1957-1958 MUNICH Disaster tributes in club programmes

[kenred]

After the Munich crash on Feb 6th 1958 ,many football clubs issued tributes and condolences in their programmes.Many were in the programmes of 15/2/1958,and I have to date Hibs,Manchester City,Bolton,Fulham (22/2)
Bury,Tottenham Hotspur.and Bristol City
West Ham Utd,Leeds,Bristol Rovers,Shrewsbury were other clubs which did
mention the tragic happening.Would any members of the forum know of any others ,as I am sure there were.? Any information would be much appreciated .

[Geddon]

Hi mate,

Have checked our programmes vs. Ipswich (15/2/58 ) and Huddersfield (22/2/58 ) but no mention of it in either I'm afraid.

[Molineux Phil]

In there Programme for the Bolton Wanderers fixture Sat 8th February 1958 Portsmouth sent there sympathy to the relatives and friends of Manchester Uniteds Officials and Players,discribing United in post war years as "The greatest soccer team in Britian".

[Geddon]

Also we were away at Blackburn on the 8th of Feb, but I'm fairly sure that'll be too early and I don't have the prog anyway. Next away game was 1st March.

Our next home game was against Orient on the 8th March and I don't have that either, but I doubt they'd have waited that long to publish something.

[sharrowblade]

Sheffield United v WBA 5th rd FA Cup 15/2/58.

After expressing heartfelt sympathy to those bereaved, in the first paragraph of the programme, there is a page later in the programme entitled 'That Apalling Disaster' which is worded as

'manchester united, with their blossom of youth, were the crack team of the land, one of the greatest teams in the world. British football has suffered its heaviest blow and it will take a long time to get over it. The Manchester United are facing up to the disaster with praiseworthy courage and resolution. We have faith in them, that Manchester United will rise to greatness again is, we feel sure, the firm belief of us all'

And for the replay; WBA v Sheffield United 19/2/58

On Page Five (Club Notes), the club wished to place on record its deep and sincere sympathy, to the relatives and to the club.

'A tragic loss such as they have sustained must be felt throughout the world where football is played and particularly it will be a set-back to football in this country. A considerable time will pass before the game can recover'

[kenred]

Hi Thanks to all who have responded to my request.Nottingham Forest did a full page tribute in their programme v Spurs 15/2/58 and was an omission on my part .Thanks again for your replies.

[atletico]

Villa were due to play Manchester United Reserves at Home on Feb. 8th, and the week after (Feb. 15th) we were due to play Manchester United at Home in the League.
No Programmes were produced for those matches so the tributes and condolences along with details of a memorial service were in the Villa v Chelsea programme from Feb. 22nd.

[Footyfan]

Ken,

Leeds mentioned the Munich Disaster in the club programme vs Arsenal (8th Feb 5 - postponed game and again on 22 Feb 58 (Portsmouth).

I am assuming you have already got the Bolton vs Stoke FA Cup game?

[1980Cossie]

Both Barcelona club magazines Dicen & Barca have a tribute page, the Real Madrid official revista mag also has a tribute inside. i believe a lot of other clubs on the European mainland had some sort of tribute in either their club magazines or programmes aswell

[manchesterunitedman1]

kenred wrote:

After the Munich crash on Feb 6th 1958 ,many football clubs issued tributes and condolences in their programmes.Many were in the programmes of 15/2/1958,and I have to date Hibs,Manchester City,Bolton,Fulham (22/2) Bury,Tottenham Hotspur.and Bristol City West Ham Utd,Leeds,Bristol Rovers,Shrewsbury were other clubs which did mention the tragic happening.Would any members of the forum know of any others ,as I am sure there were.? Any information would be much appreciated .

Besides the ones you have mentioned I have Ipswhich Town and there was a match entirely dedicated to the Disaster when Ashton United met Rotherham United in a grand benefit match to raise funds for the Disaster appeal set up by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Furthermore Cossie is quite correct in that Barca and Madrid included warm tributes[the Madrid Revista of March 1958], plus sports and national newspapers carried stories and tributes as far flung as Brazil, Portugal, Italy,Yuguslavia,Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain,USA,Canada and no doubt other counties too such was the shock and horror then, as of course it would be at anytime. At home the official FA News carried articles in March and April, The Football Refereee ran a major article in September 1958. Leslie Millman-manchesterunitedman1-www.flickr/photos/manchesterunitedman1/

[ToffeeDan]

Feb 15th (Everton v Leicester)

TRAGEDY AT MUNICH.

Until today we have been unable to refer, publicly, to the appalling air disaster at Munich, in which Manchester United and the leading sports writers of the Northern Daily Newspapers were so deeply and tragically involved. Only now, some ten days after the crash, can one feel a little better about an event which cast a pall of gloom over the entire country; this easing of the bitterest blow to those concerned: relatives, friends, football, and sport in general, has been due partly to the healing passage of time and the very much brighter news on the majority of the injured survivors.

The Directors, Staff and Players of our club have sent their most sincere condolences to Manchester United and we know all our supporters will join fervently in the hope that this great club will soon recover from this cruel blow. The thoughts of everyone are with the relatives and friends of the men who died serving their club, their newspapers and English football to the end. To the injured survivors in Munich we send our very best wishes for the speediest possible recovery and trust that the news concerning them is as heartening today as it was when these words were penned three days ago.

For the next season's game at home to Manchester United Everton reverted to the Blue cover edition (which was normally white between 1958-60) and, unusually for that time, a picture of the United team.

UNITED. Today is the first time we have met Manchester United since the day of the Munich disaster. This is the second - and last - reference that we propose to make to this tragedy, as each word must bring something painful back to the survivors, and it is forward now that the Old Trafford club is looking. With Manager Matt Busby restored to health, strength and the game he loves, things are gradually becoming more settled and normal each day at Manchester. Team building is in full swing, new ideas are being tried, routine has been re-established and United are preparing once more to endeavour to become Britain's most successful club.

The following season there was only a passing mention in the programme with regard to the sterling work of Jimmy Murphy and so on...

[kenred]

Hi Thanks again to everyone for the latest information given.I have the Bolton FA Cup v Stoke,and the Nottingham Forest v Spurs programmes.
Any more information will be much appreciated,and thanks again to all forum members having contributed to this request.
Cheers
KEN

[PRESTON WCFC]

From the Supporters Notes in The Worcester City v Bath Programme 17/2/58

In common with both amateur and professional football clubs up and down the country , we stood for a few moments in silence before our match on Feb 8th, to show our respect for the dead, bereaved and injured in the tragic disaster of Manchester United at Munich.

We, at Worcester, not being members of the Football league, have not had the honour of entertaining the 'Babes' but this has not lessened our grief at the disasterousbreak-up of one of the finest football teams in the world.

Far as we are from the great soccer factory known as Old Trafford, many of us felt that the accident was a personal misfortune and the gloom was not lightened by the news of the death of several of the country's top football reporters whose summaries of United's match we had read only a few hours before.


The article then goes on to describe two journalists George Follows and Frank Swift who had been to St Georges Lane in recent times.

The previous Saturday Worcester were away at Kettering. No mention was made of the Munich disaster but regret was made of the death of Albert Swingler , a local supporter !
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[Piebald]

Sorry for delay in reply but Id like to mention the following from the Notts Co.v Leyton Orient prog. dated 22/2/58.

"Its with a deep sense of personal grief that we learned of the tragedy which had befallen Manchester United Football Club and we feel sure that all Notts County supporters would wish to join with the Directors,Officials and Players in expressing sympathy with all the relatives of the victims who were killed in the tragic air disaster and to hope that all those injured make a speedy and complete recovery"

[Tynie Topics]

Hearts v Albion Rovers 15/02/58, small tribute on page 3 as well as a reminder there would be a minutes silence followed by a verse of Abide With Me.
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