The Munich Air Crash: Tribute to the dead

[unitedfan]

The Munich air disaster on 6 February 1958 claimed the lives of 23 passengers and crew. Here, ManUtd.com remembers the eight United players and three officials who died, through the words of those who knew them best.

Roger Byrne - aged 28, full-back. 277 appearances, 19 goals, 33 England caps.

"An aristocratic footballer, majestic in his movement. Roger was so fast but at the same time he controlled his movement beautifully, like Nureyev." - Sir Matt Busby

Geoff Bent - aged 25, full-back. 12 appearances.

"When Geoff matured and reached his twenties there were many clubs after him but he stayed loyal. He could look after himself and was a great tackler. Roger Byrne was a consistent player and very brave, that was the reason Geoff got so few games, but he was good enough to hold a regular place in any team." - Jimmy Murphy

Eddie Colman - aged 21, half-back. 107 appearances, 2 goals.

"Eddie was a chirpy lad and a terrific player. He pushed the ball - never kicked it - and he jinked past players. He was known for his swivel hips." - Wilf McGuinness

David Pegg - aged 22, forward, 148 appearances, 28 goals, 1 England cap.

"David would have been a great asset to any team because he was a natural, left-flank player. David was very, very clever. Our best left-winger by a mile." - Sir Matt Busby

Mark Jones - aged 24, half-back, 120 appearances, 1 goal.

"Yorkshireman Mark was a really lovely fellow, but my word he was a tough

nut, and nobody took any liberties with him on or off the field." - Bill Foulkes

Duncan Edwards - aged 21, half-back, 175 apps., 21 goals, 18 England caps, 5 goals.

"When I used to hear Muhammad Ali proclaim to the world he was the greatest, I used to smile. The greatest of them all was a footballer named Duncan Edwards." - Jimmy Murphy

"The only player who ever made me feel inferior." - Sir Bobby Charlton

Tommy Taylor - aged 26, forward, 189 apps., 128 goals, 19 England caps, 16 goals

"I rate him as one of the all-time, best centre-forwards in the game, and he had yet to realise all his potential. He was a typically bluff Yorkshireman in many ways, often acting the clown, and a great team man." - Bill Foulkes

Liam 'Billy' Whelan - aged 22, forward, 96 apps., 52 goals, 4 Republic of Ireland caps

"Billy was a magician with a ball at his feet. I really don't think he knew how good he was and how much better he could have become. A world-class forward. There is no doubt about that. His vision and passing was sheer class." - Albert Scanlon

Walter Crickmer, club secretary / Tom Curry, trainer / Bert Whalley, coach

"Walter Crickmer always reminded me of a little dynamo, nothing was too much trouble. Tom Curry, the trainer, was someone we looked up to like a father. And Bert Whalley was certainly a tremendous help to me when I was a part-timer." - Bill Foulkes

From NEWS AND FEATURES: The men we lost at Munich - Manchester United Official Web Site

I encourage you to visit the United site and pay respects to the dead.

Peace and rest to all who suffered from the Munich air crash

[bandini]

I wish we could have a moment's silence on the forum in memory. This was a terrible tragedy that should be remembered forever. They were talking at the last game about Sir Bobby Robson surviving the tragedy. The day changed history.

[Blaugrana]

Duncan Edwards - aged 21, half-back, 175 apps., 21 goals, 18 England caps, 5 goals.

175 matches at such a young age. Amazing

Let's hope a tragedy like this never happens again. Like Bandini said, it changed history

[dukeofdavinci]

I wish we could have a moment's silence on the forum in memory. This was a terrible tragedy that should be remembered forever. They were talking at the last game about Sir Bobby Robson surviving the tragedy. The day changed history.

agreed, i had a few hours of silent from internet activities.....after that i just sat the whole day yesterday watching mutv.....man it was sad....but "we willl never forget"....

[kyan]

I was watching Football Focus last Saturday and Bobby Charlton was talking about the crash.

It really sent shivers down my spine, such a tragedy happening is difficult enough to think about, but to think of what the survivors saw, and felt, unimaginable.

I won't forget the image of Bobby Charlton talking about the crash like that, almost in tears, saying things like "How come them, but not me? Was it luck, maybe...".

This especially is chilling:

"There was a young lad in my hospital room with a newspaper. His English wasn’t great, but as I went through the list of players in my mind, he told me if they were alive or dead."

The amount of pain and loss... just a real tragedy all round.

[Werdna]

Shame we sometimes tend to remember the dead more than the living...