carlyluvsunited
06-02-2008, 02:30 PM
EDWARDS A LASTING SYMBOL OF UNITED'S MUNICH ANGUISH
06 February 2008
Fifty years ago today, with a European Cup semi-final place earned, Manchester
United's flight crashed after refuelling at Munich airport.
Among those remembering a great team, Sir Bobby Charlton commands most
attention.
"Duncan Edwards has always been in my mind as the best player I ever played
with or against," said Charlton, one of the survivors of the disaster.
Edwards was only 21 when he died. He battled against crippling injuries for a
fortnight after the crash and doctors at the Rechts der Isar hospital marvelled at
his strength and courage.
He was already an international, first capped when he was 18, and regarded as a
key member of the England side. Matt Busby, later Sir Matt, gave Edwards his
First Division debut at 16.
After Munich, Charlton's career was hardly played in the shadows. He won the
World Cup with England, the European Cup, the League and the FA Cup with
United.
He ended with 106 caps and 754 appearances for the club. In other words, he
was numbered with the best of his time, Bobby Moore, Gordon Banks, Ray
Wilson, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Ball for England, George Best, Denis Law, Pat
Crerand for United.
For him, there is no argument. Edwards is top of the pile.
There is a familiar photograph of United lining up before the last game they
played together, against Red Star in Belgrade. Edwards stands out for his
physique and he was capable of dominating games.
An admiring coach once said of Zinedine Zidane: "He has the strength of a
rhinoceros and the feet of a dancer." That could have applied to Edwards
because, from wing-half, he did the lot, tackled, passed over any distance,
scored thunderous goals as opponents bounced off him.
Of the eight players who died at Munich, three were England certainties for the
1958 World Cup in Sweden, Edwards, Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor.
Byrne led United and played 33 consecutive games as England's left-back, a likely
successor to Billy Wright as captain. He was quick but calm, a mature defender
who steadied those around him.
Taylor, signed from Barnsley, was an elegant centre-forward, especially strong in
the air. He scored 128 goals in 189 appearances for United, 16 in 19 for England.
All had more to give and there were players for a future that did not come. Left
-winger David Pegg had his first cap and Eddie Colman, a perky wing-half from
Salford, was surely destined to play for England.
Like Edwards, Colman was 21 when he died. Liam Whelan, a lovely dribbler from
Dublin, solid centre-half Mark Jones and reserve defender Geoff Bent also
perished at Munich, along with eight journalists, three club officials and four
others.
I saw this United five times and although Busby recovered from severe injuries to
forge the European Cup winners of 1968, this was his greatest creation.
They were convincing Champions in 1956, 11 points ahead of Blackpool and
Wolverhampton Wanderers, and 1957, with an eight-point margin over
Tottenham Hotspur and Preston North End.
Busby disliked the Babes tag but most of his team emerged as juniors. He bought
occasionally - Taylor, Johnny Berry, goalkeeper Harry Gregg - but the production
line was unequalled.
With such talent, they were set to dominate English and, probably, European
football. www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk
Click below to join manutdtalk.com forums to read and
discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php
06 February 2008
Fifty years ago today, with a European Cup semi-final place earned, Manchester
United's flight crashed after refuelling at Munich airport.
Among those remembering a great team, Sir Bobby Charlton commands most
attention.
"Duncan Edwards has always been in my mind as the best player I ever played
with or against," said Charlton, one of the survivors of the disaster.
Edwards was only 21 when he died. He battled against crippling injuries for a
fortnight after the crash and doctors at the Rechts der Isar hospital marvelled at
his strength and courage.
He was already an international, first capped when he was 18, and regarded as a
key member of the England side. Matt Busby, later Sir Matt, gave Edwards his
First Division debut at 16.
After Munich, Charlton's career was hardly played in the shadows. He won the
World Cup with England, the European Cup, the League and the FA Cup with
United.
He ended with 106 caps and 754 appearances for the club. In other words, he
was numbered with the best of his time, Bobby Moore, Gordon Banks, Ray
Wilson, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Ball for England, George Best, Denis Law, Pat
Crerand for United.
For him, there is no argument. Edwards is top of the pile.
There is a familiar photograph of United lining up before the last game they
played together, against Red Star in Belgrade. Edwards stands out for his
physique and he was capable of dominating games.
An admiring coach once said of Zinedine Zidane: "He has the strength of a
rhinoceros and the feet of a dancer." That could have applied to Edwards
because, from wing-half, he did the lot, tackled, passed over any distance,
scored thunderous goals as opponents bounced off him.
Of the eight players who died at Munich, three were England certainties for the
1958 World Cup in Sweden, Edwards, Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor.
Byrne led United and played 33 consecutive games as England's left-back, a likely
successor to Billy Wright as captain. He was quick but calm, a mature defender
who steadied those around him.
Taylor, signed from Barnsley, was an elegant centre-forward, especially strong in
the air. He scored 128 goals in 189 appearances for United, 16 in 19 for England.
All had more to give and there were players for a future that did not come. Left
-winger David Pegg had his first cap and Eddie Colman, a perky wing-half from
Salford, was surely destined to play for England.
Like Edwards, Colman was 21 when he died. Liam Whelan, a lovely dribbler from
Dublin, solid centre-half Mark Jones and reserve defender Geoff Bent also
perished at Munich, along with eight journalists, three club officials and four
others.
I saw this United five times and although Busby recovered from severe injuries to
forge the European Cup winners of 1968, this was his greatest creation.
They were convincing Champions in 1956, 11 points ahead of Blackpool and
Wolverhampton Wanderers, and 1957, with an eight-point margin over
Tottenham Hotspur and Preston North End.
Busby disliked the Babes tag but most of his team emerged as juniors. He bought
occasionally - Taylor, Johnny Berry, goalkeeper Harry Gregg - but the production
line was unequalled.
With such talent, they were set to dominate English and, probably, European
football. www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk
Click below to join manutdtalk.com forums to read and
discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php