MEMORIES

to rescue Vera Lukic, the pregnant wife of a Yugoslav diplomat, and her young daughter Vesna. Harry, then aged 25, returned to the plane for Bobby Charlton and Dennis Viollet, dragging both the unconscious players to safety by their waistbands.

He also came to the aid of manager Matt Busby and another United star Jackie Blanchflower.

The team were returning from a European Cup match in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. The plane crashed after it stopped to refuel. Eight players – including Duncan Edwards – three club staff, eight journalists and two crew were among the dead. Recalling the

disaster at Munich-Riem

Airport, Harry said: “There was a sudden crash and debris began bombarding me on all sides.

“One second it was light, the next it was dark. There were no screams, no human sounds, only the terrible tearing of metal. Sparks burst all around.”

Less than two weeks later he was back in goal, playing in a 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

Harry was born in Tobermore, Co Londonderry, in 1932, the eldest of six children. His mum was Catholic and his carpenter dad a Protestant. Harry played in his native Northern Ireland while plying his trade as a joiner. Tall and strong, he joined Doncaster Rovers in 1952. In 1957 he signed for United for £23,500, a world record for a goalie. Months after the air crash he starred for Northern Ireland at the World Cup finals as they reached the quarter-finals. He was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Harry played 25 times for his

PLUCK OF THE IRISH Golfer Rory McIlroy jokes with Harry in 2016 country and 247 for United in his nine years there.

Club legends including Sir Alex Ferguson, Paul McGrath, Norman Whiteside and Peter Schmeichel paid tribute yesterday.

The club said: “Harry was one of [United’s] greatest goalkeepers… and one of the greatest men.”

In 1983 he was reunited with Vera and Vesna. He also met Vera’s son, who was born two months after the crash. Three years after the disaster, Harry’s wife, Mavis, died of cancer, leaving him to care for their two girls.

He lost his daughter Karen to the disease in 2009. He married Carolyn

Maunders in 1965 and they had four children together.

After his playing days ended in 1967, he managed Shrewsbury, Swansea, Crewe and Carlisle.

Harry, awarded an MBE and an OBE, kept making light of his heroism, saying: “I want to be remembered for what I did on a football pitch, not for what happened in an accident.”