This Day in History: 2023-04-28

Nr. 447

‘BIG BILL’ SAVES UNITED (1968)

The big occasion needed a big man and Manchester United had just the guy. Bill Foulkes, a six-foot tall ex-miner, left the United defence dubbed the ‘wall of steel’ to score a goal against Real Madrid. It could not have been more vital as it gave United a 3-3 draw in Spain and, having won the first leg of the European Cup semi-final 1-0 at Old Trafford, a place in the final. Foulkes had been a rock at the heart of Manchester United defence for 18 years and had survived the Munich air crash in 1958.

Foulkes played 566 times for Manchester United but was only capped once by England.