For the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster Gregg returned
to the scene of the crash for a BBC TV documentary. The Munich-Riem
Airport was the city’s international airport at that time, but today all
that remains are the main terminal building and the control tower,
which are protected monuments. There Gregg met Zoran Lukić, son
of Vera, with whom she was pregnant at the time. It brought Gregg
full circle and perhaps provided the goalkeeper – who always wanted
to be remembered for his football rather than his heroism – a
measure of closure and peace.
The light in those dark times after the crash was Jimmy Murphy.
Murphy hadn’t travelled to Belgrade with the team because he
doubled as manager of Wales and they had a crucial World Cup
qualifier against Israel in Cardiff. Wales’ victory saw them qualify, and
amid the celebrations Murphy returned to Old Trafford, where Busby’s
secretary told him of the crash. “She said many people had been
killed [including] some of the players... I went into my office and
started to cry.” But even while he mourned, Murphy was the one who
kept the flame alive, who insisted that the club would rise again, and
who got them through the matches that followed – the matches no
one wanted to play.
Busby, who was so badly injured that he was given the last rites on
two separate occasions, urged Murphy to keep the flag flying. Gregg
used to say that the greatness of the Busby Babes era was founded
on their partnership. In the immediate aftermath of the crash there
was so much for Murphy to do, he barely had time to grieve. Not only
was Busby in a bad way, but coach Bert Whalley and trainer Tom
Curry had also been killed. Murphy said he was in “mental turmoil
through sheer sorrow. I also felt completely on my own.”
Murphy refused to panic, however, and gradually assessed his
options, bringing in England international Ernie Taylor from Blackpool
and the tough-tackling half-back Stan Crowther from Aston Villa.
United swept into the final of the FA Cup on a wave of emotion,
beating Sheffield Wednesday, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham,
before running out of steam in the final. There, old foes Bolton
Wanderers, boasting five international players, including the great
Nat Lofthouse, were too strong, winning 2-0.
A NEW DAWN
While still in hospital, Busby was asked how long it would take to
rebuild United and he replied “five years”. In 1963, they won the FA
Cup and two years later they won the league. Busby’s estimated
timeframe was uncannily accurate, but in the intervening years the
club had acquired two geniuses and several more top players.
Denis Law had made his name at Manchester City before a
big-money move to Torino in 1961. Italian football never suited the
Scotsman, however, and in the summer of 1962 he returned to
Manchester – and to his previous lodgings and landlady – and
became The King. His lightning reflexes and determination to score at
all costs brought Law 237 goals from just 404 appearances and third
place in the all-time list of United goalscorers. He would have had
more but for his regular injuries, which came about in part due to his
desire to get into dangerous areas.
Law thrived on being given a free hand to be creative. “We always
felt that if the opposition scored one, we could score two; if they
scored two, we could get three. It didn’t always work out that way,
but that was the feeling, and it was all very special for me.”
“I think I’ve found you a genius.” So said a telegram to the club
from Chief Scout Bob Bishop on seeing a 15-year-old Northern Irish
kid playing for Cregagh Boys’ Club in Belfast. George Best was a
maverick and never easy to manage, much less control, but he was
undeniably a footballing genius. Busby said of him, “George Best
was gifted with more individual ability than any other player I have
seen,” while the late, great Graham Taylor added, “What George did
was to show that tactics and formations are for the majority of us,
while the genius plays the game in a way that is simply beyond
mere mortals.”
Together with Bobby Charlton, Law and Best formed a triumvirate
of all-time greats who would lift United back to the very pinnacle of
the sport.Above left Ten
days after the
crash heavy
cranes were still
removing pieces
of wreckage
Above right
Bobby Charlton
scores during
the fateful
game in
Belgrade
Left Sir Bobby
Charlton, Harry
Gregg and
Albert Scanlon
with Sir Alex
Ferguson and
current United
players at
the 50th
anniversary
memorial
service
Below Denis
Law looks on as
George Best
fires past
Gordon Banks to
give United a
2-1 win over
Stoke in 1971ImagesGetty ImagesMUn ICH AIR
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