REVEALED: ‘ROCK’ WHO KEPT REDS ON PATH TO GLORY
THE greatest heroes often emerge in the face of the deepest adversity and, for Manchester United, that moment came in the wake of the Munich air disaster.
Sixty years ago, with eight of the young squad killed and manager Matt Busby fighting for his life in a German hospital, Jimmy Murphy was thrown into the spotlight.
Busby’s assistant had not been in Belgrade for the European Cup match from which United were returning, on February 6, 1958, when tragedy struck.
Instead, Murphy had been at his “other job”, managing Wales in a World Cup qualifier, in the year he led them to their only World Cup.
He helped United through the most difficult time and guided the decimated squad to the FA Cup Final less than three months later.
But behind the unlikely hero is a man Murphy credited with being his rock through that terrible period – his trusted friend and chief scout Joe Armstrong.
And today, for the first time, we can publish an incredible letter (below), revealing an amazing tribute from Murphy to Armstrong.
The letter – dated April 29, 1958 and on headed notepaper from the team’s pre-cup final hotel in Blackpool – reveals how Murphy admits “he could not have carried on” without the support of Armstrong.
Murphy was often credited with rebuilding the club after Munich and helping it become what it is today – but it’s clear he feels none of it could have happened without Armstrong.
Author Wayne Barton, who has written the book The Man Who Kept The Red Flag
Flying: Jimmy Murphy, said: “I don’t think you can underestimate the importance of the letter when Jimmy talks in terms of not being able to carry on and the debt he owes to his great friend Joe Armstrong.
“All the things that Manchester United stood for, the style of play, together with the spirit of the players which motivated the club to carry on are behind what the club stands for today.
“Jimmy created the United philosophy, the spirit. The culture he created is what makes teams, like in 1999, go 1-0 down in the European Cup final and still refuse to give up – then win through in the end.
“Jimmy’s part in United’s history is possibly understated and Joe clearly provided the support to him when he needed it most to keep the club going amid the most appalling tragedy.
“The symmetry is remarkable that it was in 1958, they somehow reached the FA Cup final and now here we are, all these years later, back in the FA Cup final in 2018.”
And a sign of the simpler times of football’s past are evident where Murphy tells Armstrong he has enclosed two 15-shilling tickets for the final as a thank you. No fuss, just a gesture of thanks between friends.
And United legends.