The Lost Babes: Manchester United and the Forgotten Victims of Munich: Amazon.co.uk: Jeff Connor: Books

Barry Forshaw

The Lost Babes (subtitled Manchester United and the Forgotten Victims of Munich) is Jeff Connor's compellingly readable account of one of the great tragedies in sporting history and its aftermath. The great manager Matt Busby had forged Manchester United into an invincible team in the 1950s. No one seemed able to halt the progress of these young and immensely talented players as they added the 1955-6 Championship Trophy to their accomplishments, repeating the feat next year. But all this was to change in the most tragic fashion when on the sixth of February, 1958, the plane bringing the team home from Munich crashed, ending the lives of eight of the Manchester United players along with other passengers on the plane. Britain (not just fans of the team) was devastated, as the careers of such talents as Roger Byrne (England’s Captain), Duncan Edwards, Tommy Taylor and Eddie Coleman were ended at a stroke. Connor describes this devastating incident with both vividness and sympathy, but he is equally to be praised for his handling of subsequent events, notably the lives of the players who survived the crash and the families of those who didn't. The Lost Babes describes the inauguration of one of the great football teams in sporting history, and does so against a richly drawn panoply of the Britain of the day. He is unsparing and when describing the aftermath of the plane crash, with the club making the Munich tragedy emblematic while not looking after the survivors or the families and relatives of those who died. Of the surviving members of the team, some were unable to play ever again, and the case of the celebrated Jackie Blanchflower, severely injured in the crash, became a cause célèbre, as he became homeless when he was abruptly removed from the club house very shortly after the accident, with virtually no compensation.

Connor has spoken at length to the victims of the Munich crash, along with many other players (and important figures) of the era, and he makes the case that the resonances of the tragedy have echoed down to the very present, with current surreal and stratospheric payments to modern stars (such as Eric Cantona) throwing into relief the injustices of the past. When so many sports books are anodyne celebrations, Jeff Connor is to be applauded for making such an uncompromising and trenchant book so immensely readable. --Barry Forshaw

Review

‘The legend of the Busby Babes will never die’ Manchester Evening News

‘A fascinating memoir' The Times

'Betting men should seize the obviously generous odds for a riveting new work, published by HarperSport, to hold off all comers for the next 11 months and be proclaimed sports book of 2006 at Christmas.' Frank Keating, Guardian

'Jeff Connor manages to bring a fresh eye to the topic without seeming to exploit the grief of the survivors and the relatives of the victims. His account of the crash itself is informed by survivors, and makes terrifying reading …The book is a thorough, and thoroughly moving piece of work.' Daily Telegraph

Reviewed by Ian Wooldridge in The Daily Mail: '….a diligently researched book'; and by Leo McKinstry in the Sunday Telegraph, '….a readable, well-researched book.'

'Connor is unsparing in his attacks on (Manchester) United.' '…a worthwhile, often poignant book. The voices of the families, filled with anger at betrayal, are an antidote to the wealthy smugness that now pervades too much Premiership football.'

The Birmingham Post calls it '..a thought-provoking book..' and The Sunday Business Post, 'A compelling and uncomfortable read…'

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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

Stunningly atmospheric account of immortal side. 9 Feb 2006

By A. Thorpe

Format:Hardcover

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.

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

A vital piece in the Manchester United jigsaw 19 Feb 2006

By P. Hargreaves

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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Incredible, disturbing, poignant, heart-rending story of the babes (and their families) post Munich 10 Dec 2006

By A Manchester Red

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.