Documentaries
AS THE GREAT FOOTBALLER turns 80, his thoughts return to the Munich crash…
The story of a football icon in Sir Bobby Charlton at 80
Sunday, BBC1 HD, 10.30pm
HE MAY BE TURNING 80, but Manchester United and England legend Sir Bobby Charlton remains one of the most famous sportsmen in the world – and this week a host of football colleagues, including Alex Ferguson, Geoff Hurst, plus Bobby’s brother Jack Charlton, pay tribute to him in a special documentary.
IT’S A FASCINATING LIFE STORY,
from growing up in the mining town of Ashington, Northumberland, to a long and glittering career that included
World Cup victory in 1966.
‘It’s what you dream of, isn’t it? It was absolute magic,’ says Bobby in the programme.
SCOUTED BY UNITED,
aged 15, Bobby quickly became one of manager Sir Matt Busby’s legendary Busby Babes. However, when he was just 20, everything changed.
AS THE TEAM WAS RETURNING
from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade on 6 February 1958, their charter plane crashed on take off at Munich Airport. Of the 44 people on board, 23 died, including eight of Bobby’s team-mates.
‘EVERYONE WAS REALLY EXCITED
because we were through to the semi-finals and we felt as though we could go on and win,’ says Bobby.‘ but then everybody knows what happened and it was just a nightmare. My own personal friends were dead – it changed my life.’
DESPITE THE TRAGEDY,
Bobby bravely continued playing for United and became the cornerstone of the England team that won the World Cup in 1966, along with his brother, Jack.
‘TO BE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD WAS JUST MAGIC,’
says Bobby. ‘I was very proud of what Jack and I had done. To be playing together in the World Cup final and winning it was very special. Our lives were never the same again.’
AFTER HANGING UP HIS BOOTS AT UNITED IN1973,
Bobby became a director for the club in 1984, supporting players including Wayne Rooney, who recently broke Bobby’s goalscoring record at the club. He earned a knighthood in 1994, and is still considered one of the greatest midfielders ever seen.
‘I’M REALLY PROUD OF WHAT I’VE ACHIEVED IN MY CAREER,’
he says. ‘I’d like to think I’ve passed on a few things that people will remember.’