Frank Taylor, the only journalist to survive the Munich Air Disaster, sadly passed away yesterday (Thursday). He was 81.
A close and valued friend of the club, he was a much respected newspaperman who in his later years was President of the International Federation of Sportswriters.
His links with Manchester United were forged in the 1950s when the club became the first to enter European competition. The public were eager to be kept informed of United’s exploits on foreign fields and Frank, then of the News Chronicle, along with his many colleagues from the Manchester press corp, travelled with the team in order to report United’s early challenges for the European Cup.
It was, of course, whilst returning from one such tie, against Red Star Belgrade, in February 1958, that fate took charge following a re-fuelling stopover at Munich airport in Southern Germany.
Bavaria was in the grip of a bitter winter at the time and after making two aborted attempts to take off in falling snow the third bid to leave for Manchester proved disastrous. The plane failed to leave the ground and after ploughing through a perimeter fence it broke into several pieces. Twenty-three people were to lose their lives as a result of the incident including eight players, three club backroom staff and eight of Frank’s colleagues.
Though badly injured, Frank eventually made a good recovery and returned to sports reporting. He later published the definitive account of the Munich Air Disaster, the highly acclaimed The Day A Team Died.
A lovely, warm, articulate and gently-spoken man, who contributed regularly to club publications dedicated to the tragedy, Frank Taylor will be greatly missed by everyone who touched his life.
Cliff Butler
Editor, United Review
Manchester United would like to extend its deepest condolences to Frank's family and friends.
A close and valued friend of the club, he was a much respected newspaperman who in his later years was President of the International Federation of Sportswriters.
His links with Manchester United were forged in the 1950s when the club became the first to enter European competition. The public were eager to be kept informed of United’s exploits on foreign fields and Frank, then of the News Chronicle, along with his many colleagues from the Manchester press corp, travelled with the team in order to report United’s early challenges for the European Cup.
It was, of course, whilst returning from one such tie, against Red Star Belgrade, in February 1958, that fate took charge following a re-fuelling stopover at Munich airport in Southern Germany.
Bavaria was in the grip of a bitter winter at the time and after making two aborted attempts to take off in falling snow the third bid to leave for Manchester proved disastrous. The plane failed to leave the ground and after ploughing through a perimeter fence it broke into several pieces. Twenty-three people were to lose their lives as a result of the incident including eight players, three club backroom staff and eight of Frank’s colleagues.
Though badly injured, Frank eventually made a good recovery and returned to sports reporting. He later published the definitive account of the Munich Air Disaster, the highly acclaimed The Day A Team Died.
A lovely, warm, articulate and gently-spoken man, who contributed regularly to club publications dedicated to the tragedy, Frank Taylor will be greatly missed by everyone who touched his life.
Cliff Butler
Editor, United Review
Manchester United would like to extend its deepest condolences to Frank's family and friends.
