Tommy Taylor will probably only ring a
bell to those who remember the dreadful Munich airplane disaster of 1958 or
if you happen to be an “anorak” of Barnsley FC. Tommy was born at
Smithies near Barnsley in January 1932.
He joined local club Barnsley in 1948
and then had National Service to complete before he returned to
Oakwell, to play 46 games, scoring 28 goals.
Matt Busby spotted his potential and
signed him for Manchester United in March 1953. With Taylor's
presence, United became First Division champions in 1956 and 1957,
qualifying for the new European club competition, the equivalent of
the Champions League today. In 1957 United had also reached the FA
Cup Final losing against Aston Villa 1-2. By this time Taylor was
also an England international.
Eager not to miss league fixtures back at home, the club chartered a plane from Manchester to Belgrade for the midweek away leg against Red Star. It was a 3-3 draw which put United into the semi-final for a consecutive year. The flight from Belgrade was delayed due a lost passport by one of the United players and then had to be a refuelled at Munich.
Eager not to miss league fixtures back at home, the club chartered a plane from Manchester to Belgrade for the midweek away leg against Red Star. It was a 3-3 draw which put United into the semi-final for a consecutive year. The flight from Belgrade was delayed due a lost passport by one of the United players and then had to be a refuelled at Munich.
On February 6th, the British
European Airways flight 609, on a slushy runway, crashed after three attempts to take off in ice and
snow. 57 years ago, Tommy Taylor died along with 8 members of the
Manchester United squad and others.
Matt Busby survived, along with such famous squad players as Bobby Charlton, so he had to rebuild his team, which he did successfully with loanees and youth, getting to the FA Cup Final in 1958, losing to Nat Lofthouse' Bolton Wanderers 0-2.
Matt Busby survived, along with such famous squad players as Bobby Charlton, so he had to rebuild his team, which he did successfully with loanees and youth, getting to the FA Cup Final in 1958, losing to Nat Lofthouse' Bolton Wanderers 0-2.
There is an anniversary match held each
year at Old Trafford to remember those who died and suffered.
Tommy Taylor's nephew, Michael, attends and he hopes to raise
money through the Tommy Taylor's Youth Trust, for a statue to
commemorate the great man, to be erected somewhere in Barnsley; its
location is undecided-at the ground, Oakwell or in the town centre?
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