Munich Memorial & Meredith

51 years ago... and after all the memorial services, media documentaries of last year and the big game against Manchester City this year is one of quiet reflection.

Get a call from my old mate Andy who spends a lot of time doing local history stories. Do I fancy a walk around Southern Cemetery as he wants to find some old graves for his research. It's a pleasant walk and the weather is fine. Think I'll try and find the legendary Billy Meredith's grave. He died back in 1958 a few months after the Munich disaster at the ripe old age of 84.

Go the office at the Cem' where they are very helpful. If you haven't a grave number and a section letter you'd never find what you came for amongst the thousands of headstones. Personally I find old graveyards fascinating but I don't think I'd like to be out here on my own at night. We soon find what Andy is looking for. So you have two biffas wandering around checking the bottom right hand corner of tombstones to spot the section and number of where we are.

We do some photography, check out the First World War memorial, spot the Sir John Alcock grave - he's the first man to fly the Atlantic with his mate Brown back in 1919 and trudge back for coffee. Anyway Billy Meredith's grave is easy to find it's number U760 with a fairly new headstone payed for by the PFA. Though a lot of funeral services for those killed at Munich were held at this cemetery and crematorium only three of them were buried here.
Links : Munich memorials
Forever Remembered (entry for 2008)

Dire Performance in the Derby

United 1 Manchester City 2 att: 75,970

Derby Day Chants from biffadigital on Vimeo.
The fans were behind their teams, the 1 minute silence was observed, and free scarves held aloft. But the United's team performance was one of the worse I've seen for years. Plenty of poor passing, shots well wide and hopeless big hoof balls up to the forwards. No Rooney or Evra and it showed. To be fair to City they looked composed and new signing Benjani is a handful for any defence. Disappointed, very disappointed with today's team effort.

Other points...City fans signing "There's only one Frank Swift" which was welcomed with applause by the United faithful. Some firework bangs going off in the minute's silence - not sure about that. Getting a free scarf (100% acrylic, Made in China - isn't everything) and a facsimile programme of the game after Munich with the blank team sheet.

BBC Video of pre-match wreaths, bag-piper & silence..here

Forever Remembered #2

You grow up with the history, you've seen the footage and read the articles many, many, many times....and then something new .

Audio from 1958 on an early tape recorder from the survivors in hospital with messages to back home. here.

Harry Gregg on BBC1 "One Life" which is compelling.

Forever Remembered

We can all remember in our own way. A very poignant day. After watching the live reports and Sir Alex's tribute on MUTV, then the 1300h news on the BBC I just wanted to get out of the house and to the ground.

When we first got there you could get to see the flowers laid in rememberance. But after a visit to the International Suite where the service was being relayed we returned to find the concourse packed. The names of the 23 killed that day came across the speakers followed by a minute's silence. It was hush, even the traffic was stopped. There then followed the singing of "Flowers of Manchester". But not many of us know the words. However the old Busby Babes songs, and the red flag tune got the crowd in voice.

So glad we went, it's keeping the faith. Pictures (14).

Evening News Munich Special

The newsagents in Manchester are selling a 48 page supplement "Munich Remembered". It costs a quid, and is published by the Manchester Evening News - the people who also bring The Guardian to a different readership. Before you say cashing in, they have a history of bringing out these specials, I grew up on them in the pre-internet age - usually pictures of the olden days or the blitz. So it has no adverts - apart from Channel M coverage of the anniversary next week, plenty of photos, and is very inclusive of all of Manchester. One of the best articles is a reprint of the match report by Alf Clarke of the last game against Red Star Belgrade. It takes you through the play with the high points and the names of the goalscorers in upper case - a style that is no longer in newspapers because of television.