On the 5th February 1958 the Busby Babes played their last ever game together. The Babes drew 3-3 with Red Star Belgrade. Denis Viollet scored one and Bobby Charlton scored the other two goals. This result gave United a 5-4 aggregate win to give them a place in the semi-finals for the second consecutive year.

The following day, Thursday 6th February United boarded a plane destined for home. There were also eleven journalists, six other passengers, two stewardesses and the Captain, James Thain. The BEA Elizabethan made a regular stop at Munich for refuelling. At 2pm the plane had been re-fuelled and was ready for take off. The first and second attempts were both abondoned. The passengers were told to to goto the terminal lounge and a third attempte did not look likely.

The remoteness of a third take off was so, that Duncan Edwards sent a telegram to his landlady back home in Manchester. The telegrame read: "ALL FLIGHTS CANCELLED FLYING HOME TOMORROW - DUNCAN"

In the end a third take off was attempted. The BEA Elizabethan failed to reach the required speed yet again. This it was too late and the Captain shouted "Christ, we won't make it". The aircraft went straight through the airport fence, crossed a road and crashed into a house. The plane broke up, the cockpit hit a tree and the fuselage crashed into a wooden hut which was home to a fuel truck. The fuel truck exploded.

As a result of the crash twenty three people died. Eight of them were United players:

1. Roger Byrne
2. Geoff Bent
3. Eddie Coleman
4. Mark Jones
5. Duncan Edwards
6. Liam Whelan
7. Tommy Taylor
8. David Pegg

There were also many United players injured these included

1. Bobby Charlton
2. Bill Foulkes
3. Harry Gregg
4. Jackie Blanchflour
5. Dennis Viollet
6. Albert Scanlon
7. Ray woods
8. Ken Morgans
9. Johnny Berry

Assistant manager Jimmy Murphy took over managerial duties. Murphy had not travelled to Belgarde due to international duties with the Welsh team. Uniteds next game with Wolves was postponed to allow time for Murphy to rebuild the side. Ernie Taylor joined Unietd from Blackpool. Many of Uniteds reserve and youth team came into the ifrst team. These included: left winger Shay Brennan, inside left Mark Pearson and left back Ian Greaves. Also in team was Stan Crowther signed just one hour before kick off and also available were Munich survivors Harry Gregg and Bill Foulkes. United won the game 3-0 with goals from Alex Dawson and two from Shay Brennan.

United finished a respectable 9th in the league and reached Wembly for the second successive year. United were to play Bolton on 3rd May 1958. Two more survivors played in the final, Dennis Violet and Bobby Charlton. Aided by walking sticks Sir Matt managed to sit on the sidelines.

United lost the game 2-0 and became the first team to lose consecutive FA Cup finals. The following week United resumed their European campaign, they beat AC Mialan 2-1 at home but lost the away tie 4-0.

The most tragic season in the history of Manchester United came to a close. As a mark of respect to those who lost their live in the disaster black was incorpaorated onto the United strip