Teach young Reds about the great Sir Matt Busby

Our children’s book United Heroes tells the stories of our greatest icons, ensuring the next generation of supporters know their history.

We invite your young Reds to read this chapter about the great Sir Matt Busby…

THE GODFATHER

Sir Matt was United manager from 1945 to 1969, briefly returning in 1970/71, and turned the club from a sleeping giant into one of the biggest names in football. 

Across his 25 years in charge he built three great teams, survived a plane crash in which many of his players and staff were killed, and laid down the foundations for the club we see today.

Few people, perhaps only Sir Alex Ferguson, have made a bigger impact on Manchester United Football Club. 

WHERE IT STARTED

When Matt was born, in a mining village in Scotland, the doctor told his mother that “a footballer has come into this house today”. And he was right. 

Busby showed his talents as a youngster for a junior side in Stirlingshire called Denny Hibs and he was so good that he was signed up by Man City – yes, really! 

Over the next decade, Busby was one of the best players in the English leagues. He won the 1934 FA Cup with City and then moved to Liverpool – yes, he played for them too! – where he was made club captain. 

Then came the Second World War, which interrupted Busby’s playing career. 

JOINING UNITED

Busby was a guest player for a few teams during the war, but towards the end of the conflict, United’s chief scout Louis Rocca wrote him a letter referring to a mysterious ‘job’. 

Rocca didn’t want Liverpool – who Busby still played for – to know what was happening because the job was important. It was to become the next Manchester United manager as soon as the war was over.

In 1945, Busby accepted the offer and together with a small but fiery Welshman called Jimmy Murphy – his new assistant – the Scot revolutionised United and English football. 

The Reds played an attacking, entertaining style that cheered people up after the war and they won the FA Cup in 1948 and the league title in 1952 – United’s first trophies for more than 30 years.

While building that first great team, Busby and Murphy were also working hard behind the scenes, busy making sure replacements for their ageing players were lined up. 

They created a structure to find, sign and train the very best young players in Britain and Ireland. And soon, the ‘Busby Babes’ were born, nicknamed because Matt brought them into the first team at an unusually young age.

These ‘Babes’ included the big but skilful Duncan Edwards, wingers Eddie Colman and David Pegg, and a young lad from the north-east called Bobby Charlton.

Busby managed his crop of young players perfectly and United won the league title in 1956 and 1957.

The team’s average age was only 21 – quite different to the average age of 26 for most title-winning teams. 

Busby showed bravery in everything he did. Not only did he trust these ‘Babes’, but he also made sure United were the first English side to compete in the European Cup, which later became the Champions League. 

In our first season, we lost to Real Madrid in the semi-finals and that made Busby more determined to beat them the next year. Sadly, that chance would never come.

On 6 February 1958, while returning from a game against Red Star Belgrade, their plane crashed in Munich after a refuelling stop. A total of 23 people died, including eight players. 

Busby was badly injured. He was in hospital in Germany for nine weeks and on two occasions doctors and family prepared themselves for the worst.

However, he slowly recovered and after initially considering leaving football – heartbroken by the loss of so many friends – he was convinced to continue and honour those who had died.

It took time, but Busby slowly created his third great side. Building around Munich survivors Bill Foulkes and Charlton, more youngsters emerged from the youth system, while new signings like striker Denis Law came in.