The Flowers of Manchester

This topic contains 15 replies, has 10 voices, and was last updated by Alfie07 Alfie07 6 years, 1 month ago.

Viewing 16 posts - 1 through 16 (of 16 total)
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  • #1595196
    Alfie07
    Alfie07
    Participant
    • :

    Always brings a tear to my eye. R.I.P.

    One cold and bitter Thursday
    in Munich, Germany
    Eight great football stalwarts
    conceded victory
    Eight men will never play again
    who met destruction there
    The flowers of English football
    the flowers of Manchester
    Matt Busby’s boys were flying
    returning from Belgrade
    This great United family
    all masters of their trade
    The pilot of the aircraft
    the skipper Captain Thain
    Three times they tried to take off
    and twice turned back again
    The third time down the runaway
    disaster followed close
    There was slush upon that runaway
    and the aircraft never rose
    It ploughed into the marshy ground
    it broke, it overturned
    And eight of the team were killed
    as the blazing wreckage burned
    Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor
    who were capped for England’s side
    And Ireland’s Billy Whelan
    and England’s Geoff Bent died
    Mark Jones and Eddie Colman
    and David Pegg also
    They all lost their lives
    as it ploughed on through the snow
    Big Duncan he went too
    with an injury to his brain
    And Ireland’s brave Jack Blanchflower
    will never play again
    The great Matt Busby lay there
    the father of his team
    Three long months passed by
    before he saw his team again
    The trainer, coach and secretary
    and a member of the crew
    Also eight sporting journalists
    who with United flew
    and one of them Big Swifty
    who we will ne’er forget
    the finest English ‘keeper
    that ever graced the net
    Oh, England’s finest football team
    its record truly great
    its proud successes mocked
    by a cruel turn of fate
    Eight men will never play again
    who met destruction there
    The flowers of English football
    the flowers of Manchester

    #1595222

    happyhurling
    Participant
    • :

    Yeah, it’s an amazing poem. RIP

    #1595344

    Big K
    Participant
    • :

    The legacy of Munich is that Manchester United became the biggest Club in the world with supporters in every Country, famed for the quality of the football espoused first by the Busby Babes. Matt Busby had a simple philosophy to go out, enjoy your football and entertain. It was his determination to override the Football Association and enter United into the European Cup. Sadly this resulted in the tragedy of Munich but was rewarded ten years later in that unforgettable victory over Benfica in 1968.

    The memories of the Busby Babes, for those of us lucky to have been with them from the start are for the thrilling football they played which became the DNA of the Club – footbal played ‘the United way’.

    They were all great players who played as a team. I have been privileged to have seen some superb footballers in 70 years a supporter but none better than Duncan Edwards. I join with Bobby Charlton who defined Duncan – ‘The best footballer I ever played with’, my definition – ‘the best footballer I have ever seen’. His loss to United and English football was indefinable.

    #1595367

    Manthistle
    Participant
    • :

    A broken plane
    A broken dream
    A broken heart
    A broken team
    No word said
    A silent vow
    We loved you then
    We love you now

    #1595474

    Big K
    Participant
    • :

    Interesting that this topic has generated little interest on here on the 60th anniversay. Facebook is awash with comments. Excellent articles in the papers, particularly the Times. The Radio 5 Live programme was disappointing in my view, although it did highlight the debt we owed to Jimmy Murphy, Matt Busby’s assistant and the young players who were thrown in at the deep end to keep the team afloat.

    #1595477
    Wonderfuel Gas
    Wonderfuel Gas
    Participant
    • :

    I’ve paid my respects quietly Big K, as I always do.

    God bless the babes and their beautiful but tragic legacy.

    #1595494

    happyhurling
    Participant
    • :

    I remember my Dad talking about it, some of his mates knew the Irish lads quite well. Such an unbelievable tragedy and I don’t think my generation can really quite understand how big an impact it had. Perhaps the next generation won’t at all.
    It’s quite poignant reading and talking about it Big K, maybe that’s why not many people have posted on the thread.
    It’s fantastic that we still salute them 60 years on. RIP

    #1595497
    MacGuffin
    MacGuffin
    Participant
    • :

    @Big K – Perhaps its because Alfie chose to start a new topic when there has already been one – albeit it a bit early – in which some of us had already posted.

    #1595550
    redblood
    redblood
    Participant
    • :

    R.I.P.

    #1595558

    Blacky
    Participant
    • :

    RIP the babes and all the other victims of that tragic day.
    Speak to anyone of a certain age who was around at that time and they will tell you just how great that team could have been had it had the chance to reach its full potential.Our honours board would have several more league titles and at least a couple of European cups engraved upon it had it not been for those awful events.

    #1595607

    Manthistle
    Participant
    • :

    No doubt blacky. Duncan Edwards would have lifted the World Cup in 66 too, in my opinion.

    #1595686
    gjblues
    gjblues
    Participant
    • :

    Even as a City fan and born a number of years after the tragedy, that song, ‘Flowers of Manchester’ almost brings a tear to my eye.
    I listened to the radio documentary on R5 Live last night – a very poignant compilation of recollections from people in the aftermath.
    RIP to all that lost their lives that fateful day.

    #1595733
    Wonderfuel Gas
    Wonderfuel Gas
    Participant
    • :

    Sounds like Home Farm FC put on a very moving tribute to Liam Whelan last night.

    They reckon over 1000 went over to Munich for the service in Manchesterplatz, a credit to the club. I did have to laugh at “Manchester United fan representative Tony O Neill led the singing of songs alomgside the mayor of Munich”

    Come a long way has Tony.

    #1595946
    theMartial Art
    theMartial Art
    Spectator
    • :

    The news is still shocking, sixty years on. They will never be forgotten. When i think what that team would have achieved had that not have happened. The players of today are not fit to lace the Busby Babes’ boots. #FlowersOfManchester

    #1596102
    Wonderfuel Gas
    Wonderfuel Gas
    Participant
    • :

    Been emailed this a few times now so thought I’d share it…rare film footage of the Busby Babes playing in colour.it is from the North West Film Archive.

    I thought Big K particularly might appreciate it. Love that that Real Madrid signed an emergency left back after watching David Pegg play. Also, what the hell was that penalty awarded for?

    #1596119
    Alfie07
    Alfie07
    Participant
    • :

    Thanks for posting that WG. Great to see some more footage of that team.

    That penalty! Anyone’s what that was for!

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