History rightfully mourns the 23 lives lost in the Munich air disaster, including the eight ‘Busby Babes’ whose brilliance was extinguished. Yet there were two Manchester United players who survived that would never play again.
Today marks the 68th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, remembered forever as the darkest hour in Manchester United’s history.
The crash cost the lives of 23 people, including eight United players and three officials.
After United drew 3-3 against Red Star Belgrade in 1958, winning the European quarter-final tie 5-4 on aggregate, Sir Matt Busby’s side secured their place in the semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
The Busby Babes reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1957 and 1958
Were the Busby Babes destined to go all the way in the European Cup before the Munich air disaster?
Were the Busby Babes destined to go all the way in the European Cup before the Munich air disaster?
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On this day in 1958, United commenced the return journey, but the team plane crashed in Munich after being refuelled.
United fans gather each year to pay their respects to those who lost their lives and were left injured, with services arranged at Old Trafford as well as the Manchesterplatz, the site of the crash.
Manchester United players who passed away following the crash:
Roger Bryne
Mark Jones
Duncan Edwards
Tommy Taylor
Eddie Colman
Liam Whelan
David Pegg
Geoff Bent
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Without further ado, United In Focus takes a look at two United players who survived the crash but were unable to play again.
Jackie Blanchflower receiving treatment after the Munich air disaster
Photo by Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Feel free to leave your tributes to the Busby Babes and the lives lost in the 1958 Munich Air Disaster
If you were old enough to see the 1958 team, please share your memories / Younger readers, let us know what the team means to you…
Munich tribute
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Jackie Blanchflower
Jackie Blanchflower was the younger brother of Tottenham legend Danny Blanchflower.
Aged 24 at the time of the Munich disaster, Blanchflower was left with horrific injuries to his arms, legs and pelvis, which caused him to retire before his prime.
Blanchflower rarely spoke about the disaster, but he is quoted from 1998, on the 40th anniversary, saying (via ManUtd.com): “There’s a lot of memories. But they’re all bad ones…
“I remember the time, but I hide behind this facade of humour now. Sometimes it… sometimes it helps me forget.”
The Belfast-born half-back made 114 appearances for United and scored 25 goals.
Blanchflower died in September 1998.
Johnny Berry
At 31, Johnny Berry was an experienced player in Busby’s side.
Berry won the three First Division titles as a key figure under Busby, after signing for United from Birmingham City in 1951.
The outside right fractured his skull in the crash, as well as suffering a broken jaw, broken elbow, broken pelvis and several broken ribs.
Before the crash, Berry made 270 appearances for United, scoring 45 goals.
Sadly, the injuries led to Berry retiring, and he passed away in 1994.
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