Gregg inducted into prestigious Hall of Fame
Manchester United legend Harry Gregg has been inducted into the Northern Ireland Football Awards’ Dr Malcolm Brodie Hall of Fame.
Our former goalkeeper spent nine seasons at Old Trafford and made 247 appearances. In 1958, he survived the Munich Air Disaster that claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight team-mates.
The Coleraine man is often referred to as the Hero of Munich because he pulled several survivors from the wreckage, including his manager Sir Matt Busby, but he was very much a reluctant hero.
Later that same year, Gregg helped Northern Ireland reach the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, where he was proudly named Best Goalkeeper by FIFA.
Gregg sadly passed away last year at the age of 87, yet his legacy lives on and we are proud to see he has been honoured by the Northern Ireland Football Awards.
The Coleraine man is often referred to as the Hero of Munich because he pulled several survivors from the wreckage, including his manager Sir Matt Busby, but he was very much a reluctant hero.
Later that same year, Gregg helped Northern Ireland reach the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, where he was proudly named Best Goalkeeper by FIFA.
Gregg sadly passed away last year at the age of 87, yet his legacy lives on and we are proud to see he has been honoured by the Northern Ireland Football Awards.
In a touching tribute, Harry’s wife Carolyn said: “If he was here, he would simply say 'thank you'. He would be very humble too. He always was. I and my family have been touched by the response from people, from the attendance at the funeral to receiving this award.
“It has been very hard but I think somehow the support I've had from everybody, from Manchester United to people on the streets and in the shops, has helped me come to terms with Harry's passing.
“Harry was always very proud of being from Coleraine, from Northern Ireland. He would always refer to himself as Henry Gregg, Windsor Avenue, Coleraine.”
“It has been very hard but I think somehow the support I've had from everybody, from Manchester United to people on the streets and in the shops, has helped me come to terms with Harry's passing.
“Harry was always very proud of being from Coleraine, from Northern Ireland. He would always refer to himself as Henry Gregg, Windsor Avenue, Coleraine.”
Harry's son John - a former player and respected coach - paid tribute to his father: “We're delighted to see Dad get this award. I know he was close to a number of pressmen so this award is very fitting and we are grateful to the Northern Ireland Football Awards panel for the award.
“Dad loved football, whether it was playing for Manchester United and Northern Ireland or coaching at United, Shrewsbury, Swansea, Crewe and Carlisle, he just loved the game.”
Harry’s daughter Jane also said: “It's such a wonderful honour and I know Dad would have been very humbled. I'm very proud of Dad and want to thank everyone involved in honouring him. He was a very special human being, and we miss him every day.”
“Dad loved football, whether it was playing for Manchester United and Northern Ireland or coaching at United, Shrewsbury, Swansea, Crewe and Carlisle, he just loved the game.”
Harry’s daughter Jane also said: “It's such a wonderful honour and I know Dad would have been very humbled. I'm very proud of Dad and want to thank everyone involved in honouring him. He was a very special human being, and we miss him every day.”
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