50 years ago was a sad day for football. A young and victorious Manchester United lost 8 of its players and 3 staff members on a plane crash. Today it is good to remember not the saddness of the story but what these palyers represented and what they did for football so long ago. Matt Busby and his Busby Babes were on a roll to success as the youngest (average age 22) and one of the top football squads at the time.

After tieing a 3-3 match for the European Cup, against the Yugoslavian team Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) the flight from Belgrade was delayed for an hour as player Johnny Berry had lost his passport (interesting enough, he was one of hte survivors). Then the plane made a scheduled stop in Munich to refuel.

In Munich, the pilot tried to take off twice, but both attempts were aborted due to engine surging. He then decided to shoot for a third one, but the plane failed to gain adequate height and crashed into the fence surrounding the airport, and then into an empty house.

Seven of Manchester United’s players died immediately, and Duncan Edwards died from his injuries on 21 February at the Rechts der Isar Hospital in Munich. Johnny Berry and Jackie Blanchflower were both injured to such an extent that they never played again.

Thousands went to Old Trafford today to pay tribute to Busby Babes an the ones who passed on that crash.

More very interesting facts at Man-U’s site.