PERHAPS it was inevitable that almost 50 years after the Munich air crash tragedy a book should appear on the Busby Babes: the Manchester United side which was on the verge of greatness. United – and for that matter the England side, too – lost in the cra

PERHAPS it was inevitable that almost 50 years after the Munich air crash tragedy a book should appear on the Busby Babes: the Manchester United side which was on the verge of greatness. United - and for that matter the England side, too - lost in the crash such key players as Roger Byrne, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Duncan Edwards.

Here Max Arthur has talked to the players who survived the crash and to the relations of those who died to complete a portrait of the team that Sir Matt Busby was then beginning to shape into then probably the most brilliant club side seen in the history of the game.