As the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster approaches, our ‘Yesterdays’ feature focuses on the incredibly emotional night at Old Trafford which came 13 days later.
The story begins on 6 February 1958, when the Manchester United side known as the 'Busby Babes' were returning from a European Cup clash with Red Star Belgrade in Yugoslavia.
The Reds had won over two legs by an aggregate score of 5-4 to advance to the semi finals.
Tragically, after stopping to refuel in Munich, the flight crashed on its third attempt to take off, resulting in 23 fatalities - including eight Manchester United players: Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor, Billy Whelan and Duncan Edwards (who died 15 days later).
Club staff, journalists and fans also lost their lives in the disaster.
There was speculation that the club would fold given they may not be able to fulfil their fixtures but United managed to complete the 1957/58 season.
Their first game post-Munich was an FA Cup tie against the Owls on 19 February 1958.
A makeshift Reds side won the fifth round tie 3-0, with the match programme, titled ‘United Will Go On’ showing the poignancy of the evening, leaving the home team blank.
TEAMS
UNITED: Gregg, Foulkes, Greaves, Goodwin, Cope, Crowther, Webster, Taylor, Dawson, Pearson, Brennan
GOALS: Brennan (28, 70), Dawson (85)
WEDNESDAY: Ryalls, Martin, Baker, Kay, Swan, O’Donnell, Wilkinson, Quixall, Johnson, Froggatt, Cargill
Tomorrow, Tuesday 6 February 2018, marks the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster and the thoughts of Sheffield Wednesday remain with all those affected by the tragic events of 1958.