| On February 15th, 1945, Matt Busby was offered a contract to manage United. He signed a five year contract, and insisted on having authority to make staff changes, and equal responsiblity. Busby immediatley began making changes, with the players, training, and the spirit within the club. AFter signing many new young players, United were nicknamed 'The Busby Babes', as many of the new players made their debut while in their teens. With the likes of Charlton,Edwards, Taylor, Jones, and Pegg, there was no questioning how the Busby Babes won so many of their games and competitions. |
| The Busby Babe era was brought to an unexpected and tragic end, on February 6th, 1958. After two unsuccessful attempts to take off, the plane carrying United players, staff, reporters, and others returned to the terminal, unsure of what to do. After discussing the possibilities, the pilots decided to try and take off again. The passangers boarded the plane for the second time, and the plane attempted its' third take-off. Snow bounced from the wheels as the plane sped down the runway. Unfortunatley, it failed to take off, and skidded across a road, and through a fence before crashing. Harry Gregg was hailed as a hero, as after he pulled several people from the wreckage, knowing that further explosions were likely. He saved fellow team mates Viollet, Charton, and a mother and her baby. Twenty one people were killed in the crash, eight of which were United players, and three staff. Amongst those dead were: PLAYERS Geoff Bent (age 25), Roger Bryne (age 28), Eddie Coleman (aged 21), Duncan Edwards (age 22), Mark Jones (age 24), David Pegg (age 22), Tommy Taylor (age 26), Liam Whealn (age 22) STAFF Walter Crickmer- the club secretary Tom Curry- the trainer Bert Whalley- the coach Matt Busby, the manager, was left fighting for his life after the crash. His chest was shattered, and his lungs were punctured. He was in hospital seventy-one days before pulling through and being able to return home. |
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