Republik Of Mancunia |
| Posted: 26 Nov 2013 10:54 AM PST Some time ago I made a pact with my partner to go to the Gym twice a week, part of the price for having a good eating lifestyle. On Saturday afternoon, before the wiles of Euro 2000 returned to the TV screen, we A silver-haired man, tall and imposing, was busy on the upper-body equipment. I have never been one for autographs, or idolising players, but a second glimpse told me who he was. Usually I don’t like to bother the gifted and famous, but eventually I decided to approach him. He must have been a dedicated trainer in his playing days, the effort and sweat was impressive for a man of his age, and you could see how he was proud of his physique even now. I chatted with him for merely a couple of minutes, and then he was gone. It shouldn’t have been much of a surprise really, I knew he had lived in my area, Sale, for a long time. My partner asked me who he was? I told her how he had been a first-teamer for 18 years, how he made his debut long before my time, at Anfield in 1952, how he survived the Munich Crash, and figured in Uniteds golden triumph of 1968. How he gave up a better-paid job down the pit to become a United stalwart, tough, reliable, not flashy but dependable, how he sold his medals, including 4 League Championship medals, and presumably his England cap too, in the early 90s as he needed the money. How he missed out on the big money that todays players rake in, being on the £20 a week maximum for many years. My chat with him was brief. I asked how his knee was treating him, and he told me, not so good. He mentioned that he still sees most home games, but is coaching still for the Manchester FA, and is asked to show the parties of Japanese visitors around the Stadium, thanks to his links with that country after 4 years coaching spent there. I told him that I hope I am motivated the same way at his age to go to the gym. He smiled, and proudly said, “I am 68 you know.” I didn’t tell him I had worked that out moments before in my head, from his debut back in 1952, to his last outing against Southampton in 1969… Oh yes, for those few who didn’t work him out, it was Bill Foulkes. |
| Remembering a United legend – Bill Foulkes Posted: 26 Nov 2013 01:00 AM PST
Foulkes, born in St Helens, joined United when he was 18-years-old and played in the youth team, making his debut for the first team two and a half years later against Liverpool. As well as playing in United’s first team, he worked as a miner until he was 22-years-old, with him believing that he wasn’t good enough to make it as a full time footballer. Originally a right full-back, he became a centre-half, his preferred position, as his career developed. He won his first league title with United in the 1955-1956 season, which was just the fourth occasion of us being named champions. The following season he helped United in their first ever European campaign, and the first time an English side had entered the competition, as United reached the semi-finals before being beaten by eventual winners Real Madrid. It was the 1957-1958 season that obviously stands out though, with Foulkes starting every game in what became a year of huge tragedy for the club. United booked their place in the semi-finals of the European Cup for the second year running, having entered the competition through being English champions again, after beating Red Star Belgrade in Yugoslavia. After the match, the team travelled to the British Embassy where each player was given a bottle of gin. It was this bottle gin that fell from the overhead rack when the plane crashed and cracked him on the head, the only injury he sustained. The plane had broken under his seat, leaving his feet in the snow. “I got out as quickly as I could and just ran and ran,” he later recalled. “Then I turned and realised that the plane wasn’t going to explode, and I went back. In the distance I could see the tail part of the aircraft blazing and as I ran back I came across bodies. Roger Byrne still strapped to his seat, Bobby Charlton lying quite still in another seat, and Dennis Viollet. Then Harry Gregg appeared and we tried to see what we could do to help. I ran over to Matt and we put an overcoat underneath him and he just turned over, groaned and passed out.” After Munich, he was made captain, taking over from Roger Byrne who died in the crash. United went on to reach the FA Cup final but lost to Bolton. They beat AC Milan in the home leg of the semi-finals but were defeated at the San Siro. In the years that followed, Foulkes was badly effected by the disaster, with him unable to eat or sleep properly. “I’d really had enough,” he later said. But Sir Matt went on to rebuild his team and Foulkes won the FA Cup with United in 1963, with 99,604 turning out to see us beat Leicester City 3-1 at Wembley. They won the league again two years later with Foulkes playing in every game. Him and Bobby Charlton were the only Munich survivors remaining in the team. Two years later they again won the league, making him the most decorated United player in the history of the club with four title winners medals. It was this season’s triumph that set United up to go on to achieve what Sir Matt had set out to do ten years earlier, with them winning the European Cup in 1968. United faced Real Madrid in the semi-finals again and beat them 1-0 at Old Trafford. In the return leg they went in 3-1 down at half-time, with it looking as though United were set to miss out again. David Sadler pulled a goal back, to make the scores level on aggregate, before Foulkes scored in the 78th minute to confirm United’s place in the final. Foulkes started the final, aged 36-years-old, as United went on to beat Benfica 4-1 to win the European Cup. He later said this victory helped him “get over” Munich and he was ready to retire. Sir Matt convinced him to stay on though and he eventually retired in 1970, having played more games for United than any player in the history of the club. Sir Bobby Charlton later beat his record, before Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes more recently, making Foulkes the player with the 4th most appearances for the club. Having spent 20 years at United, a one-club man, Foulkes became a manager, taking up jobs in America, Norway and Japan. In 1992 he auctioned his collection of medals and other mementoes to raise money for Christies. He continued to coach at the club and was involved in United’s pre-season tours in the Far East due to his links with Japan. Charlton described him as: “hard as nails [and] as tough as teak. I was always glad I didn’t have to play against him.” Bill Foulkes, United legend, rest in peace. |
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