MANCHESTER, England, Feb 6 - Fifty years ago the
plane carrying Manchester United home from Belgrade crashed
after a refuelling stop at Munich, killing 23 of the 44 people
on board.
Eight United players died as a result of the accident, seven
immediately and the eighth, Duncan Edwards, the jewel in the
crown of the Busby Babes, 15 days later due to his injuries.
Here are some details on the tragedy and its aftermath:
* THE CRASH:
-- On Feb. 6, 1958, a British European Airways twin-propped
Elizabethan plane carrying United's players crashed on take-off
after refuelling at Munich's Riem airport.
Eight players died as well as three United club officials,
eight journalists, two crew members and two other passengers,
including the travel agent who arranged the trip.
-- The aircraft had faced problems taking off and crashed in
the slush and snow on a third attempt.
* THE TEAM:
-- Nicknamed the Busby Babes after manager Matt Busby,
United were champions of England in 1956 and 1957.
They had drawn 3-3 with Red Star Belgrade in Yugoslavia and
qualified for the European Cup semi-finals in their last match
before the disaster.
-- United did not play again for 13 days until they met
Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup fifth round in front of almost
60,000 fans. Bill Foulkes led out a makeshift team that included
fellow Munich survivor Harry Gregg in goal as United won 3-0.
-- Busby, badly injured and twice given the last rites,
recovered and went on to rebuild the team. In 1968 United became
the first English club to win the European Cup. They also won
the FA Cup five years after the crash and the league title in
1965 and 1967.
-- Forward Bobby Charlton, who survived the crash, went on
to become arguably England's most famous footballer and was
later knighted. Two of the survivors, Johnny Berry and Jackie
Blanchflower, never played again.
* THE TRAGEDY:
-- The eight players who died were England's Roger Byrne,
28, the left-back and captain; Eddie Colman, 21; England
centre-forward Tommy Taylor, 25; Mark Jones, 24; David Pegg, 22;
Ireland's Billy Whelan, 22; Geoff Bent, 25; and England's
half-back Duncan Edwards, 21.
-- The tragedy that wiped out the cream of a generation
caused a transformation in the national consciousness -- people
who had no interest in soccer began following the fortunes of
United and neutrals willed them to win.
(Writing by Jijo Jacob and David Cutler, London Editorial
Reference Unit; Editing by Ken Ferris)