This week is the 50th anniversary of the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.  Fifty years ago one of the best and brightest football teams in history was decimated on a runway in Munich when the aeroplane in which they were trying return home to Manchester crashed on its third attempt to take off in a swirling blizzard.  My Grandmother and most of my family were always season ticket holders at Old Trafford, which is why I have always been a United fan.  My mother may be from Moss Side but we’re a United family through and through.

One of my best friends in the world, and the man responsible for an awful lot of the really great music on this blog, is also a season ticket holder these days, so I am going to be down for the Manchester Derby this weekend.  This means the blog is going to be very, very quiet until Monday, at which point there will be a flurry of posts and a podcast.

Until then, spare a thought for some of the finest footballers to ever tread the turf in England and who never made it back to Manchester, and also a wee nod to the men who survived, whose team mates are gone.  It’s a funny thing, losing someone, and this week fifty years ago the whole town of Manchester did just that.  Cheers lads.  Thanks for everything.

Editors – Munich

Sorry guys, but I have to post this. Yes, I am a United fan. Yes, I was there.

I had to drive for almost ten hours in total to make the trip, I got back at half three in the morning and I am shattered, but this made it all worth it (or here for the more literally minded):

Now, I am not saying this makes us the greatest team in the universe, that we are now favourites for anything or any of that stuff. In fact it makes me a little nervous we’ll be suffering from a bit of a hangover when we play Watford on the weekend, but for now Song, by Toad is just enjoying the moment. What an amazing night.

The Pop Rivets – Lambrettavespascoota I didn’t want to post that bloody woo-hoo song by Blur, and as this has rather Roman overtones with the Lambrettas I thought it would do nicely. Also, it’s an excellent song and I can’t imagine what other contrived reason I might come up with to post it.

In the meantime, pass the coffee…