Little Book of Manchester United (13 page)

*Busby’s final signing, McIlroy in action for United, September 1978.

He appeared in three FA Cup Finals for United and later collected a winner’s medal when United defeated Liverpool at Wembley in 1977. In October 1981, he was dropped from the first team to make way for newly-signed Bryan Robson but he responded by scoring a hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers. McIlroy made more than 400 appearances for United before being sold to Stoke City in 1982. He moved back to Manchester to join City three years later after a very short spell at Bury.

McIlroy clocked up 88 caps for Northern Ireland before he retired from playing. He subsequently managed several English football teams and the national team, gaining most success with Macclesfield Town. He is currently the manager of Football League Two side Morecambe.

Megastore

In the East Stand at old Trafford lies the Megastore. Spread over a monumental 18,000 square feet, the Megastore boasts that it is the biggest shop devoted to football to be found. There are some incredible interactive features including TV screens showing the team in action to a huge screen where promotional clips from any of the videos on sale can be watched.

*The Manchester United Football Club Megastore.

On each pillar throughout the store famous players who wore the number seven are represented by a huge picture, including Bryan Robson, Steve Coppell and Eric Cantona – obviously, there are more recent holders such as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Megastore is open every day, but hours are limited on matchdays. The Megastore sells virtually anything you can think of from mugs, scarves, away shirts, Nike training and leisurewear to women’s clothes and replica shirts.

Meredith

A giant of the game during the late 1890s and early 1900s, Billy Meredith joined United in 1906. As a slightly framed man, the Welshman, born 30 July 1874 and nicknamed ‘Old Skinny’, did not give the appearance of a footballer. However, his skills and his ability on the pitch gave him celebrity status long before being a celebrity was common.

He was renowned for playing with a toothpick sticking out of his mouth which he said helped him to concentrate – in fact, a newspaper cutting from 1909 claimed he was unable to play without it. Before joining United, Meredith was suspended in 1905 during his time at Manchester City for allegedly bribing an Aston Villa player. Meredith denied the charge but other financial irregularities were then found at Hyde Road and the FA dismissed several directors and banned several players for 12 months.

*Billy Meredith in action during the first ever FA Charity Shield match against Queens Park Rangers in 1908.

Although his ban was quashed in December 1906, Meredith had already been transferred to United and he played an instrumental part in turning them into one of the top clubs of the time. United won the League Championship in 1908 and 1911. In 1907, the Players’ Union was formed. Meredith and other teammates were under great pressure from the FA to disassociate themselves from the newly-formed body, but Meredith refused to conform and continued his association by joining several other United players and training independently for the 1909-10 season. They were known as ‘The Outcasts’. Eventually the FA relented and an agreement was reached allowing the Union to be acknowledged. For Billy Meredith, this was one of his finest victories.

At the grand age of 47, Meredith retired from United after becoming increasingly disenchanted with the club. He resigned for Manchester City as player and coach for a further three years, appearing in the FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle United at the age of 49.

Mitten

Born in Burma on 17 January 1921, Charlie Mitten joined United in 1936 and signed professional two years later, but he was to be with the club for nearly ten years before he made his full League debut. World War II began almost as soon as he signed and he worked as an RAF physical training instructor around Britain’s aerodromes, but he was able to keep up his football and made guest appearances for clubs such as Chelsea and Tranmere Rovers.

*Mitten scores despite the best efforts of Wolves goalkeeper Bert Williams, March 1949.

In 1946, he made his debut for United under the guidance of Matt Busby, newly installed as manager. Occupying the left-wing position, Mitten was a pillar around whom Busby built his classic postwar side. Mitten’s speed and shooting ability were an essential ingredient to success in the FA Cup triumph of 1948 and the following season his continued skill contributed to 23 goals in League and Cup games for the club.

In 1950 while touring in the US and Canada, several United players were approached by Colombian clubs, offering lucrative contracts. Mitten decided to go, and since Colombia was not a member of FIFA he was able to join Santa Fe FC, but within a year, his new nation had joined FIFA and he was obliged to return to an unforgiving Matt Busby. His decision cost him £250 and a six month suspension, whereupon he was transferred to Fulham for £20,000.

Munich Air Disaster

The United players were on their way home from a European Cup quarter-final against Red Star Belgrade. On 6 February 1958, their plane stopped at Munich airport to refuel, a routine procedure that should have taken no longer than 20 minutes. What was to follow cost the lives of 21 people, including eight United players and three members of staff along with journalists, supporters and associates.

After a night of celebrations following the match in Belgrade, the Busby Babes boarded the Elizabethan class AS 57, ‘The Lord Burghley’, bound for home. The chartered plane was piloted by Captain James Thain and his friend and co-pilot Captain Kenneth Rayment. Captain Rayment was scheduled to pilot the plane even though Captain Thain was in command. As the plane reached Munich airport for the scheduled stop the passengers noticed it was snowing. As refuelling was not going to take long the passengers remained on board and at 2.31 pm with full tanks, Flight 609 received clearance to take off.

The plane picked up speed but the pilots could hear an odd note from the engines and take-off was aborted after 40 seconds. Both pilots agreed that the noise they heard was the result of ‘boost-surging’, caused by rich fuel making the engines over-accelerate. This was not uncommon in this type of plane and the pilots saw no reason for alarm. To compensate, the pilots let the throttle out more slowly and again attempted take off. The problem remained and the pilots decided to taxi back to the terminal and discuss what to do. The passengers were informed of a technical fault and asked to disembark.

While several passengers discussed the possibility of travelling overland or taking the Hook of Holland sea route, Duncan Edwards sent his landlady a telegram stating that he would be home the following day. He was wrong in his assumption that their flight was cancelled and the passengers were recalled. After consultation, the two captains had decided against an overnight stay in Munich in order to retune the engines and as the problem seemed confined to the port engine and the plane was able to take off with a single engine they were satisfied it was possible to leave the ground safely.

On its third attempt to leave the runway many of the passengers were frightened. Johnny Berry actually voiced his concern that they were all about to be killed, with devout Catholic Liam Whelan answering that he was ready to die. Just as the plane was about to take off it burst off the runway at high speed, skidding through a fence before it shot off across a road. After colliding with a house, which tore off a wing, the cockpit hit a tree while the body of the plane hit a hut full of tyres and fuel, causing the plane to explode with flames.

*An official from British European Airways’ Munich office with firemen beside the wreckage of the BEA Elizabethan airliner.

Harry Gregg became a hero by freeing himself from the wreckage and then rescuing a crying baby and her mother who had suffered a fractured skull and legs. He dragged Dennis Viollet and Bobby Charlton clear. By this time, Matt Busby was on the ground, while Jackie Blanchflower was lying badly injured. The stewardess was paralysed with shock. At last cars and trucks arrived at the crash scene. Passengers were rushed to the Rechts der Isar hospital in Munich. Matt Busby was to stay in hospital for 71 days, twice having the last rites administered, before being allowed home to Manchester and Jimmy Murphy was left to pick up the pieces.

The eight players who died were: Geoff Bent, full-back (25); Roger Byrne, full-back (28); Eddie Colman, half-back (21); Duncan Edwards, half-back (22) – he survived for 15 days after the crash; Mark Jones, half-back (24); David Pegg, forward (22); Tommy Taylor, forward, (26) and Liam Whelan, forward (22), while the members of staff who perished include: Walter Crickmer, club secretary; Tom Curry, trainer and Bert Whalley, coach.