The Hillsborough and Munich Disasters

Article by Alex Griffiths. Edited and researched by Rob Russell.

Whether you would care to admit it or not, the impact that has sport in modern society is inescapable. The London 2012 Olympics this summer proved sport’s ability to spawn patriotism, unite communities, and make heroes of individuals. Its ability to bring people together doesn’t just apply to times of celebration, but moments of tragedy as well. 

This article concerns two sporting disasters, both within football, which brought the sporting world together in grief, and proved that sometimes there is more to it than the competition itself. The Munich air disaster of 1958, and the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, both transcended the sport and made headlines worldwide. For the two football clubs involved- Manchester United and Liverpool- the events have left an irreversible mark on the identity of their clubs and the English game. 

On February 6th 1958, Manchester United were returning from a victorious European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade when they stopped off in Munich to re-fuel. Upon departure, the airliner carrying players and coaching staff, as well as journalists and supporters, skidded off the snow-laden runway and crashed. Twenty-three of the forty-four passengers were to lose their lives. 

Amongst the dead included some of the leading footballers of their generation, such as Duncan Edwards and Roger Byrne. The youthful team of so much vibrancy and potential, christened the ‘Busby Babes’ after their manager Sir Matt Busby, was torn apart. Busby himself was read the last rites twice, before eventually leaving hospital after nine weeks. Frank Swift, a Manchester City player, was also a fatality. He happened to be reporting on the game for the Manchester Evening News. 

As one might expect, reaction from the footballing world was unanimous. Tributes poured in not just from fellow English clubs, but from all over the European continent. Teams from the North West offered to lend players to the club in order to fulfil their fixtures. For many of the public, United became their second team. Three months later, United took on Bolton Wanderers in the FA cup final, with a mismatch team and the backing of the nation. 

The suffering endured was to have closure ten years later, after Sir Matt Busby finally returned to management after a full recovery. From the ashes of Munich a phoenix rose; a 4-2 victory at Wembley over Benfica saw Busby and Sir Bobby Charlton, another survivor, lift the European Cup ten years after their pursuit was fatally cut short. 

It was from this era that United’s large support base and status as a world-famous club originates. The foundations and principles of Busby have been taken on by Sir Alex Ferguson, who has since become the most successful manager in British history. For the Ferguson era to be traced back this far demonstrates just how much the air disaster changed English football. 

One other aspect of Munich was how the whole city came together in solidarity for United. Yet this pales in comparison to the impact the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 had on the city of Liverpool. The Sheffield stadium was the setting for the FA cup semi final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on the 3rd May. A surge from the crowd in the Leppings Lane resulted in a mass crush at the front of the stand – 96 people were to never return to Merseyside following the game.

As a city, everyone was affected in some way. The strong family connections within meant that many had a relative involved – Liverpool and Everton supporters alike. Recent developments regarding culpability for the tragedy, and police handling in the aftermath, are beyond the scope of this article. But the ongoing campaign wanting ‘justice for the 96’ has further reinforced this solidarity. If you were to visit the Hillsborough memorial today, you would find just as many Everton scarves as Liverpool, and a whole plethora of messages of support from visiting teams around the world. Similar to 1958, Liverpool’s global status meant this made headlines worldwide. 

There can be no doubting the impact that the fatal events of 1989 have had on the English game. The subsequent Taylor Report of 1990 led to a banning of standing terraces at all major stadiums, bringing in an era of all-seated stadia. This, coupled with the creation of the Premier League 3 years later, is what has taken English football to a global market. 

Whilst the tradition of terraces held a unique charm for some, it is fair to say the concoction of testosterone, beer, urine, foul language and crumbling concrete steps did not appeal to everyone. Modern day stadiums are a different breed, fully adapted to health and safety requirements in order to make sure the lessons of Hillsborough have been learnt. This has lead to a far friendlier atmosphere at most grounds, with women, children and other ethnic minorities now feeling welcome. 

Football’s place in British culture is defined by overhype, riches and celebrity culture – spending as much time on the tabloid front pages as the back. It can be convincingly argued that most of this has come about through the Premier League and safe-standing. 

Nowadays, Premier League games are beamed to over 200 countries around the world, to an audience of billions. It is undoubtedly our biggest cultural export. From a historian’s point of view, the Premier League it is a perfect embodiment of globalisation, and how cultures are becoming ever-increasingly linked to each other. 

To understand how football has become what it has, one must fully appreciate the impact that both 1958 and 1989 have had in shaping events. The international standing of both clubs means they will never be forgotten. On another level, particularly in the case of Liverpool, Hillsborough has left a lasting scar on the cities conscience. 

For anyone who ever questions the role of sport in Britain’s history and role in modern-day society, these provide the perfect anecdote. 

• The consequences of the Hillsborough disaster affected more than the 96 people who sadly lost their lives, with over 750 people estimated to have been injured as a result of the tragedy. 

• There have been a number of reports into the incident, with the initial Taylor Report being followed by an Independent Report in recent months after a widespread campaign. 

• Recent debates have arisen over the possibility of reintroducing standing areas into football grounds in this country, something opposed by many of the families and supporters groups affected by the Hillsborough disaster.

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