HARRY GREGG - THE RELUCTANT HERO

I was saddened to learn of the passing of hero survivor from the 1958 Munich air disaster Manchester United legend Harry Gregg who died this week at the age of 87. The Magherafelt native, who was once the world's most expensive goalkeeper, made a total of 210 appearances for the Old Trafford club following stints with Linfield, Coleraine and Doncaster Rovers respectively. A World Cup in 1958 followed with Northern Ireland, where he earned a total of 25 caps; this just months after walking away from the crash which would take away the lives of the majority of his teammates.

Like many, I was not fortunate enough to witness Harry's 'heroics' on the football pitch. But what sets Harry's 'Hero' status apart from other legendary names to have graced the beautiful game was that he was a real-life 'Hero' off the field too. 23 lives were lost when Manchester United's air-plane stopped in Munich to refuel in horrendous conditions. Twice they tried to take-off, twice they abandoned. The fateful third attempt via the snow-laden runway was to prove disastrous, crashing into a fence at the end of the runway before ploughing into a house and losing it's left wing.



In an act of complete selflessness, a still conscious Harry Gregg acted fast in pulling survivors from the burning wreckage. Among them was a Serbian woman and her baby daughter. TV footage many years later reunited them where he was told to his astonishment that she was also pregnant with a baby boy at the time too. When prompted by a journalist to respond to the gratitude received, a visibly emotional Gregg uttered the words "These people owe me nothing". It tells you everything you need to know about the man in one sentence.

Widely acknowledged in the annual commemorations to mark the tragedy, perhaps it's now time this legend of the club be given a lasting legacy in his death. Many supporters have been vociferous in their calls for Manchester United to have another national treasure immortalised alongside Best, Law, Charlton, Ferguson and Busby in the form of a statue at the Theatre of Dreams.

An ironic tribute given that while statues stand still - on that fateful day of the 6th of February 1958 - one courageous man thankfully, did not.

Harry Gregg, 'The Reluctant Hero', and one of our own - may you rest in peace.

SEÑOR EVANS ON LOS GALÁCTICOS RADAR

Evans Above: Jonny scores in NI's 3-2 win over Poland earlier this year

A quick jump aboard the rumour-mill this week throws up a 'Real' corker.  Our Jonny is being touted as the next Manchester United player to hot-tail it out to Spain and join the Madrid giants. 

"Go Jonny Go Go" may be the cries from the Spanish capital, but in reality, the young lad from Rathcoole is going nowhere.  He is United through and through.  Would you believe... he even bleeds red.

BBC Northern Ireland recently screened a documentary following Jonny and his promising career on the pitch.  See it here if you missed it.  Like myself, a United fan growing up in Belfast, he is living out the dreams of thousands throughout Ireland.  What's better is that he takes it all in his stride and never forgets his roots.  It's easy to see why the glitz and glamour of Real Madrid wouldn't get this Manchester United fan all hot under the collar.  The same depth of loyalty shown couldn't be said for some of his previous team-mates at United.  Señor Ronaldo, Señor van Nistelrooy, and Señor Heinze all left the "Red Devils" for "Los Galácticos", however it was to be a relative step-down for both the Holland and Argentina internationals.  It remains to be seen how that Portuguese fella embraces his recent arrival at the Bernabau.

Jonny - come lately - has excelled for both club and country.  However, injury has temporarily cut short his fantastic start to this season.  It is no coincidence that United have not faired well in his absence.  A future Northern Ireland captain of that there is no doubt.  He advocates that himself, "It's always been my ambition to captain my country one day".  But I'm not getting carried away because at the tender age of just 21, he still has alot to learn.  Old Trafford is the right place to do just that.

There's a certain paramilitary mural in Jonny's native North Belfast that sends out the message "Prepared for Peace, Ready for War".  It's a message Evans has taken and adapted to his career on the football pitch.

Prepared for partnership.  Ready for war.  Rio and Nemanja take note.

Evans Above, Jonny - you took something perfect... and painted it red.

RYAN GIGGS & S.P.O.T.Y

No, this isn't just another episode of a well known BBC cartoon where a superstar footballer special guests alongside Super-ted and company;  this is Ryan Giggs and the Beeb's "Sports Personality of the Year".

That's right Giggsy scooped 'the biggie' of the BBC sporting world.  A sporting world that includes...

- no live Premiership coverage
- no live (or highlighted) Champions League coverage
- the odd 'Championship' match involving the might Toon
- a poor man's version of Soccer Saturday (sorry Gabby, there's just no substitute for Jeff Stelling)
- and Mark Lawrenson

A stunned Ryan Giggs said he was "in total shock" after winning the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. 

Understandable.

I had it down to a final lap slog-fest between David Hayes and Jenson Button.

But, it was the public that voted.  Yes those heartless swines even had the cheek to vote out Jedward last month. Scandless.

I didn't vote myself, but given the choice my allegiences obviously would have forced me to vote David Healy Ryan Giggs.  Why? Because he is my idol.  He was quite simply the George Best of my era (1986-present).  Giggs is 'THE' model footballer.  This is a player who's most compromising situation off the pitch arose when the gaffer (Sir Alex) made an unexpected appearance at a quite innocent house party where Lee Sharpe attempted to lead a young impressionable Ryan astray.  David Beckham and Tiger Woods he is not.

He is however Manchester United's shining light in a relatively average season by their standards.  The 36 year-old Welsh wonder has been instrumental in what could be considered United's 'transition year'.  But unlike such years gone-by where Djemba-Djemba, Bellion, Kleberson and co. have been misguided by a tired, weary, begruding and often difficult to be around Roy Keane;  Ryan has inspired rather than transpire.

The sports personality of the year for 2009 isn't a just award for Ryan though.  The 1991-2009 sports personality of the year would be make a more worthy title for the lad.    I'd even be confident enough to label him United's greatest ever player, and confident enough to do some football betting to win some cash. That's right, ahead of even the Holy Trinity of Law, Charlton and Best

Am I mad?  Very much so!  But 11 Premier League's and two European Cups, not to mention the numerous other trophies pocketed by the Salford-raised Giggs tells its own story really.

I'm delighted the 'beautiful British public' agree with me.

And it seems we haven't seen the last of the left-wing wizard after Giggsy's new contract extension this week.  The most respected Manchester United player of all time.  Giggs' award may have been a token gesture, but is undoubtedly an inspiration to all sports men and women.  The most gifted, loyal, and genuine personality in sports today. 

Ryan Giggs OBE would top most sports followers lists.

Off-colour Rio doing a Jaap...

On Sunday I was at Anfield to witness a below-bar Manchester United performance.  It was a game I knew we wouldn't win if Torres played.  Unfortunately he did, and inspired Liverpool to a 2-0 over their fiercest rivals.  For me, the Reds needed the win much more than their Mancunian counterparts, because a loss for Liverpool would surely have prolonged their 19 year wait for the title... and sent Rafa Benitez packing. 

So, broken arm and all (long story), I sat myself in the hallowed surroundings of the Bill Shankly Suite pre-match praying that Jamie Carragher continues his poor start to the season and lets his Scouse compatriot Wayne Rooney in for a few strikes on goal.  I was also praying I wouldn't be sniffed out as an undercover Manc, but I think I pulled it off with the odd dodgy "Showned La'd" at the end of every sentence. Then, after bumping into the literally larger than life Eamon Holmes, I realised I was not the only plastic Manc in the home end today.  And with my nerves put at ease I made my way to my seat based in the classy Centenary Stand, padded seats and everything.

Minutes into the game and I soon realised it wasn't Carragher I should be expecting the mistakes from, it was the world's most expensive defender Rio Ferdinand.  In fairness, he wasn't alone in having a stinker of a game, his partner in crime Nemanja Vidic made Dirk Kuyt actually look like a decent centre forward for once.  In the end the Serbian quite rightly put himself out of his own misery and took an early bath five minutes from time for the third game with Liverpool in a row (has to be a record!).

But whilst I am certain Vidic will bounce back from his annual stinker against Liverpool, I am much more concerned about Rio.  His loss of form this season has been surprising to say the least and is serious cause for concern.  The way in which Fernando Torres out-sprinted him to put Liverpool ahead was unlike Ferdinand, a defender whose high acclaim stems from that very attribute.  When Torres struck, I couldn't help but think back to 2001 when Jaap Stam was showing similar nervous signs at the back for United.  In the end Fergie had seen enough and offloaded his most experienced defender, citing the reason as Stam having 'lost a yard in pace'.

Time will only tell if my theory is proved right.  But with young Northern Ireland startlet Jonny Evans waiting in the wings, Ferdinand's place at the heart of the United defence isn't as secure as some might have believed. 

Watch this space...

PS: I never did get my hands on an LFC beachball.  It was probably a good thing seeing as the joke of the day arrived in the 94th minute when that great player called 'Egg-Nog' scrambled any plans Manchester United had to poach a late equaliser at Anfield... and leave Sir Alex with egg on his face!

If You're Second You Are Nothing...

... Ferguson & Shankly - 9/10. Irish Connection UK recommends! Essential read for United & Liverpool fans - a must have for budding young managers!

Shanks and Fergie.  Two absolute legends in English football.  Two proud Scots, two proud clubs.  The embarassment of riches that both Manchester United and Liverpool now enjoy can arguably be put down to these two men. Roughed-up in the 'slums' of Glasgow, they brought their own unique traits to the game yet you can't help but draw the similarities both men posessed as football managers.  They may have plyed their managerial careers in vastly different era's in time, but that Glaswegian grit to be a success remained consistant throughout.

Oliver Holt is an award-winning sports journalist who writes for the Daily Mirror newspaper. Essentially this was his take on the careers of Bill Shankly and Sir Alex Ferguson.  Comparisons aplenty throughout this book which perhaps reflected worse on Ferguson that it did Shankly.  Take into consideration this book was published in 2005 when United were going through their biggest trophy drought since the early 90's.  Holt's view of Sir Alex was that he "perhaps should have retired in 2002 when he originally proposed".  At the time this may have seen as a credible statement.  Yet to doubt Ferguson is to dance with the Devil - and I don't mean Fred the Red!

Bill Shankly was one of the greatest.  Liverpool Football Club was his life.  He started the revolution at Anfield, yet walked away.  He claimed he just wanted a break from the game, but that was hardly going to leave the club in the best of situations.  It would inevitably led to an increased lack of stability.  Therefore the decision was taken to appoint his successor, the great Bob Paisley, Shankly's right-hand man.  Shankly couldn't stand his break from the game, he wanted back in.  He thought Liverpool would have welcomed him back with open arms - they didn't.  In many ways the story Holt told of 'Shanks' was that of a lonely man who simply wasn't complete without his club, Liverpool.  On the other hand, you have Sir Alex Ferguson, probably the greatest manager of all-time.  23 years in charge of Manchester United, and counting!  With United it was Championships galore, FA Cups aplenty, three major European tropies and the countless rest.  But perhaps his greatest achievements (don't laugh) came as manager of Aberdeen.  He broke the 'Old Firm' dominance in Scotland.  It was no longer a two horse race between Rangers & Celtic.  Ferguson had even taken the 'Dons' to Europe, and conquored that too!  The man is simply a genius.

So when it comes down to it.  Who's better? Ferguson or Shankly? Silly question, hand on heart it's Fergie.  Even the head say's Fergie.  Britain's (world's?) longest serving manager with two European Cup's in the bag.  Shank's got close in 65' but alas never got his hands on 'old big ears' - the mark of a truly great manager.  Holt claimed throughout the book that Ferguson stayed on too long and Shankly never stayed on long enough.  He's right - about Shankly.  He didn't stay on long enough. The reigns of impending glory were handed over much too soon. Who can argue with Bob Paisley's record? He's still ahead of Fergie in European Cup triumphs.  Yet Shankly is the man most people will refer too when they talk lovingly of the history at LFC.  That is why I feel Shanks and Paisley are on a far with one another.  They both share the development and glory of Liverpool FC.  Whereas with Ferguson, it was all him.  Sir Matt Busby was the role model - Sir Alex Ferguson took it to the next level - and continues to do so. 

So all in all, the title of the book suggests 'If You Are Second You Are Nothing'.  This cannot be described as the case for these two icons of the game.  Ferguson and Shankly are in-comparable.  Credit must go to Oliver Holt for his analysis on their distinct footballing successes.  He has judged both men as history will... in a class of their own.

“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” - One quote uniting two great men.