Football in the 1950s was a far cry from the game that we are familiar with today. For many, Saturday morning meant putting in a shift at work, with the sound of the 12 o’clock hooters signalling a mad dash for the exit, an even quicker bite to eat and then off to the match. Stadiums were spartan, with little covered accommodation and terracing packed with swaying bodies eager to see the heroes of that period.

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Football in the 1950s was a far cry from the game that we are familiar with today. For many, Saturday morning meant putting in a shift at work, with the sound of the 12 o’clock hooters signalling a mad dash for the exit, an even quicker bite to eat and then off to the match. Stadiums were spartan, with little covered accommodation and terracing packed with swaying bodies eager to see the heroes of that period.

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While researching this weeks’ book review I happened to come across this article written on the 50th anniversary of Munich. It tells the story of a son who never knew his father because Manchester United skipper Roger Byrne lost his life in that tragedy, just days before his widow Joy discovered she was pregnant with their first child. It gave an opportunity for Roger Junior to recount his memories of growing up in those difficult times. Although this is a three year old article written in February 1958 for the Daily Mirror by journalist Julie McCaffrey, it loses none of the touching emotions experienced by the Byrne close knit family during those dark days.

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They sure don’t make them like Billy Foulkes anymore – although I must admit that current Manchester United skipper Nemanja Vidic comes from the same mould. The clubs official website says of the 60’s legend “In a distinguished career, Foulkes won First Division championship medals in 1956, 1957, 1965 and 1967 and was back at Wembley, this time a winner, in the 1963 FA Cup final. Add to that his part in the 1968 European Cup winning team and it’s somewhat surprising he was capped only once by England, against Northern Ireland in October 1954. Although noted more for stopping goals, Foulkes is fondly recalled for his goal against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in 1968, which helped send Manchester United into their victorious European Cup final.

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They sure don’t make them like Billy Foulkes anymore – although I must admit that current Manchester United skipper Nemanja Vidic comes from the same mould. The clubs official website says of the 60’s legend “In a distinguished career, Foulkes won First Division championship medals in 1956, 1957, 1965 and 1967 and was back at Wembley, this time a winner, in the 1963 FA Cup final. Add to that his part in the 1968 European Cup winning team and it’s somewhat surprising he was capped only once by England, against Northern Ireland in October 1954. Although noted more for stopping goals, Foulkes is fondly recalled for his goal against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in 1968, which helped send Manchester United into their victorious European Cup final.

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It was not a cup tie at Old Trafford but this United vs Arsenal classic at the old Highbury Stadium has gone down in the annals of history. Long time Arsenal fan Norman McMillan who was just 13 years old at the time, remembers the match in an article written for arsenal-world.net. It records the vivid memories of a young boy mesmerised by football magic irrespective of club loyalties. As he now recalls “It was the last League game played by the Busby Babes – five days before the Munich Air Disaster.”

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