Harry Gregg: 1932-2020

The former Manchester United, Stoke and Northern Ireland goalkeeper, who survived the 1958 Munich air crash, died last Monday, aged 87.

Born in Magherafelt, County Londonderry in October 1932, Harry was as an apprentice joiner and played for Windsor Park Swifts before joining Coleraine, aged 17. A year later he signed for Doncaster and in December 1957, he switched to Manchester United for a record fee for a goalkeeper of £23,000.

Regarded as "The Hero of Munich" after pulling his teammates, including Bobby Charlton, Jackie Blanchflower and Dennis Viollet, his manager Matt Busby, a pregnant woman and a young baby, from the burning plane, Harry became one of Manchester United’s best ‘keepers.

During his time at Old Trafford, he made 247 appearances. He played in the losing 1958 FA Cup final, missed the 1963 final through injury, helped United win two League titles in 1964–65 and in 1966–67.

He also won 25 caps for the Northern Ireland and was voted the best goalkeeper at the 1958 World Cup, helping his country reach the quarterfinals.

Harry switched to Stoke in December 1966 but only played twice for the Potters before retiring in May 1967. Thereafter, he spent 20 years in management, bossing Shrewsbury (195 games), Swansea (101), Crewe (163) and Carlisle (73), quitting football in 1987, after more than 30 years in the game. Awarded an MBE in 1995, he then received an Honorary Graduate of the University of Ulster, was appointed a Doctor of the University (DUniv) in recognition of his contribution to football in 2008. and finally received an OBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List.

Before his tragic death, George Best, who used to clean Harry’s boots, said: "Bravery is one thing but what ‘Greggy ‘ did at Munich was more than bravery. It was about goodness." R.I.P. Harry Gregg – top man.