The Day a Team Died: The Classic Eye-Witness Account of Munich 1958 [Paperback]

Frank Taylor OBE (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2012

Written by the only journalist aboard the plane to survive the disaster, The Day a Team Died is the definitive, firsthand account of the crash that killed eight members of one of the greatest Manchester United teams in history. On February 6, 1958, a plane carrying the so-called Busby Babes—named for manager Matt Busby—attempted to take off from a slush-covered runway in Munich following a European Cup match; the plane failed to lift off, careened off the runway, and crashed into a nearby house, killing 23 passengers. In this retelling of the harrowing experience, Frank Taylor recalls the events leading up to the disaster, the moment of the crash, and its appalling aftermath, as well as the flowering of this youthful, talented team and its rebuilding following the tragedy. Essential reading for all soccer fans, this compelling, eyewitness account features recollections from players who survived—including the revered Duncan Edwards who died 15 days after the crash—as well as exclusive photographs from the scene.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Frank Taylor, OBE, was a legendary British sports journalist who wrote for the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, and the Sun. He was the first Briton to serve as president of the International Sports Press Association in 1973 and was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services to sport and journalism.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Souvenir Press; New edition edition (April 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0285632620
• ISBN-13: 978-0285632622
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,026,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Classic Eye Witness Account of the Munich 1958 Air Crash, October 25, 1998

By 

Billy Shakes (On a bull of mud circling the sun) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Day a Team Died (Hardcover)

Frank Taylor OBE was a journalist who had travelled with the team to Belgrade for the European Cup Quarter Final 2nd leg. After refuelling in Munich, the plane aborted two attempts at takeoff. On the third attempt, it crashed at the end of the runway. Twenty One people died, among them eight members of the United team. Frank Taylor's book tells more than the story of a football tragedy. It is a tale of courage and warm humanity that reached far beyond the world of football. The book is riveting. It makes essential reading for United fans and for all followers of the world's most popular sport. Its eye-witness account and historic pictures make it a book that I review every year on the anniversary of the crash. The names of Taylor, Byrne, Pegg, Bent, Edwards, Whelan, Jones and Coleman will never be forgotten. But for me (born five years after the crash) Frank Taylor makes them into real people, not just names we have learned to mourn.