Product Description

This is a moving story of how a legendary football team was lost to tragedy - and how this disaster irrevocably altered the lives of the survivors and the bereaved families, and ultimately brought shame on the biggest football club in the world. The Manchester United team, Matt Busby had built in the fifties from the club's successful youth policy, seemed destined to dominate football for many years. Such was the power of the 'Busby Babes' that they seemed invincible. The average age of the side which won the Championship in 1955-56 was just 22, the youngest ever to achieve such a feat. A year later, when they were Champions again, nothing, it seemed, would prevent this gifted young team from reigning for the next decade. But then came 6 February 1958, the day that eight Manchester United players died on a German airfield in the 'Munich Air Disaster' - a date to be forever etched in the annals of sporting tragedy. Duncan Edwards, Eddie Colman, Tommy Taylor, Roger Byrne ...the names were already enshrined in legend before the air crash, but Munich in many ways earned them immortality. They have never grown old. Jeff Connor traces the rise of the greatest Manchester United side of all time, alongside a vibrant portrait of England in the 1950s, but he also paints a dark picture of a club that enriched itself on the myth of Munich while neglecting the families of the dead and the surviving players. The repercussions and the toll the disaster took on so many linger to the present day. Drawing on extensive interviews with the Munich victims and players of that era, "The Lost Babes" is the definitive account of British football's golden age, a poignant story of the protracted effects of loss and a remorseless dissection of the how the richest football club in the world turned its back on its own players and their families.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30534 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Customer Reviews

Stunningly atmospheric account of immortal side.
Speaking as a Manchester City supporter of 43 years this is the best factual football book I have ever read, it gives life to names known only from my childhood, without spoiling anyones enjoyment I personally would urge any reader to firstly read the final chapter first as this puts a clearer perspective about the author.
I read the book in less than 2 days as it was to use an overused phrase 'unputdownable', it is not a Manchester United basher on the contrary it is critical of certain individuals who are or were connected to the club.
I,having read the book feel as if I personally knew those who died and also those who survived.
It is the only book that when finished I would want to start reading straight away again.

A vital piece in the Manchester United jigsaw
Every so often a book is published which actually adds to the history of Manchester United as opposed to merely restating what is already known. Such a book has just been published.

'The Lost Babes' is an excellent book, which provides some missing pieces absolutely essential to the Manchester United jigsaw.

As the years pass the number of people who can remember the events of 1958 reduce. And many of those left struggle to get the grey matter working properly. It is thus vital that such books are written whilst there are people around who are capable of providing accurate information which gives both a correct picture and, significantly, an accurate perspective.

Jeff Connor has done such a job and I hope that you will take the time to read his book. You might find that it gives an insight which you do not currently have - you certainly won't unless you are over fifty years of age. The book does not put either the Club or certain individuals in a good light, but that does not surprise me one little bit. One of our most celebrated ex-players, now a director, is shown in his true colours. But then, I've known that for a very, very long time.

I commend this book to you. It gives information which cannot easily be found elsewhere with regard to to some key issues.

Incredible, disturbing, poignant, heart-rending story of the babes (and their families) post Munich
I've been a Man Utd fan all my life. My late dad never spoke about Munich, and reading this book was like the education I never received at home.

With intimate insights into the lives of individuals affected by the Munich disaster, Jeff Connor carefully and respectfully brings to life the grief and trials post Munich; he contrasts the club welcoming publicity about the disaster with their attitudes to the families living with the consequences - sometimes living hand to mouth.

It is clear that the Busby Babes are not the only former football stars who feel let down in retirement, especially in the reflection of Rio Ferdinand and his generation earning £7m a year (more in a week than they received in total over nearly 50 years!) Connor, however, charts a careful course between the rocks of sentimentality and the cliffs of rage at the maltreatment of his fellow man (and boyhood heroes).

I, for one, was deeply moved by the experience of reading this book. I recommend it to all Manchester United fans, particularly younger ones who only remember the eras of Beckham and beyond.