Tom Curry (1st September 1894 to 6th February 1958)

Tom was the trainer who died with most of the Manchester United football team in the Munich Air Disaster. Though known for being their trainer he was - in his youth - as proficient a footballer as the lads he trained. Here I am at Manchester’s main crematorium where he was turned to dust.

He was born in South Shields in County Durham and started his career playing for Newcastle United. As the First World War expanded across the world his career was delayed and he became sergeant with the Tyne Electrical Engineers. After the war his career continued and he played for Newcastle 221 times from ages 25 to 35. He moved “down south” to Stockport County and played for one season before retiring. Aged 36 he started coaching and went back “up north” when he was appointed as the trainer of Carlisle United. He remained there for four years but was picked up by Manchester United (before Matt Busby joined.) The Second World War intervened (what a bummer) and his career was postponed again. By the time he returned to The Reds Matt Busby was the manager.

For 24 years Tom lived with his wife and three children. He was mild-mannered man, well-loved by his friends, neighbours and football colleagues. As many of the players lived in cheap accommodation near Old Trafford they’d often call round to Tom’s for tea and a bit of family life.

Sadly in 1958 Tom travelled to Yugoslavia with the team for a European Cup quarter-final game against Red Star Belgrade. On the way back the plane stopped in Munich for refuelling and crashed on its third take-off attempt due to thick slush on the runway. He was among the 23 people who died as a result of the crash.

The unveiling of a plaque on Tom's former home...