The Flowers of Manchester

From Soccernet:

United Munich tribute set for Saturday

Manchester United fans will pay their annual tribute to the victims of the Munich air disaster prior to tomorrow's Premiership encounter with Birmingham.

Supporters will gather for a short ceremony at 2pm underneath the Munich memorial outside Old Trafford to pay their respects to the victims of the tragedy and sing the `Flowers of Manchester' tribute.

Sunday marks the 47th anniversary of the crash, in which 21 people were killed, including seven United players, when a twin-engined Elizabethan airliner nosedived on take-off following a refuelling stop on its way back from Belgrade.

A lot of people seem to think that the popularity of Man United only started with the glory days of the 1990s. Strictly speaking it is true, but the first spurt of popularity (at least in the UK from what I gather..) could be traced back to this Munich air disaster. I don't really remember the details now. But Manchester United were the first team in Britain to compete in the European Cup. The Football Association were against it but Sir Matt Busby wanted to play in Europe to compete against the best that the Continent could offer to further English football. But unfortunately that belief led to the demise of a young and talent squad. Without them, and their firm commitment to Europe, United might not have witnessed so many glory nights in Europe. Quite simply, those young men (and women?) died while fulfilling our dreams. And from that day on, a lot of people adopted United as their second favourite team.

The Flowers of Manchester

On one cold and bitter Thursday in Munich, Germany,
Eight great football stalwarts conceded victory,
Eight men who will never play again who met destruction there,
The flowers of British 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 returned back again.

The third time down the runaway disaster followed close,
There was a 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 when 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 lost their lives as it ploughed on through the snow.

Big Duncan he went to, with an injury to his frame,
And Ireland's brave Jack Blanchflower will never play again,
The great Sir Matt Busby lay there, the father of his team
Three long months passed by before he walked 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'll 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