In memory of Munich

At 3.04 pm on 6 February 1958 a British European Airways flight carrying 40 passengers and 4 crew made a third attempt to take off from a snow bound Munich airport.

The plane failed to gain adequate height and crashed into a fence surrounding the airport, then careered into an unoccupied house.

As news of the crash flickered across our television screen I was oblivious to my father’s concern. The new red wheelbarrow, that I had been given the day before for my birthday, held my attention as Dad tried to explain the unfolding tragedy.

And it would be another two years before I could start to understand the enormity of the disaster that unfolded on the slush ridden Munich runway.

Two more years before I experienced my first game at the Recreation Ground.

It was not until Bobby Howfield and Paddy Hasty….. Alan Woan and Jack Howarth had filled my veins with red and blue blood that I could possibly understand the events of Feb 6th 1958.

23 people died in the crash.

And Manchester United lost eight of their finest players.

Geoff Bent
Roger Byrne
Eddie Colman
Mark Jones
David Pegg
Tommy Taylor
Liam Whelan
Duncan Edwards


In most, if not all, of the documentaries about the disaster Duncan Edwards is described as the ‘golden boy’ and Bobby Charlton said of his friend, ‘he was the only player who made me feel inferior’.

Had Edwards survived the Munich crash then in 1966 he would have been 29, at the peak of his powers and Bobby Moore would have been consigned to West Ham history and not World Cup winning glory.

But I like to read about Mark Jones…..he died aged only 24 having made 121 appearances for United. A big man, Mark stood 6ft 1in tall and weighed in at 12st 12lb. The Barnsley born centre half was the imposing centre piece to a skilful back line.

But Mark was a gentle man. His dressing room nickname, Dan Archer, after the leading character in the radio series still broadcast today……(and I think Brian Aldridge has just made a big mistake….yes in my opinion Debbie and Adam should be left the farm).

He smoked a pipe….kept budgerigars…in fact he had 55 budgies….and on more than one occasion he brought his shotgun to Old Trafford to assist in keeping down the pigeon population.

Mark Jones and Rio Ferdinand ………..sadly generations apart.


The Crimean War, 1853-1856 was fought between Imperial Russia on one side and an alliance that included France and the UK on the other.

The ‘popularity’ of the war inspired the Prince Consort to establish permanent buildings at North Camp ensuring the long-term future of Aldershot as the primary base of the British Army. As a result, in September 1854 work began on the building of permanent barracks, the first phase of which was completed in 1859.


The Crimea public house stands in the lower part of Crimea Road and is no more than a goal kick away from the Recreation Ground. Opened in 1856, as the Crimean War was coming to a close the pub lasted for about seventy-five years before it was rebuilt in the 1930’s….and it hasn’t changed much since.


Tuesday evening saw the Shots entertain Oxford United. A handful of U’s supporters found their way to the Crimea. They predicted a 0v0. We didn’t fully disappoint….they scored nil.

The Shots conjured up a scruffy goal from a corner midway through the second half. Our new pre-match home is indeed lucky.


Good beer on hand pump….ham rolls….comfortable seats…..see you Saturday.