The darkest day: Feb 6th 1958

The youngest of young
they played just like men
they all captured smiles
time and again
they conquered the land
the nation, their hearts
they went to belgrade
and beat the red star.

returning as heroes
they boarded the plane
stopping in munich
to fuel up again
they tried to take off
once, twice, three
the darkness became
all they could see.

the flames of the reckage
the screams and the fear
confusion and panic
a nation in tears
how could this happen?
design? perhaps
disaster had beaten
eight fine young chaps

The nation it mourned
the loss of its great
just kids so they said
the unfotunate eight
coleman, byrne, bent,
edwards and pegg,
whealan, jones and taylor.
the names of the dead.

we'd never forget
that terrible day
the greatness we lost
in memory stay
united re-built
we honour the eight
the truly magnificant
the magic, the great.

Rest in Peace!

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...

I am speechless. Rest in peace!

Respect! We will never walk alone!

^^ Absolute class from Liverpool FC. At the end of the day, they are a great club just like United and both have been touched by footballing tragedies. respect.

R.I.P to all those who perished in Munich on that fateful day.

Class act from Liverpool!

YNWA