Roger Byrne facts for kids
Byrne in 1957
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Roger William Byrne | ||
| Date of birth | 8 September 1929 | ||
| Place of birth | Gorton, Manchester, Lancashire, England | ||
| Date of death | 6 February 1958 (aged 28) | ||
| Place of death | Munich, West Germany | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Full-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ryder Brow Boys Club | |||
| 1949–1951 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1951–1958 | Manchester United | 245 | (17) |
| National team | |||
| 1954–1957 | England | 33 | (0) |
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Roger William Byrne (born September 8, 1929 – died February 6, 1958) was a famous English footballer. He played as a defender and was the captain of Manchester United. Roger Byrne sadly died at the age of 28 in the Munich air disaster. He was one of eight Manchester United players who lost their lives in that tragic event on February 6, 1958. He also played 33 games for the England national team.
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Roger Byrne's Football Journey
Roger Byrne was born in Gorton, Manchester, on September 8, 1929. He was the only child of William and Jessie Byrne. Before becoming a professional footballer, Roger spent two years in the Royal Air Force. Interestingly, he played rugby there because he wasn't thought to be good enough for football at the time!
While playing for a local team called Ryder Brow, a scout from Manchester United named Joe Armstrong noticed Roger. He was offered a chance to play for Manchester United as an amateur. Soon after, he became a professional player. Roger was one of the first young talents who became known as the "Busby Babes". This was a nickname for the exciting young team built by manager Matt Busby.
Captain of Manchester United
Roger Byrne became the captain of Manchester United in the 1955–56 season. He led the famous Busby Babes team. He played as a left-sided full-back, which is a defensive position. Roger was very versatile, meaning he could play in many different spots on the field. Even though he was naturally right-footed, he was successful in various positions, including wing half and outside left.
Roger was not always seen as the most naturally talented player. His tackling could sometimes be tricky, and he wasn't the best at heading the ball. However, he worked incredibly hard and was very smart about the game. This helped him get into the right positions and react quickly to danger. He was also ahead of his time because he would often run forward to join attacks. Back then, full-backs were usually expected to stay back and only defend.
Perhaps Roger's best quality was his ability to inspire his teammates. He was a charismatic leader. Even more than 60 years after his death, many still consider him one of Manchester United's greatest captains. He helped United win the league championship three times: in 1952, 1956, and 1957. He also played in the 1957 FA Cup final, where United lost to Aston Villa. In 1957, he helped United reach the semi-finals of the European Cup. They were the first English team to enter this competition.
Playing for England
Roger Byrne was also a regular player for the England team in the 1950s. He played under manager Walter Winterbottom. Many people thought he might even become the captain of the national team after Billy Wright retired.
Roger played in 33 consecutive games for England. This means he appeared in every international match from his first game against Scotland in April 1954 until his last match against France in November 1957. This is still a record! Roger didn't score any goals for England. He took two penalties during his England career, but he missed both of them.
The Munich Air Disaster
Roger Byrne died in the Munich air disaster when he was 28 years old. He was the oldest of the eight players who tragically passed away in Munich. When he was supposed to return home, he would have learned that his wife, Joy, was expecting their first child. They had only been married the year before. His parents were also still alive at that time. Roger Byrne's funeral was held at Flixton parish church, and his body was cremated.
Roger was part of the Manchester United team that had just beaten Red Star Belgrade in the quarter-finals of the European Cup before the disaster.
Eight months after Roger's death, his son, Roger Jr., was born on October 7, 1958. Roger Jr. later became a ball boy at Old Trafford, Manchester United's stadium, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sadly, Roger Jr. passed away from cancer in December 2011 at the age of 53. He was living in Swindon and working for the local council. His mother, Joy, was still alive and in her seventies at the time of his death.
Remembering Roger Byrne
Years after his death, a street in a new housing area in Newton Heath, near Manchester city centre, was named after him – Roger Byrne Close. Other roads and paths in the same area are also named after other players who died in Munich. These include Tommy Taylor Close, Eddie Colman Close, Mark Jones Walk, Billy Whelan Walk, and David Pegg Walk. There's also a housing complex called Duncan Edwards Court, named after another famous player who died.
A book about Roger Byrne, called Roger Byrne, Captain of the Busby Babes, was published on December 2, 2000. It was written by Iain McCartney. There was also a TV show in 2011 called United which focused on the Busby Babes and the Munich air disaster. However, that show incorrectly named Mark Jones as the team captain and didn't mention Roger Byrne as a team member.
Honours
Manchester United
- Football League First Division: 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57
- FA Charity Shield: 1952, 1956, 1957
