Busby Babes facts for kids

Manchester United F.C. in 1957 – from the left, standing: Liam Whelan, Jackie Blanchflower, Ian Greaves, Ray Wood, Wilf McGuinness, Mark Jones, Tommy Taylor, Matt Busby (manager); front row: Johnny Berry, David Pegg, Albert Scanlon, Roger Byrne, Jeff Whitefoot, Dennis Viollet and Eddie Colman.

The Busby Babes was a nickname given to a group of players that played for Manchester United. The players with this nickname were recruited by Manchester United's chief scout Joe Armstrong and assistant manager Jimmy Murphy, and would be progressed to the first team by manager Matt Busby. The term was commonly used for players who joined the Manchester United academy during the 1940s and 1950s.

History

The term was first used in 1951 by Manchester Evening News journalist Tom Jackson. The term was commonly used to refer to the players that won the 1955–56 and the 1956–57 Football League First Division titles.

Eight of the players, being Roger Byrne (28), Eddie Colman (21), Mark Jones (24), Duncan Edwards (21), Billy Whelan (22), Tommy Taylor (26), David Pegg (22), and Geoff Bent (25) would die after the Munich air disaster, with Jackie Blanchflower (24 at the time of the crash), and Johnny Berry (31 at the time of the crash) being unable to play again.

The last player Matt Busby would sign was Sammy McIlroy in 1969. He was known as "The last of the Busby Babes"

Images for kids

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  Manchester United's "Busby Babes", pictured in 1958, before their last match.

See also

In Spanish: Busby Babes para niños