Editions

The Busby Babes

The Busby Babes

  • Men of Magic

On 6 February 1958, a plane took off from a snowy Munich airport carrying probably the finest club side the world has ever known. Moments later, the aircraft crashed, killing some of the most legendary names in British football. This book is dedicated to those players - Roger Byrne, Tommy Taylor, the mighty Duncan Edwards and the others whose lives were cut off in their prime - and their indomitable manager, Sir Matt Busby.

Max Arthur has sought out all the players who survived the crash and spoken to the relatives and friends of those who died. From these interviews, sometimes serious but often humorous, he has captured their remarkable spirit and created a unique portrait of all the Busby Babes.

Reviews

  • This is a unique and fitting tribute to an unforgettable team. Those who never saw them play will, I hope, be made richer by this book. Those of us who remember them so well will not be saddened by it but will be reminded that they were men of magic

    the late Sir Matt Busby, from the foreword of the first editon

  • A fitting eulogy to arguably the finest club side ever seen in English football . . . the testimonies of the survivors are compelling

    BBC Sport

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About the Author

Max Arthur

Max Arthur is an author who specialises in first-hand recollections of historical events. He has worked closely with the Imperial War Museum to bring together two books in the Forgotten Voices series, Forgotten Voices of the Great War and Forgotten Voices of the Second World War. Previous titles include The Manchester United Air Crash; Above All Courage; Northern Ireland: Soldiers Talking; Men of the Red Beret; There Shall Be Wings: The RAF 1918 to the Present; The True Glory: The Royal Navy 1914 to Present. Prior to becoming a writer, he served with the Royal Air Force and for some years was an actor.

Max Arthur

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