Roger Byrne

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Roger William Byrne (February 8, 1929 – February 6, 1958), was an English footballer and a captain of Manchester United F.C.

He was one of the eight Manchester United players that lost their lives in the Munich Air Disaster on February 6, 1958. He made 33 appearances for the England team, and was captain of Manchester United from the 1953-54 season onwards, playing as a full-back. He had previously been fielded at wing-half and outside left and it was a testament to his versatility that, despite being naturally right sided, he should have been a success in a variety of positions.

He gained League Championship medals in 1952, 1956 and 1957, and was a FA Cup runner-up to Aston Villa in 1957.

Byrne was also a regular member of Walter Winterbottom's England team during the 1950s and was expected to captain the national team at the 1958 World Cup.

He was only 28 when he died in the Munich Air Disaster, and on arriving home he would have received the news that his wife Joy was expecting their first child. Eight months after his death, Roger's son Roger junior was born, and during the 1970s was a ball boy at Old Trafford.

[edit] Notes

Several sources report his date of birth as September 8, 1929, they include :-

Arthur, Max: "The Busby Babes : Men of Magic", page 115. Mainstream Publishing, 1998

Roberts, J: "The Team That Wouldn't Die - The Story of the Busby Babes", page 70. Methuen, 1988;

Arthur, M: "The Manchester United Aircrash", page 16. Mainstream Publishing, 1983.

A 25th Anniversary Commemorative edition of the Manchester Evening News, entitled "We Remember: Munich 1958-1983", also states on page 9 that Byrne was born in September 1929.

The home football ground of the Northern Demons,called Byrne Park is located in Port Pirie, South Australia is named after Rodger Byrne

[edit] External links

• findagrave
• englandstats
• Manchester United stats
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• [2]

v • d • e England squad - 1954 FIFA World Cup 1 Merrick • 2 Staniforth • 3 Byrne • 4 Wright • 5 Owen • 6 Dickinson • 7 Matthews • 8 Broadis • 9 Lofthouse • 10 Taylor • 11 Finney • 12 Burgin • 13 Green • 14 McGarry • 15 Wilshaw • 16 Quixall • 17 Mullen • 18 Chilton • 19 Armstrong • 20 Jezzard • 21 Haynes • 22 Hooper • Coach: Winterbottom

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