At 3.04pm on the 6th of February 1958, 44 passengers, among them the crew of Manchester United, were on their way from Belgrade, Yugoslavia after a European Cup Victory against the host Red-Star Belgrade. A stopover at Munich for refueling however was something which was normal, but the events after it, was something which had an impact on millions and even me (even if I am just 20 years of age).

After an attempt at taking off on a very snowy runway, the pilot abandoned the take-off due to a suspected technical failure. A second attempt was also made, but it was called off after 40 seconds. At the 3rd attempt, it was reported that a few players such as Duncan Edwards and Mark Jones went and sat at the back of the plane, thinking that was the safest spot at the aircraft. The takeoff however proved fatal as the plane slid the runway and crashed on a nearby fence after which one of the port wing got torn off after it hit a nearby house. The plane had split. Twenty Passengers died on board. 4 later in the hospital.

The ‘Busby Babes’ as the team was called was regarded as one of the best teams ever during the 1950s. Under the manager Sir Matt Busby, it was stated by the witnesses at that time that they played excellent one-touch football which attacking as well as fun to watch. Sir Bobby Charlton even regarded Duncan Edwards, who was one of the attacking players at United, as one “of the best player I’ve ever seen and the best footballer I ever played with”. This is quite an unbelievable quote from a man who has played football with George Best, who is widely recognized as one of the most entertaining players the world has ever seen. This shows hows brilliant Duncan Edwards was, and the impact he had on the players.

At the current age of modern football, youngsters are given a lot of oppurtunities to showcase their talents and become a footballing sensation. The Busby Babes were a team with such a young squad, the average age of the squad was barely just 22 years of age. 8 of the players however died during the crash. 9 players survived. The Manager Sir Matt Busby also survived the crash.

The young team had won two league titles before the disaster, during the 1955-1956 season and the 1956-57 season. European glory awaited them, but United could only achieve this feat at 1968, 10 years after the disaster.

I’m just a young boy, but i remember how i felt seeing the movie ‘United’ which is a movie about the disaster. It brought me tears as I watched the scenes after the crash, and how it felt to see such a big club like Manchester United which is perhaps the greatest club in the world right now, almost fall to their knees after the crash. I remember walking through the Munich Tunnel at Old Trafford and seeing the plaques and memories ascribed in the walls. I also remember the section in the museum where i saw the faces of the busby babes. Its disheartening to think of what that team could have achieved if the crash had not taken place. The team could have won so many trophies and could have brought so much fame to the club. But alas, tragedy had struck and it was all because of one man, a man named Jimmy Murphy who was the assistant manager of United, that the club still moved on. I particularly remember the scene in ‘United’ where Jimmy Murphy sat at the board room with the Manchester United board members after the crash, holding a cigarette and listening to the members talk about the disaster. One of them even said that Manchester United should shut down as a team couldn’t be formed at such a short span of time. Jimmy murphy however looked him in the eye, and said that that people said that Manchester United could never win the league playing kids, but they proved them wrong. He further said that “It’s not about honouring the memories of the lives that were lost, but about showing who we are to the world and show that one would not be bowed by tragedy, because how we are in the future, will be founded by how we behave today”. That scene sent shivers down my spine I tell you. Give it a watch. It made me cry all right.

Manchester United reached the finals of the F.A cup that year but lost the finals to Bolton Wanderers. However, losing it is not what should be of concern. Its all about showing how the team got up from its knees and moved forward. How Manchester United as a club moved forward and did not give up no matter how bad the situation was. It can be debated how successful the Busby Babes could have been, but what should be noted is that the team went on playing football. 10 years later, they won the European Cup with the Holy Trinity of George Best, Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law.

Tragedy happens to our lives all the time, but it is important to keep moving forward. Manchester United as a team has now won over 20 League titles, 12 FA cups and 3 European Cups. The Tragedy of the Busy Babes is a dark spot in the History of Manchester United, but one which is a proof of how much as a team it has evolved. As a famous Manchester United chant goes-

“United’s flag is deepest red,

It shrouded all our Munich dead,

Before their limbs grew stiff and cold,

Their heart’s blood dyed it’s ev’ry fold.

Then raise United’s banner high,

Beneath it’s shade we’ll live and die,

So keep the faith and never fear,

We’ll keep the Red Flag flying here.

We’ll never die, we’ll never die,

We’ll never die, we’ll never die,

We’ll keep the Red flag flying high,

Because Man United will never die.“

The chant shows how the United fans all remember the lives lost at the crash and how the Red flags of Manchester United should always, always keep flying high. The Busby Babes will never be forgotten, and the lives lost in the crash, will always be remembered, forever.