This Day in History: 2022-11-04

Nr. 337

EMPTY SPACES IN UNITED PROGRAMME (1958)

Thirteen days after the Munich air disaster Manchester United were back in action for the first time when they faced Sheffield Wednesday in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford. Harry Gregg and Bill Foulkes were the only players fit and available from the last game prior to the crash, and, poignantly, the programme had been printed with eleven blanks for the United team. Although essentially a team of strangers, United won the game 3-0. «That game was more important for what it did for the people of Manchester than what it did for me,» said Bobby Charlton. «It gave them something to shout for again.»

Manchester United captain Bill Foulkes leads the makeshift United team out for their first match since the tragedy in Munich.