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1957–58 Manchester United F.C. season

English football club season

Field	Value
club	Manchester United
image	Manchester United FC 1957.jpg
caption	The Manchester United season squad prior to the Munich air disaster
season	1957–58
manager	Matt Busby
(on convalescent leave from 7 February)
Jimmy Murphy
(acting manager from 7 February)
chairman	Harold Hardman
league	[First Division](1957-58-football-league)
league result	9th
cup1	[FA Cup](1957-58-fa-cup)
cup1 result	Runners-up
cup2	[European Cup](1957-58-european-cup)
cup2 result	Semi-finals
cup3	[Charity Shield](1957-fa-charity-shield)
cup3 result	Winners
league topscorer
Dennis Viollet (16)
Tommy Taylor (16)
season topscorer
Dennis Viollet (23)
pattern_la1	_thinwhiteborder	pattern_b1 = _vneckwhite	pattern_ra1 = _thinwhiteborder	pattern_sh1 =	pattern_so1 = _redtopwhitestripe
leftarm1	E20E0E	body1 = E20E0E	rightarm1 = E20E0E	shorts1 = FFFFFF	socks1 = 000000
pattern_la2	_borderred	pattern_b2 = _red_vneck	pattern_ra2 = _borderred	pattern_sh2 = _red_flash	pattern_so2 = _top_red
highest attendance	66,124 vs Nottingham Forest (22 February 1958)
lowest attendance	27,293 vs Aston Villa (22 October 1957)
average attendance	46,866
prevseason	[1956–57](1956-57-manchester-united-f-c-season)
nextseason	[1958–59](1958-59-manchester-united-f-c-season)

(on convalescent leave from 7 February) Jimmy Murphy (acting manager from 7 February) Dennis Viollet (16) Tommy Taylor (16) Dennis Viollet (23) The 1957–58 season was Manchester United's 56th in the Football League, and their 13th consecutive season in the top division of English football.

The season marked the biggest tragedy in the club's history as eight players, three club officials and ten other passengers died as a result of their injuries in the Munich air disaster on 6 February 1958 on their way back from a European Cup quarter-final away to Red Star Belgrade. Centre-half Mark Jones, captain Roger Byrne, full-back Geoff Bent, winger David Pegg, right-half Eddie Colman, inside-right Bill Whelan and centre-forward Tommy Taylor were all killed instantly. Left-half Duncan Edwards was in hospital for two weeks before he too died on 21 February.

Winger Johnny Berry and centre-half Jackie Blanchflower were both injured to such an extent that they never played again, while several of the surviving players were unavailable for a considerable amount of time as they recovered from their injuries.

Manager Matt Busby was badly injured, and his assistant Jimmy Murphy (who was not on that fateful flight) took charge of the first team until the end of the season as Busby recovered from his injuries. Club secretary Walter Crickmer and coaches Tom Curry and Bert Whalley were all killed in the crash, which claimed a total of 23 lives.

Despite the decimation of their squad, a makeshift United side still managed to reach the FA Cup final that season, where they lost to Bolton Wanderers. They also reached the semi-finals of the European Cup. However, their league form suffered after the crash and their title challenge faded as they finished ninth in the final table.

With the United squad decimated by death and injuries in the aftermath of the Munich tragedy, a number of younger players broke through into the first team. These included winger Shay Brennan and forward Mark Pearson. Another notable new member of the side was goalkeeper Harry Gregg, signed in December 1957 a few weeks before the Munich crash, and who was hailed a hero for his rescue efforts in the crash.

United's top scorer for the season was Dennis Viollet, who found the net 23 times in all competitions and 16 times in the league despite being out of action for some two months as he recovered from injuries sustained in the Munich crash.

FA Charity Shield

Main article: 1957 FA Charity Shield

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result
F–A	Scorers	Attendance
22 October 1957	Aston Villa	H	4–0	T. Taylor (3), Berry	27,293

First Division

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result
F–A	Scorers	Attendance
24 August 1957	Leicester City	A	3–0	Whelan (3)	40,214
28 August 1957	Everton	H	3–0	T. Taylor, Viollet, own goal	59,103
31 August 1957	Manchester City	H	4–1	Berry, Edwards, T. Taylor, Viollet	63,347
4 September 1957	Everton	A	3–3	Berry, Viollet, Whelan	72,077
7 September 1957	Leeds United	H	5–0	Berry (2), T. Taylor (2), Viollet	50,842
9 September 1957	Blackpool	A	4–1	Viollet (2), Whelan (2)	34,181
14 September 1957	Bolton Wanderers	A	0–4		48,003
18 September 1957	Blackpool	H	1–2	Edwards	40,763
21 September 1957	Arsenal	H	4–2	Whelan (2), Pegg, T. Taylor	47,142
28 September 1957	Wolverhampton Wanderers	A	1–3	Doherty	48,825
5 October 1957	Aston Villa	H	4–1	T. Taylor (2), Pegg, own goal	43,102
12 October 1957	Nottingham Forest	A	2–1	Viollet, Whelan	47,654
19 October 1957	Portsmouth	H	0–3		38,253
26 October 1957	West Bromwich Albion	A	3–4	T. Taylor (2), Whelan	52,160
2 November 1957	Burnley	H	1–0	T. Taylor	49,449
9 November 1957	Preston North End	A	1–1	Whelan	39,063
16 November 1957	Sheffield Wednesday	H	2–1	Webster (2)	40,366
23 November 1957	Newcastle United	A	2–1	Edwards, T. Taylor	53,890
30 November 1957	Tottenham Hotspur	H	3–4	Pegg (2), Whelan	43,077
7 December 1957	Birmingham City	H	3–3	Viollet (2), T. Taylor	35,791
14 December 1957	Chelsea	H	0–1		36,853
21 December 1957	Leicester City	H	4–0	Viollet (2), Charlton, Scanlon	41,631
25 December 1957	Luton Town	H	3–0	Charlton, Edwards, T. Taylor	39,444
26 December 1957	Luton Town	A	2–2	Scanlon, T. Taylor	26,458
28 December 1957	Manchester City	A	2–2	Charlton, Viollet	70,483
11 January 1958	Leeds United	A	1–1	Viollet	39,401
18 January 1958	Bolton Wanderers	H	7–2	Charlton (3), Viollet (2), Edwards, Scanlon	41,141
1 February 1958	Arsenal	A	5–4	T. Taylor (2), Charlton, Edwards, Viollet	63,578
22 February 1958	Nottingham Forest	H	1–1	Dawson	66,124
8 March 1958	West Bromwich Albion	H	0–4		63,278
15 March 1958	Burnley	A	0–3		37,247
29 March 1958	Sheffield Wednesday	A	0–1		35,608
31 March 1958	Aston Villa	A	2–3	Dawson, Webster	16,631
4 April 1958	Sunderland	H	2–2	Charlton, Dawson	47,421
5 April 1958	Preston North End	H	0–0		47,816
7 April 1958	Sunderland	A	2–1	Webster (2)	51,302
12 April 1958	Tottenham Hotspur	A	0–1		59,836
16 April 1958	Portsmouth	A	3–3	Dawson, E. Taylor, Webster	39,975
19 April 1958	Birmingham City	H	0–2		38,991
21 April 1958	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	0–4		33,267
23 April 1958	Newcastle United	H	1–1	Dawson	28,393
26 April 1958	Chelsea	A	1–2	E. Taylor	45,011

FA Cup

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result
F–A	Scorers	Attendance
4 January 1958	Round 3	Workington	A	3–1	Viollet (3)	21,000
25 January 1958	Round 4	Ipswich Town	H	2–0	Charlton (2)	53,550
19 February 1958	Round 5	Sheffield Wednesday	H	3–0	Brennan (2), Dawson	59,848
1 March 1958	Round 6	West Bromwich Albion	A	2–2	Dawson, E. Taylor	58,250
5 March 1958	Round 6
Replay	West Bromwich Albion	H	1–0	Webster	60,000
22 March 1958	Semi-final	Fulham	N	2–2	Charlton (2)	69,745
26 March 1958	Semi-final
Replay	Fulham	N	5–3	Dawson (3), Brennan, Charlton	38,000
3 May 1958	Final	Bolton Wanderers	N	0–2		100,000

European Cup

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result
F–A	Scorers	Attendance
25 September 1957	Preliminary round
First leg	Shamrock Rovers	A	6–0	T. Taylor (2), Whelan (2), Berry, Pegg	45,000
2 October 1957	Preliminary round
Second leg	Shamrock Rovers	H	3–2	Viollet (2), Pegg	33,754
20 November 1957	First round
First leg	Dukla Prague	H	3–0	Pegg, T. Taylor, Webster	60,000
4 December 1957	First round
Second leg	Dukla Prague	A	0–1		35,000
14 January 1958	Quarter-final
First leg	Red Star Belgrade	H	2–1	Charlton, Colman	60,000
5 February 1958	Quarter-final
Second leg	Red Star Belgrade	A	3–3	Charlton (2), Viollet	55,000
8 May 1958	Semi-final
First leg	Milan	H	2–1	E. Taylor, Viollet	44,880
14 May 1958	Semi-final
Second leg	Milan	A	0–4		80,000

Squad statistics

Pos.	Name	League	FA Cup	European Cup	Other	Total	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps
GK	ENG David Gaskell	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
GK	NIR Harry Gregg	19	0	8	0	4	0	1	0	31	0
GK	ENG Ray Wood	20	0	0	0	4	0	1	0	25	0
FB	IRL Shay Brennan	5	0	2	3	0	0	0	0	7	3
FB	ENG Roger Byrne	26	0	2	0	6	0	1	0	35	0
FB	ENG Bill Foulkes	42	0	8	0	8	0	1	0	59	0
FB	ENG Ian Greaves	12	0	6	0	2	0	0	0	20	0
FB	ENG Bobby Harrop	5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
FB	SCO Tommy Heron	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FB	ENG Peter Jones	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
HB	NIR Jackie Blanchflower	18	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	21	0
HB	ENG Eddie Colman	24	0	2	0	5	1	0	0	31	1
HB	ENG Ronnie Cope	13	0	6	0	2	0	0	0	21	0
HB	ENG Stan Crowther	11	0	5	0	2	0	0	0	18	0
HB	ENG Duncan Edwards	26	6	2	0	5	0	1	0	34	6
HB	ENG Freddie Goodwin	16	0	6	0	3	0	1	0	26	0
HB	ENG Mark Jones	10	0	2	0	4	0	0	0	16	0
HB	ENG Wilf McGuinness	7	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	8	0
FW	ENG Johnny Berry	20	4	0	0	3	1	1	1	24	6
FW	ENG Bobby Charlton	21	8	7	5	2	3	0	0	30	16
FW	SCO Alex Dawson	12	5	6	5	0	0	0	0	18	10
FW	ENG John Doherty	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
FW	WAL Kenny Morgans	13	0	2	0	4	0	0	0	19	0
FW	ENG Mark Pearson	8	0	4	0	2	0	0	0	14	0
FW	ENG David Pegg	21	4	0	0	4	3	1	0	26	7
FW	ENG Albert Scanlon	9	3	2	0	3	0	0	0	14	3
FW	ENG Ernie Taylor	11	2	6	1	2	1	0	0	19	4
FW	ENG Tommy Taylor	25	16	2	0	6	3	1	3	34	22
FW	ENG Dennis Viollet	22	16	3	3	6	4	1	0	32	23
FW	WAL Colin Webster	20	6	6	1	5	1	0	0	31	8
FW	IRL Billy Whelan	20	12	0	0	3	2	1	0	24	14

Munich air disaster

Main article: Munich air disaster

On 5 February 1958, United played Red Star Belgrade in Yugoslavia, in the second leg of the European Cup quarter finals. The match ended in a 3–3 draw, but as United had already won the home leg 2–1, they won the tie 5–4 on aggregate and reached the semi-finals for the second year in succession.

A stone tablet, inscribed with the image of a football pitch and several names. It is surrounded by a stone border in the shape of a football stadium. Above the tablet is a wooden carving of two men holding a large wreath. — A plaque at Old Trafford in honour of the players who died in the Munich air disaster

The team's chartered plane, an Airspeed Ambassador owned by British European Airways, left Belgrade on 6 February and stopped at Munich to refuel. Takeoff had to be aborted twice because of boost surging, a common problem in the "Elizabethan". The problem was caused by the fuel mixture being too rich, which caused the engines to over-accelerate: this problem was exacerbated by the altitude of the Munich airport.

The pilots were able to control the surging on the third takeoff attempt, but as they reached the V1 "decision speed" (after which it is unsafe to abort takeoff), the airspeed suddenly dropped. The aircraft left the runway, crashed through a fence and into a house. The left wing and the tail were ripped off, while the starboard side of the fuselage hit a fuel tank and exploded. Officially, the cause of the accident was build-up of slush on the runway, which caused the aircraft to lose speed, preventing it from achieving takeoff.

Mark Jones, David Pegg, Roger Byrne (United's captain since 1953), Geoff Bent, Eddie Colman, Liam Whelan, and Tommy Taylor were killed outright, in addition to club secretary Walter Crickmer, and coaches Tom Curry and Bert Whalley. Duncan Edwards, Matt Busby, and Johnny Berry were critically injured; Edwards died fifteen days later. Berry and Jackie Blanchflower survived but never played again. Byrne, Taylor and Edwards were all regular members of the England team, with 70 caps and 21 goals between them, while Pegg, Whelan, Berry and Blanchflower had all received full international recognition for England, the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.

A total of 23 people died as a result of their injuries; among them were four other passengers and two of the crew, as were eight sportswriters including former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Frank Swift. Among the survivors were goalkeeper Harry Gregg, who had only just joined the club from Doncaster Rovers, full-back Bill Foulkes and forward Bobby Charlton.

References

"Manchester United Season 1957/58". StretfordEnd.co.uk.
"Legends – Shay Brennan". Manchester United.
"Players – Mark Pearson". About ManUtd.
"Legends – Harry Gregg". Manchester United.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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