Echoes from across the channel
by Stefan Attard
MALTA MALTA
FOUNDED 1959
F
ollowing the recognition of the Gozo branch by the Manchester United Supporters’ Club Malta, our branch organized a series of events as detailed in the previous editions of our publication. Since we are now officially recognized, MUSC Malta decided to hold an Annual General Meeting at our branch to update the Gozo members on the state of affairs of the club and activities which are in the pipe line. The meeting was held on the 2nd February and started with mass to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Munich Tragedy. The date of 6th February will forever be circled on the calendars of everyone connected with Manchester United. On that day in 1958, the darkest day in United’s history, 23 people ‑ including eight players and three members of the club’s staff ‑ suffered fatal injuries in the Munich Air Disaster. The eight players
who perished were Geoff Bent (25), Roger Byrne (28), Eddie Colman (21), Duncan Edwards (21), Mark Jones (24), David Pegg (22), Tommy Taylor (26) and Liam Whelan (22). Edwards, considered by many to be the finest player of his generation, died 15 days after the accident. Before mass, a short clip was shown to remember and give homage to the Busby Babes. Mass was celebrated by Fr. Carmel Portelli, an avid supporter of United. Although it occurred a few days later, we take this opportunity to give our farewell to Harry Gregg, a crash survivor, who passed away on the 16th February aged 87.
This year’s AGM started with a minute silence in memory of Ronnie Sacco and Elias Mizzi (both having passed away very recently) and all the other members and their relatives who passed on to a better world during the last twelve months. The meeting started with an introduction from the MUSC Malta president Joseph Tedseco and architect Emanuel Vella – the president of MUSC Gozo branch. This was followed by an introduction of the MUSC Malta committee members. It was pointed out that the Munich Air Disaster of sixty two years ago led to the foundation
VOL 47 - ISSUE 3 - MARCH 2020
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