19th March 2011

The underlying theme of this Blog is the Big Society.

One of the things that contribute to making the Big Society, binding men and women together as co-conspirator's in the great game of life, is football.

Today, after playing badly, (again according to the commentariat) and being reduced to ten men following a Red Card, (was that because Sir Alex was banned from the touchline?)there were no red faces at Old Trafford, just Red Shirts celebrating along with the celebrations in our house because our team won and we edged ahead of Arsenal, who only managed a draw at West Bromwich.

Why does anyone become a football fan and how do you choose a team to support?

On the 6 February 1958, I was walking home from school, I was twelve years of age. I heard the news in fits and starts as it was shouted by people as they went about their business.

The black headlines outside the Newsagents and the paper sellers in the Street also told the story.

As yet there was little hard news and later that evening I had to travel back to Droylsden on a 19 Bus. At each stop the conductor would get off the bus and knock on a door to ask the latest news. A roll call of names was announced as the bus made its sad procession through the heartlands of Manchester United's heartland.

Next to me a a man began to weep.I had never before seen a man shed tears, these were after all the days when 'men were men and women loved them for it'.

It was heart breaking to hear the names called out. Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Tommy Taylor, Billy Whelan all died. Possibly the most iconic name Duncan Edwards, survived the crash, but died in hospital 15 days later.

Other survivors included Bobby, now Sir Bobby Charlton, Bill Foulkes and Harry Gregg the Goal keeper.

My Uncle Harold, was an avid Manchester United supporter, he was devastated by the news and the whole City went into mourning.

Apart from the players, Matt, later Sir Matt Busby, was badly injured, he had the last rites read over him on two occasions and he was in hospital for two months.

Altogether twenty of the forty four people on board the aircraft died in the crash, three survivors including Duncan Edwards dying later of their injuries.

The team was returning from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade, they made a stop in Munich for re-fuelling. It had begun to snow in Munich and the snow had drifted causing a build up of slush on the runway. During take off the aircraft lost velocity and crashed.

One of the many Heroes of that tragic night was Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg who remained by the aircraft, ignoring the risk of explosion and his own safety he helped pull survivors from the wreckage.

At the time of the disaster, United were trying to win a third English league title after an 11 match unbeaten run, and they had won a place in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.

I recall watching the Cup Final, against Bolton Wanderers on TV at my Uncles' house that year.

I remember Nat Lofthouse, the Bolton Centre Forward bundling Harry Gregg, who was holding the ball, into the back of the net and a goal being awarded. I learned some new words from my Uncle that day words that have stood me in good stead whenever I need to express myself forcefully.

For a team to have experienced such a tragedy and loss of gifted players with their inspirational manager unable to manage through a critical period of recovery, yet manage a creditable ninth place in the league and to beat Fulham in a replay to earn a place in the FA Cup Final was a significant achievement.

I date my own support for Manchester United to that day in 1958 when my City became a village and we all shared in the grief and pain and experience of loss.

After two league defeats United have returned to their winning aways at Old Trafford, optimism is renewed as they look to consolidate places in three competitions, at this rate Wembley will start to feel like their other, London, home ground ......