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Post by Vidic>Superman on Oct 28, 2007 12:59:39 GMT
Sir Bobby Charlton has relived his horror and guilt over the 1958 Munich air disaster.
Eight of his Manchester United team-mates died in the tragedy. Another 15 people also died.
Sir Bobby, now 70, was pulled from the burning wreckage by goalkeeper Harry Gregg.
The football legend has said little publicly about the disaster until now, nearly 50 years on.
He recalls the events of that day in an interview for tonight's Parkinson programme on ITV1.
"I thought, 'Why me? Why am I here with nothing happened to me other than a little gash on the head' and all these other friends had been killed?
"I felt it wasn't fair, why should it be me? It took a long time for me to feel better about it, certainly.
"It was such a momentous event, for so many young people to die just on the verge of the great success that was ahead of them, and I couldn't understand why," he said.
The plane crashed on the runway at Munich-Reim airport as it attempted to take-off in a blizzard.
Seven of the Manchester United players - known as the Busby Babes because they had played their way into the first team from the club's youth side under the stewardship of manager Matt Busby - died instantly. Another died from his injuries a couple of weeks later.
The players were on their way home from Belgrade where they had been victorious against Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup, stopping at Munich to refuel.
Sir Bobby said he believes the design of the plane saved his life.
"I have realised why it was - it was because the design of the aircraft at that particular time was that half the seats were facing forward and half of them backwards.
"All the ones that had their back to the front of the aeroplane were the ones that survived," he said.
"Harry Gregg and Bill Foulkes didn't lose any consciousness at all and they had to go back into the aircraft and do things that I couldn't possibly have done myself, I don't think.
"We walked away and I couldn't believe it. I maybe had a little bit of concussion, but a few days later you realised what had happened and the enormity of what had happened, then you started thinking about how lucky you had been. I was so lucky."
Sir Bobby said he has been reluctant to relive the tragedy until now.
He explained: "I felt really that it just wasn't the time and it was really personal.
"I didn't want to talk about Munich and offend some of the relatives and the friends, but then eventually it got to the stage where almost everybody was asking me to do it and I thought, 'Well, I had better just get this off my chest,' and I did and I felt better after I had done it."
Sir Bobby was talking to Michael Parkinson to promote his new book, My Manchester United Years, in which he also recalls the disaster.
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Post by Tatty on Oct 28, 2007 13:32:07 GMT
Just read his book, excellent read. Especially his thoughts and feeling in the direct aftermath of Muncih. Same has to be said of Bill Foulkes' book.
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lauralou
United Reserve Player
Posts: 449
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Post by lauralou on Oct 29, 2007 14:48:10 GMT
i've met sir bobby a few times (and when i was a 11, he told me i was the best female footballer of my age group he'd seen..and gave me a reebok cap, neat) and he has always been super lovely. we've seen him food shopping a few times. he gets quite a lot of stick from some "hardcore" fans at times, but i think hes a genuinely nice chap.
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Post by CaajScot on Sept 10, 2015 11:40:44 GMT
VIDEO **
11/10/2014 08:00, Report by B Hibbs & S Bibby Legends we love: Sir Bobby Charlton
Manchester United's history is imbued by the brilliance of legendary players. Here we remember the achievements of the club's all-time top scorer Sir Bobby Charlton, who was born on this day, 11 October, in 1937...
What makes him special? Where to start? His 758 appearances stood as a club record for 36 years until Ryan Giggs surpassed it in 2008. In his 60-year association with United, Sir Bobby has imbued many of the qualities that make the club world-renowned today. His class and dignity shown as a Munich survivor mark a moving clarification of his bond with Manchester and United. Charlton's ability, loyalty and longevity, so evident in United's recovery from that travesty, which culminated in 1968's European Cup success - and as a World Cup winner with England, of course - fully justifies his standing as one of world football's most feted figures. Crowning glory For United, winning the European Cup in ’68 was truly emotional. Sir Bobby, who scored twice in the 4-1 win over Benfica at Wembley, explained in his autobiography My Manchester United Years: “Anyone who glanced at our history knew that no club ever had greater motivation to win the European Cup… the memory of Munich and our duty to those who died there to play to our very limits. I recall what it meant at the final whistle to embrace Bill Foulkes, who had also been on the snowy airfield and seen Matt Busby down and his team, our friends, destroyed.” He says “Matt Busby always told us that football is more than a game. It has the power to bring happiness to people. That belief was the glory of his life – and the unbreakable pride I felt at being part of it. He was Manchester United and, I will always like to think, so am I.” They say "He wasn't just a great goalscorer, with a blistering shot using either foot. Bobby was a player who would also do his share of the hard work." – Sir Alf Ramsey, former England manager. Hit me with the facts Charlton scored 249 goals in 758 appearances for the Reds and held the club appearances and goals records for several decades. Giggs overtook his haul of matches but Sir Bobby still tops the scoring charts today, which for a player who played most of his career as a midfielder is exceptional. As with his appearances record, it will take something very special (Giggs in that particular case) to better his total. Wayne Rooney’s tally of 202 marks the closest a modern player has come to doing it. Tell me something I might not know Though most well-renowned as a midfielder, Charlton initially started life out as a striker and winger, or outside forward. He scored 29 goals in 39 games in season 1958/59, his best scoring return for United. In a word Legend. www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2014/Oct/video-legends-we-love-sir-bobby-charlton.aspx?pageNo=1 ** |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2015 11:53:28 GMT
Happy Birthday Sir Bob. Found this post buried in the General Forum. Maybe the Mods might move it to the appropriate forum?  Do you have the lottery numbers for the rest of September, and start of October please, man from the future?  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2015 11:58:00 GMT
VIDEO **
11/10/2014 08:00, Report by B Hibbs & S Bibby Legends we love: Sir Bobby Charlton
Manchester United's history is imbued by the brilliance of legendary players. Here we remember the achievements of the club's all-time top scorer Sir Bobby Charlton, who was born on this day, 11 October, in 1937...
What makes him special? Where to start? His 758 appearances stood as a club record for 36 years until Ryan Giggs surpassed it in 2008. In his 60-year association with United, Sir Bobby has imbued many of the qualities that make the club world-renowned today. His class and dignity shown as a Munich survivor mark a moving clarification of his bond with Manchester and United. Charlton's ability, loyalty and longevity, so evident in United's recovery from that travesty, which culminated in 1968's European Cup success - and as a World Cup winner with England, of course - fully justifies his standing as one of world football's most feted figures. Crowning glory For United, winning the European Cup in ’68 was truly emotional. Sir Bobby, who scored twice in the 4-1 win over Benfica at Wembley, explained in his autobiography My Manchester United Years: “Anyone who glanced at our history knew that no club ever had greater motivation to win the European Cup… the memory of Munich and our duty to those who died there to play to our very limits. I recall what it meant at the final whistle to embrace Bill Foulkes, who had also been on the snowy airfield and seen Matt Busby down and his team, our friends, destroyed.” He says “Matt Busby always told us that football is more than a game. It has the power to bring happiness to people. That belief was the glory of his life – and the unbreakable pride I felt at being part of it. He was Manchester United and, I will always like to think, so am I.” They say "He wasn't just a great goalscorer, with a blistering shot using either foot. Bobby was a player who would also do his share of the hard work." – Sir Alf Ramsey, former England manager. Hit me with the facts Charlton scored 249 goals in 758 appearances for the Reds and held the club appearances and goals records for several decades. Giggs overtook his haul of matches but Sir Bobby still tops the scoring charts today, which for a player who played most of his career as a midfielder is exceptional. As with his appearances record, it will take something very special (Giggs in that particular case) to better his total. Wayne Rooney’s tally of 202 marks the closest a modern player has come to doing it. Tell me something I might not know Though most well-renowned as a midfielder, Charlton initially started life out as a striker and winger, or outside forward. He scored 29 goals in 39 games in season 1958/59, his best scoring return for United. In a word Legend. www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2014/Oct/video-legends-we-love-sir-bobby-charlton.aspx?pageNo=1 **Legend. That Part that Busby said needs to be reunited with the club. We need people in who understand that. |
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Post by Stew on Oct 11, 2016 11:13:59 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2016 13:07:11 GMT
The one and only. Happy birthday Sir Bobby.
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Post by CaajScot on Oct 11, 2016 15:41:08 GMT
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Post by CaajScot on Oct 20, 2016 13:55:22 GMT
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Post by Tatty on Oct 20, 2016 14:31:36 GMT
TBH, saw this had a new post and feared the worst!
Many Happy Returns, Wor Bob!
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Post by CaajScot on Nov 29, 2016 16:18:42 GMT
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Post by CaajScot on Dec 21, 2016 0:43:21 GMT
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Post by CaajScot on Oct 1, 2017 18:47:12 GMT
01/10/2017 07:44, Report by Jamie Allen ENGLAND PITCH TO BE NAMED AFTER SIR BOBBY
Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton is to have a pitch at England's St. George's Park unveiled in his name, to mark the national football centre's fifth anniversary and to coincide with the 1966 World Cup-winning great's 80th birthday.
England manager Gareth Southgate and his squad will join Sir Bobby, his wife Norma and guests for a short ceremony to unveil the Sir Bobby Charlton pitch before the England training session on Monday. The one-time Ballon d’Or winner, who made 758 appearances in a 17-year United career during which he won a host of honours, including three league titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup, is due to attend England's World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley as guest of honour, a week before he toasts his 80th birthday. England manager Gareth Southgate said: "It’s fantastic to be able to acknowledge the contribution Sir Bobby has made to our game, not only as a player but as an ambassador for the sport. It will be a very proud moment to introduce him to the current set of players and officially unveil the Sir Bobby Charlton pitch.“ Sir Bobby, who is second only to Ryan Giggs in the list of United's all-time appearance-makers, played his final game for his country in 1970, ending with 106 caps and 49 goals to his name. The two tallies topped the England record books before both were surpassed by fellow United and England great Wayne Rooney, in 2015 and 2016 respectively. www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Club-News/2017/Oct/sir-bobby-charlton-pitch-dedication-st-georges-park-england.aspx |
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Post by redcase on Oct 2, 2017 5:15:33 GMT
01/10/2017 07:44, Report by Jamie Allen ENGLAND PITCH TO BE NAMED AFTER SIR BOBBY
Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton is to have a pitch at England's St. George's Park unveiled in his name, to mark the national football centre's fifth anniversary and to coincide with the 1966 World Cup-winning great's 80th birthday.
England manager Gareth Southgate and his squad will join Sir Bobby, his wife Norma and guests for a short ceremony to unveil the Sir Bobby Charlton pitch before the England training session on Monday. The one-time Ballon d’Or winner, who made 758 appearances in a 17-year United career during which he won a host of honours, including three league titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup, is due to attend England's World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley as guest of honour, a week before he toasts his 80th birthday. England manager Gareth Southgate said: "It’s fantastic to be able to acknowledge the contribution Sir Bobby has made to our game, not only as a player but as an ambassador for the sport. It will be a very proud moment to introduce him to the current set of players and officially unveil the Sir Bobby Charlton pitch.“ Sir Bobby, who is second only to Ryan Giggs in the list of United's all-time appearance-makers, played his final game for his country in 1970, ending with 106 caps and 49 goals to his name. The two tallies topped the England record books before both were surpassed by fellow United and England great Wayne Rooney, in 2015 and 2016 respectively. www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Club-News/2017/Oct/sir-bobby-charlton-pitch-dedication-st-georges-park-england.aspxDeserved. |
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