F.A.O. United Fans Munich Anniversary today.

The Muppet · 06-02-2005 9:48pm #1

Just to remind you guys today is the Anniversary of the Muinich air disaster. Spare a thought for the victims. Anyone intersted in the history theres a good website here

The Flowers of Manchester

On one cold and bitter Thursday in Munich, Germany,
Eight great football stalwarts conceded victory,
Eight men who will never play again who met destruction there,
The flowers of British 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 returned back again.

The third time down the runaway disaster followed close,
There was a 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 when 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 lost their lives as it ploughed on through the snow.

Big Duncan he went to, with an injury to his frame,
And Ireland's brave Jack Blanchflower will never play again,
The great Sir Matt Busby lay there, the father of his team
Three long months passed by before he walked 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'll 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

R.I.P

Draupnir · 06-02-2005 10:08pm

My dad grew up next door to Liam "Billy" Whelan so was a mention of him at dinner, hes buried round the corner too. A sad day, that nite changed English football for decades without a ball being kicked.

gandalf · 06-02-2005 10:23pm

Just a warning anyone posts anything in this thread thats offensive and they will be banned from soccer permanently !

The Muppet · 06-02-2005 10:45pm

Draupnir wrote:

My dad grew up next door to Liam "Billy" Whelan so was a mention of him at dinner, hes buried round the corner too.

I didn't know that Draupnir It was before my time but from what I have read about Liam Whelan he was some player.

cournioni · 07-02-2005 10:10am

I was at the game on Saturday and attended the memorial at the side of the East Stand. I couldn't help but notice some of the older fans who I'd say were around at the time it happened were in tears as it was read out. It was very sad... Something which us younger supporters will never understand fully...

BolBill · 07-02-2005 10:33am

gandalf wrote:

Just a warning anyone posts anything in this thread thats offensive and they will be banned from soccer permanently !

Well that goes without saying.

yop · 07-02-2005 11:44am

Ya RIP, could have a been a dominante squad of players, cut down in their prime.

LizardKing · 07-02-2005 1:49pm

Looking at the Crash Aftermath images from that site above , its amazing anyone survived .. t'was a terrible tragic thing to happen especially when you read the ages of the squad members who died. RIP