“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” - Richard Bach
It’s one of my favourite quotes because it signifies life after a state and in philosophical stage, its end of one form, leading into evolution of the other. It’s always said death makes you omnipresent in memories and if you were lucky enough to watch Manchester United in the Munich Air Disaster week then you would know what it means to most of the supporters. When Flowers of Manchester was being sung there almost everyone had moist eyes. The incident happened in the year 1958. Its 2017 and most of United’s current generation of supporters weren’t born back then or were too young to remember it. But, it still has had a huge impact on each and every one of them. Let, that be through the exposure given in media, documentaries, internet or even some transcripts that incident defined the club. It set the basic values of the club and the same values and tradition is being followed. The value was simple, subtle and yet very daunting, “Arise, after a setback, don’t buckle down when odds are against you
The Air Emergency
Manchester United were flying ever so high before the grief struck them. ‘The Busby Babes had won two successive League Championships in 1956 and 1957 and were runners up in the 1957 FA Cup Final. Sir Matt Busby was famously offered a lucrative job as a manager’s post for Real Madrid. Real’s President claimed that the job would be like “managing paradise,” to which Busby responded :
“Manchester is my heaven and I am staying here”
The team was in high hopes of maintaining their winning streak when they started the 57/58 season with an eye on the European Cup, however disaster struck. The plane carrying the team home from a game in Belgrade crashed on the runway at the Munich airport, killing eight first-team members. Sir Matt himself had received multiple injuries leading to him twice and he miraculously recovered both the times but was never the same.
In a documentary released by History Channel, while in hospital, Sir Matt Busby’s assistant Jim Murphy had assumed duties of the team. Before the iconic game against Sheffield, Murphy visited busby and he uttered the now famous words :
‘Keep the flag flying, Jim’.
The Influence of Jim Murphy
Murphy, had missed the fateful trip to Munich as he was busy guiding his nation successfully a World Cup play-off match against Israel in Cardiff. In an interview to MUTV, his son famously said how devastated his dad was and how once he told his mom
“He missed some funerals because you can't go to eight all at once.”
Losing your best players in transfer window is never easy let alone in a tragedy. Matt Busby resumed duties and he famously signed Dennis Law from Torino whereas Murphy was involved in some shrewd buys which included Ernie Taylor from Blackpool and England inside forward and Stan Crowther, a tough tackler from Aston Villa.
But the biggest decision he made was to get Billy Foulkes back on the pitch. Billy Foulkes survived Munich and was in no state to ever get on to the football pitch. Following is an intercept from Murphy’s son’s interview:
"Billy said: 'I can't do it and I won't do it',"
Murphy's son recalls,
"My father said: 'You can and you will'. That's what my dad was like. He had this knack of picking people and he was usually proved right."
In 3 months’ time Murphy took United to a FA Cup Final at Wembley – an achievement perhaps only a European Cup victory, a decade later, would shadow. Where Sir Matt was the diplomatic front man and manager, Jimmy was the show master who instilled the passion in Manchester United, who brought his Celtic passion to a club eager to escape the ruins of post-war Manchester. Jimmy instilled in the club a willingness to practice longer than the rest, train harder than the tribes existing in the world to combine with have a hunger of a lion and a desire for perfection. When Murphy’s youth team won a particular game 6-1 the players would only hear complaints about the goal conceded. If Bobby Charlton or Duncan Edwards gave the ball away in a dangerous position, they’d be out on the training ground all next day learning what to do to avoid calamity next time.
Don’t tell me what can’t be done
The sad part of being a businessman is that you understand only profit and loss. Manchester United were suddenly becoming an expense for the investors and board members just after a month of Air tragedy. They claimed the idea of not having enough players to play the league so the best option was to shut the club down though temporarily and scout and get players rather than go out and kick the a damn football. The moment the board members said
“We are closing Manchester United...”
Jimmy Murphy said the most famous lines in history of this club:
“Don’t tell me what can’t be done. When Matt Busby brought me here, they told me we’d never make a go of it, that it couldn’t be done. That Manchester United would never make a success. Told us we couldn’t win the league, playing kids. Told us we couldn’t match the best teams in Europe. And every bloody time we proved them wrong, so with respect sir, it can be done, it will be done, I’ll make sure of it.”
13 days later Manchester United took the field and against all odds defeated Sheffield Wednesday and defeated them 3-0. Nearly 60,000 fans gathered to show their support and pay tribute to the Lost Babes. Murphy had assembled a side that included two survivors, 5 reserves players who had barely played for the first team, two youth players making their debuts and two new signings, Ernie Taylor and Stan Crowther.
Probably, the best quote I have ever read or heard on Murphy was from Sir Bobby Charlton :
“One day he was discovered in a back corridor of the hospital. Sobbing his heart out in pain at the loss of so many young players he adored for their talent and who he loved like sons.I learnt a lot from Matt Busby and Alf Ramsey but everything I achieved in football I owe to one man and one man only; Jimmy Murphy. Matt and Alf were good to me, but Jimmy got to my guts. Jimmy was simply sensational.”
What did Munich Air Disaster do to Manchester United as a football club?
What you are about to read is what I personally believe that incident did to club and opinions may differ:
“The harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph”: Who would have thought a team who lost 8 of their crucial players, a decade later, would win the European Cup against one of greatest footballing sides of that era – Benfica. Like a phoenix that rises from its ashes, Manchester United rose from the wreckage of the Airspeed Ambassador and went on to conquer Europe.
“The Busby babes were special”: They were handpicked, trained & moulded and they were Busby’s dream. They were Manchester’s pride and they left making people wanting for more and more.
“The ball is round to go around” : One of the most famous chants during the training of that era and it was their basic idea. Each one of them gets involved in the play and makes sure there is adequate space to make runs and the ball is constantly on the move.
Jim Murphy was Matt Busby’s extension: His tough disciplinarian way of life made it difficult for youngsters but once they got a good hand to it they became great players. You can’t compare his influence to the presence of Matt busby or his deeds. I guess Manchester United gave him the perfect tribute. Manchester United paid tribute to this great man by immortalizing him, with his statue erected inside the stadium with a mini bio next to it. The award for being the best young player at Manchester United is called Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year Award.
Importance of Youth to become a dynasty: Manchester United did buy players back then but they still relied on their glorious youth system to produce quality talent. Bill Foulkes, Liam Whelan, Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton among others were a part of Manchester United youth. The same became the trademark and laid the foundation of this trophy winning machine.
How we are in Future will be founded on how we behave today
Jimmy Murphy famously said :
“I know those lads better than anyone. I found them. I nurtured them. I was there with them every morning, noon and night, piss and rain and gales and snow. They let me mold their lives from the ground up. They repaid me, they repaid this club with their skill, their passion and now their lives. It’s not about honoring their memory. It’s about showing who we are to the world. Showing we’ll not be bowed by tragedy. Because how we are in the future will be founded on how we behave today”
Would Manchester United be better off Munich Air Disaster? I don’t know, I am not Nostradamus but the best thing I can ever co-relate to this is from my favourite Movie Dark knight. The iconic quote from Joker where he says to Batman whilst looking into his eyes.
No, no, NO! No. You… you… complete me.
For the better or for the worse, Manchester United Football Club would be incomplete without this unprecedented tragedy. Last but not least, I would like to pay tribute to those brilliant souls who left for their heavenly abode.
A broken heart a broken dream
a broken plane a broken team
No words were said a silent vow
we loved you then we love you now the red flag will always fly
For Man United will never die
Never to be forgotten – February the 6th, 1958