MUNICH AND MOTTY

February 6th: it is the anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster that devastated the Manchester United squad returning from a European football tie in 1958. United had been beaten in the FA Cup Final by Aston Villa in 1957 and had qualified to play in Europe by winning the First Division of the Football League. United became the first English team to compete in the relatively new European Cup (for League Winners only). En route to the semi-final, which they lost to Real Madrid, the team recorded a 10–0 victory over Belgian champions  Anderlecht, which remains the club's biggest victory on record.

The following season, on the way home from the European Cup quarter-final victory against Red Star Belgrade, the aircraft carrying the Manchester United players, officials and journalists crashed while attempting to take off after refuelling in Munich, Germany. The Munich Air Disaster of 6 February 1958 claimed 23 lives, including eight players, some of the best young players in the country and injured several more, staff and press. The wintery conditions included snow and wind and the aircraft hit a slushy area on the runway and failed to take off, ploughing through the fence at the end of the runway and hitting a house. The tragedy also claimed club staff, 8 journalists, crew and other passengers. The plaque at Old Trafford is in memory of those who died in the Munich Air Disaster.

AND since this is an FA Cup weekend, on 5th February 1972, in a Fourth Round FA Cup replay, Southern League Hereford United defeated First Division Newcastle United 2-1 on a quagmire of a pitch at Edgar Street. It was the first time in 23 years that a non-league side had defeated a First Division side in the FA Cup. Newcastle took the lead in the 82nd minute, against the run of play, with a goal from Malcolm Macdonald. With only 4 minutes remaining Ronnie Radford equalised with a spectacular 30-yard effort and during extra time Ricky George hit the winner. Amazing. The famous 'Oh, what a goal! Radford the scorer, Ronnie Radford" quote was said by John Motson in his Match of the Day commentary that evening. The 26-year-old Motty was in his very early days on TV and later credited that match as being his big break-through in TV. He later wrote is his autobiography 'It changed my life because my boss on Match of the Day realised I could be trusted to commentate on a big match.'

I played in a game at Charterhouse against the "Commentators XI" for Charity. Motty played on the right wing and he occasionally touched the ball, but he kept us entertained as he continued to commentate throughout the game. Martin Tyler, a "half decent" tall centre forward, didn't get many crosses from him!