Sir Bobby Charlton has written a beautifully poignant letter to the Manchester United players on the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.
Eight of Matt Busby’s babes tragically lost their lives on February 6, 1958 when their plane crashed on the ice-bound runway of Munich-Riem Airport.
As Sir Bobby prepares to once again mourn his pals, the 80-year-old felt compelled to send a personal note to today’s players. They now wear the famous red shirts, as did Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Billy Whelan, who all died in the tragedy.
Charlton began by saying how “words cannot describe the devastating effect that this (disaster) had on the football club and the lives of those affected”.
And he touched on how the tragedy “was life-changing for so many of my good friends and colleagues”.
Proudly, he also remembered how “this great football club, which you are part of, has risen from its darkest hour in a way like no other”.
His letter will have left Jose Mourinho’s Class of 2018 in no doubt how blessed they should feel to be following in the footsteps of Busby’s Babes.
They had been flying back from a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade on that snowy February day when they landed at Munich to refuel.
Captain James Thain then aborted two take-offs. When he tried a third time – at 3.03pm – disaster struck.
Twenty-three of the 44 people on British European Airways Flight 609 were either killed or later succumbed to their injuries.
Eight newspaper journalists – Alf Clarke, Donny Davies, George Follows, Tom Jackson, Archie Ledbrooke, Henry Rose, Frank Swift and Eric Thompson – also perished.
As did club officials Walter Crickmer, Tom Curry and Bert Whalley, crew members Captain Ken Rayment and Tom Cable, travel agent Bela Miklos and United fan Willie Satinoff.
Two players – Jackie Blanchflower and Johnny Berry – were so badly injured that they never played football again.
Others, like Kenny Morgans and Ray Wood, played just a few more games for United before leaving Old Trafford.
Charlton was terribly shaken and suffered a gashed head – but he survived.
Defender Bill Foulkes was also able to resume his career and, a decade later, he played alongside Charlton as Busby’s United became the first English club to win the European Cup, with a 4-1 victory over Benfica at an emotionally charged Wembley.
Sir Bobby is now one of just two living survivors.
The other, goalkeeper Harry Gregg, had bravely rushed back into the burning plane to carry the pregnant wife of a Yugoslavian diplomat to safety.
The 85-year-old will travel from his home in Northern Ireland on Tuesday to remember his fallen comrades at United’s annual remembrance service.
Charlton added: “Seeing supporters and players unite every year to pay their respects is such a poignant moment and one that shows the class of this club.”
Sir Bobby Charlton's letter in full
I wanted to take the time to write to you as we approach the significant date of 6th February, in which Manchester United and the footballing world remembers and respects the Munich Air Disaster, which tragically affected this great club 60 years ago.
Whilst I’m sure you have read and watched documentaries on this truly awful disaster, words cannot describe the devastating effect that this had on the football club and the lives of those affected.
Whether on board the plane that evening, or in the aftermath for those and their families and friends, this disaster was life-changing for so many of my good friends and colleagues.
On that night in 1958, we lost some of the greatest players and friends that I have made through football, along with a number of staff and journalists on board that flight, while the brave Duncan Edwards passed away days later, making the total of 23 lives lost from the accident.
The devastating effect still lives on and this great football club, which you are part of, has risen from its darkest hour in a way like no other.
From loaning players from Bishop Auckland football club to ensure fixtures could be played, to players retiring to take up new key roles within the club, the great Manchester United pulled through and went on to lift silverware under Sir Matt Busby following this tragedy.
Now, as the time comes to once again remember and pay respects to those victims and survivors of this disaster, I wanted to thank you in advance for the role which you and your team-mates will play in the upcoming tributes.
Seeing supporters and players unite every year to pay their respects is such a poignant moment and one that really shows the class of this club and everybody involved and I thank you once again for the part you will play against Huddersfield Town in February, days before the anniversary on Tuesday.