England had emerged from World War Two in the midst of rationing and, with a gloom hanging over the island, needed something to lift its spirits.
After its war-enforced hiatus, the national sport of football had returned with Liverpool, Arsenal, Portsmouth twice, and Tottenham Hotspur claiming the league title up to the beginning of the 1951-52 campaign. Matt Busby, a Liverpool player before the war, then led his Manchester United side to the title in 1952, with a smattering of younger players mixed with experience.
Throwing young players into the First Division was not the done thing until Busby looked to change all that. Following the 1952 title, the Scot would start his journey to developing the finest production line of young players English football had ever seen.
Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones and David Pegg were among the first to be blooded into senior action as Busby and his assistant Jimmy Murphy went about their overhaul of the club’s playing staff.
Over the coming seasons, Tommy Taylor would establish himself as the club’s main striker, and the likes of Jackie Blanchflower and Billy Whelan would all begin to replace more experienced teammates.
After a couple of seasons with no title challenges but multiple FA Youth Cup victories, Busby’s vision began to come to fruition in the 1955-56 season. The Busby Babes were truly born as they dominated the First Division, claiming the championship by 11 points over Blackpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A certain Bobby Charlton was introduced to the first team during the following season as United’s youngsters secured a second successive league title. Busby’s side also made it to the semi-finals of the European Cup, a competition the manager had encouraged, only to lose to the eventual winners, Real Madrid.
The 1957-58 season was meant to be a campaign that saw the Busby Babes win a third straight first division title and, more impressively, challenge the might of Real Madrid and bring the European Cup to England for the first time.
Instead, it would bring a premature end to one of the finest young teams English football has ever seen and the death of eight players and three staff members among the 23 who lost their lives on that runway in Trudering-Riem, Munich.