had lost his place in the team in Albert Scanlon and only traveled to the game to Yugoslavia as a reserve. He was 22 when he died.

One of the brilliant characters in the team, Eddie Colman was one of Unitedthe safest and most extrovert individuals, despite his relative youth. Half of the weak wing was born in Salford in 1936 and captured the new club team in Glory at the FA Youth Cup in 1955.

Colman made his first team debut a few months later, while still in his teens, and the player nicknamed 'Snake-Hips' quickly made his blouse No.4 and never returned.

He was agile in the ball, but had a delightful and patient side for his game, and his efforts were essential for back-back titles in 1956 and 1957. Celebrating his 21st birthday three Months ago, Colman was The youngest player to lose in Munich, but had already played more than 100 times for United.

United noticed a teenager Liam Whelan playing for the house farm in Dublin in 1953 and quickly signed it. A clinic ahead, he was polished and nice to such a young player and had achieved 52 goals in less than 100 appearances until his death.

Normally a regular team, at the beginning of the 1957/58 season, the place of whelan in the squad, was starting to threaten a young Bobby Charlton and despite traveling he did not play in the game in Belgrade as a result.

The new Irish international was known to be an nervous leaflet and before boarding the plane in Germany for the latest fatal times, it was heard, “If this is the time, then I'm ready.” He was only 22 years old.

Tommy Taylor

It was still considered one of United's biggest strikers, Tommy Taylor was one of the few players in the team Matt Busby had bought from another professional club. The famous manager showed 29,999 pounds to buy the 21-year-old Center ahead from Barnsley in 1953, a record club fee at the time.

Taylor was an immediate hit, though he had endured a harsh education and was in fact forced to leave football briefly during his early teens, while he worked in a collection in his hometown of Yorkshire.

He noticed for his speed, powerful intent and excellent air ability, and found the net as a scary. Taylor was United's top scorer during three of the only four full seasons in Old Trafford, scoring 128 times in total. He also boasts a record in England with 16 goals in 19 hats. He was 26 when he died.

Roger Byrne

The left of a complete tilt, Roger Byrne was the great captain of United and at the age of 28 was at the height of his powers when he was killed in Munich. A versatile player who demonstrated an extraordinary work ethic and football intelligence, Byrne is widely warned as the first 'Busby Babe'.

He joined the rows of the youth of United in 1949 at the age of 20 of the United League triumphs in the 1950s.

Byrne, like Taylor, was an international set player and is often speculated to have the duo, along with Duncan Edvard, survived, England could have challenged for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden a few months later.

Often described as the biggest talent of English football, Duncan Edvard was already a star at the age of 16, and Bobby Charlton recalled his former teammate as “the only player who ever made me feel inferior”.

Matt Busby first became aware of Edvard while he was playing for his team team in Dudley and he arrived at Old Trafford as a pupil in 1952. Within a year he had become the youngest person ever played in the flight the highest English football.

The powerful but resourceful player was half back by nature, but he was just as comfortable in almost every position on the field and was also soon a founded international of England. At the time of his death at the age of 21Edvard had already played about 200 total matches for United, scoring 21 goals and had 18 hats for his country.

Of the eight players who lost their lives as a result of the disaster, Edvard was the only one to survive the clash itself. But he was unable to recover from numerous serious injuries and died in hospital in Germany 15 days later.

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