Crash of BEA flight 609 at Riem Airport, Munich / Image: Wikimedia Commons
Just after 3pm on 6 February 1958, pilots James Thain and Kenneth Raymentmade a third attempt to take the ‘Busby Babes’ back home.
English champions Manchester United were en route to the UK following a 3-3 draw with Red Star Belgrade – which had been enough to advance to the semi-finals of the European Cup.
Their British European Airways plane had temporarily landed in Germany for refuelling, but it was proving to be a problematic pitstop.
Snow had been coming down hard in Bavaria, creating challenging conditions and leaving thick trails of sludge along the Munich-Riem runway.
Two take-off attempts had already been abandoned due to engine faults, but at around 3.04pm, the pilots decided to have another go.
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The plane powered down the tarmac, but failed to gain altitude. By the time the crew realised the plane wouldn’t make it off the ground, it was already too late.
The Airspeed Ambassador careered off the runway, tore through a fence and wrapped around a nearby house, bursting into flames.
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23 of the 44 passengers on board were killed in what would forever be known as one of football’s greatest tragedies; a cold winter’s afternoon in Munich that shook the world – and changed Manchester forever.
Manchester United’s “Busby Babes”, pictured in 1958, before their last match / Image: Wikipedia
Manager Sir Matt Busby had turned Manchester United into an international force since taking the helm in 1945 – building a team of gifted players that had brought major silverware to Old Trafford after rising through the club’s youth ranks.
The squad was tipped to continue filling out the trophy cabinet in Stretford for years to come. But in the winter of ’58, everything changed.
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Eight members of the team died in the crash, and Manchester United instantly changed beyond recognition.
So too did the management team – with Chief Coach Bert Whalley, trainer Tom Curry and club secretary Walter Crickmer also passing away.
The eponymous leader of the Busy Babes, meanwhile, was rushed to hospital in critical condition.
With a generation of wonderful footballing talent wiped out and their leader gravely injured, the club was left rattled.
There were concerns that United could ultimately fold in the aftermath.
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Eight players had gone forever, two former internationals – Johnny Berry and Jackie Blanchflower – were too badly injured to ever play again, and those who survived were still scarred by the incident.
Commemorative plaque at Old Trafford / Image: Wikimedia Commons
The crash had left a permanent black mark on sport in Britain, taking too many young talents and coaches before their time.
But the footballing world stepped up.
Other clubs provided support wherever possible, with bitter rivals Liverpool even offering loan players so United could fulfil their remaining fixtures.
Real Madrid – the eventual winners of the 1958 European Cup – dedicated the win to the Busby Babes and even offered United the trophy (which was turned down), before selling memorial pennants and arranging friendlies to raise money for Manchester.
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Tributes have continued for more than 60 years since.
Each February, hundreds flock to the Munich memorial at Old Trafford to pay their respects, with a rendition of Flowers of Manchester – a folk song written about the tragedy – performed at the home game closest to this date.
The 2008 Manchester derby was contested on the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster – with both teams wearing blank kits as a mark of respect (City, too, had suffered loss in the tragedy; former Blues goalkeeper Frank Swift had been on the plane in a journalistic capacity after becoming a sports correspondent for the News of the World upon retirement).
Football is a different beast to what it was back in 1958. But the sport still invariably takes a moment every year to step back from its modern glitz and glamour, pause, and remember the game’s incredible figures who never got to see how huge United – and indeed UK football – eventually became.
The reverberations of the Munich Air Disaster were so powerful they went beyond the game of football itself – even changing the way the sport was covered in the press.
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11 of the north’s most prominent sports writers were aboard the flight that day – and just three made it out alive.
One of the three survivors, Frank Taylor of the News Chronicle, mentions in his book that he invited some of the other writers to join him at the front of the plane – where there were several seats still free. But the journalists, already settled, politely declined.
“They treated matches like they would any other event and began to ask experts, such as managers, for quotes to add to their pieces,” Domenghetti states – a new approach which ultimately changed the style of British sports journalism permanently.
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A clock at Old Trafford Stadium remaining permanently frozen at 3:04 p.m. on Feb. 6, 1958 / Image: Wikipedia
World coverage of the crash continued several weeks after the initial accident – with newspapers offering updates on the condition of players and combing through the final moments leading up to the accident; attempting to understand what happened.
A fresh outpouring of grief came two weeks later when it was confirmed that Duncan Edwards – one of the most exciting talents in England at the time – had succumbed to his injuries and passed away in hospital.
Busby’s condition raised deep concern at first, but he slowly improved and eventually left hospital to recuperate. He briefly contemplated leaving football altogether, but was urged by his wife to continue, as she claimed it’s what the lads “would have wanted.”
Busby spent the next few weeks watching his team from afar as Jimmy Murphy took temporary charge – before easing his way back into football management the following season.
The rest was history.
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Within years, he had created another incredible team – building a fresh squad around the remaining survivors such as Harry Gregg, Bill Foulkes, and Bobby Charlton.
Dr Guy Hodgson, a sports historian at Liverpool John Moores University, claimed that Munich played a role in Busby’s hunger to create another all-star side.
Dr Hodgson told Goal: “If it had not been for Munich, would he have bought players like Mike England and Alan Ball? Because if you look at the 1968 European Cup side, eight of them are home-grown players as he wanted to get the same home-grown thing again. Would he have changed his mind-set had he been building on success?
“Other things might have happened, like would Nobby Stiles have gone with his brother-in-law Johnny Giles to Leeds, because would he have got a game if Duncan Edwards and Eddie Colman had been around? He might never have got to play for United and might have had to go elsewhere for a position.”
Busby achieved his dream, bringing another four major honours to Manchester post-Munich – including two league titles, an FA Cup and European Cup.
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An extraordinary feat in any capacity. Utterly miraculous in the circumstances.
Sir Matt Busby’s Statue, Old Trafford / Image: Paul Thompson, Geograph
Many of those who lived to tell the tale of the Munich Air Disaster have passed away in the 63 years since the crash.
The goalkeeper was injured in the initial crash but regained consciousness whilst the airplane was going up in flames, managing to escape through a hole in the cabin.
Gregg has been described as a “hero” for returning to the wreckage and pulling out passengers – credited with saving several lives.
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His death last year left Charlton as the last remaining survivor of the Munich Air Disaster.
Despite the crash, midfielder Charlton developed into one the greatest players to ever don the red shirt, winning multiple championships at United and becoming the club’s all-time record goalscorer until his tally of 249 was surpassed by Wayne Rooney in 2017.
He was also a member of England’s famous 1966 World Cup-winning side.
Following his retirement, Charlton briefly went into management with Preston North End, before serving in a directorial capacity with Wigan.
He joined the Manchester United board of directors in 1984 and continues to occupy a seat 37 years later.
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Talking to the BBC about the crash back in 2017, Charlton said he was “just lucky and sitting in the right place.”
He added: “I wondered what would happen, I wondered how we would be able to recover but recover we had to do.
“We had to make the effort.”
Feature
The best butties in town – the top 20 sandwich shops in Manchester and beyond
Danny Jones
There’s nothing better than a good filling between two fluffy slices of bread, and we’re here to tell you the best places to find them in Manchester – that’s right, it’s the sandwich list.
From hot roast sarnies and hefty subs as long as your arm, to solid breakfast butties, giant Sardinian schiacciata and saucy Napoli-inspired cuzzetiello, if you’re a sandwich lover in Manchester, then you’re well catered for.
We’re not happy to settle for a simple Subway or premium meal deal; we want big, honking artisan ‘heroes’ that’ll leave Tony Soprano talking with his most expressive hand gestures. Keep reading to find some of the best places to get a butty in Manchester and beyond.
Open your belt loop a notch, folks.
20 of the very best sandwiches in Greater Manchester
1. Marleo – Northern Quarter and Pollard Yard
Up first is one of our favourite underdog tales in recent memory, as Sicilian street food traders turned Manc sandwich specialists have gone from serving out of a shipping container yard to now taking over their very own flagship butty shop.
Maria and Leo (hence the name) have been mainstays at pretty much every possible Maker’s Market and pop-up stall just in the city centre, but all around Greater Manchester and even further out into the North West. It may have been a slow and steady journey, but years of hard graft are finally paying off.
Having added a Northern Quarter shop alongside their OG Pollard Yard base, you can now get their incredibly well-filled focaccia sandwiches and more on Oldham Street; we’d heartily recommend going for the classic mortadella, their signature ‘Marleo’ sandwich, or for that frankly ridiculous porchetta one.
If you’re a fan of things in bread (and honestly, who isn’t), then fellow NQ Italian sandwich dealers Ad Maiora are one that you absolutely need to get down your neck if you haven’t had it before. You could argue they walked so the likes of Marleo could run, and they, too, have a really great backstory.
Once collected from a door on a back street or for delivery, we’re talking giant handmade spongy schiacciata generously stuffed with the likes of ‘nduja, spicy Tuscan sausage, smoked scamorza, mortadella, burrata and red pesto.
With a total of nine different options to choose from, expect a huge array of different cheesy and meaty delights, including Parma ham, gorgonzola DOP, truffled brie, Milano salami and crumbled pistachios, plus a gorgeous vegan option with Italian hummus, roasted aubergine, olives, sundried tomatoes and rocket. We’re so glad they’ve also now got a proper brick-and-mortar base these days.
It was long overdue, but now it’s quickly become THE go-to place for Man City players on cheat days.
3. Katsouris Deli – Deansgate/Bury Market
First established in Bury‘s historic markets over half a century ago, this cross-cultural deli and cafe celebrates the mixed roots of its family with produce from Cyprus, Poland and Italy, plus plenty more from across Europe.
Specialising in sandwiches as well as boasting an impressive salad bar and carvery, its second home on Deansgate is just as well established after 30 years in town. An iconic sandwich spot, the lunchtime queues speak for themselves.
Made with bread from Chorlton’s award-winning bakery, Barbakan, the ciabatta is a favourite here, but you do have other options. If you’re in a rush or just in need of something comforting, the hot roast pork with crackling, apple sauce and stuffing hits the spot every time.
Other highlights include the veggie-friendly ‘Zorba The Greek’, and the hangover-curing breakfast sandwiches filled with your choice of bacon, sausage and fried egg.
Big portions and good value.Oof.Credit: The Manc Eats
4. Fat Pat’s – Chinatown
This hefty hole-in-the-wall sub sandwich spot drew fans from near and far when it opened in 2022, and it hasn’t stopped since.
The allure of a hidden alley walk-up, combined with mouth-watering Philly cheesesteaks, hot honey fried chicken and meatball parm baguettes, has earned it a place in our hearts and bellies forever.
Located just off Portland Street in the backstreets of Chinatown, ordering is done online in advance, and they tend to sell out quickly, so you need to be fast if you want to secure one of these beauties.
Ancoats Deli is a gorgeous little sage green deli just off a sunny courtyard, with shelves stuffed with wine, mini canned cocktails, antipasti, meats and cheeses, plus sunny seats outside for sipping on a wine or a spritz.
It’s also got the best meal deal we’ve seen – for a tenner you can get a HUGE sandwich stuffed crust to crust with delicious fillings, plus either a packet of crisps or olives, and either a coffee or soft drink.
You’ll often find a special or two, but you can’t go wrong with the classics – ‘jamon beurre’, egg mayo, and a tasty tuna melt are all absolutely banging.
This family-run Vietnamese restaurant in Manchester’s Chinatown opened in lockdown and has become popular for its bahn mi, which are available from midday and often sell out within the hour.
Only made ‘for the tradition’ in limited quantities for the lunch service, this fresh pickle and herb-topped Vietnamese sandwich can be ordered with either sweet soy, sriracha or spicy mayo.
Typically made by scooping out the inside of the baguette-style roll, here the chefs like to press the bread down instead to make more space for their fillings. Popular choices include chicken and king prawn, with beef, pork, tofu and avocado also available.
Giggs reacted how everyone does…
7. Rack – Stockport and Manchester Arndale
This tiny Stockport sandwich joint might have started out as a small but mighty little corner in the town centre, but with sandwich fans travelling across Greater Manchester to sample its wares, they’ve managed to expand its reach to a pair of sites.
There’s not much room to sit down in the original shop, but there is a very cute outdoor terrace that catches the sun perfectly at lunchtime, and you’ll find plenty of people queuing up to scran a quick bit of dinner from here.
At each venue you’ll find a big chalkboard menu that lists its various options, with everything from egg mayo and Italian meats to a funky vegan option with handmade onion bhaji, chutney and pickles – they even do big fish finger butties nowadays.
Toasted sandwiches are a big speciality here, with highlights including a peppery Reuben, a three-cheese classic served with red onion dipping gravy on the side, as well as their hugely popular birria toastie, which is as naughty as it sounds.
Egg & Co specialises in gooey scrambled egg butties, with loads of different options to try, including sausage patty, turkey bacon, avocado or caramelised onions.
Do your stomach a favour: have this in the morning with a side of crunchy truffle hash browns and start your day the right way.
You can find them at Kargo Mkt at Central Bay in Salford Quays (as well as over in Sheffield), and now along the main Deansgate strip just down the road from its more expensive competitor.
First established in 2015, the grilled cheese OGs have been serving Mancs their naughty, cheesy sandwiches for nearly a decade. We know they’re toasties to most of us here in the UK, but we’re not in control of what foodie terminology sticks.
Widely considered one of the best places to grab a toastie in the city, its classic house staple features a blend of three different molten cheeses, all sandwiched in between golden sourdough bread, and is entirely customisable with extra free fillings.
For the adventurous, wilder Northern Soul options include the ‘Bacon Frazzler’ with Frazzles crisps, streaky bacon, blue cheese, onion and sriracha, and the Mexican Junkie with chipotle mac n’ cheese, jalapenos and Chilli Heatwave Doritos.
It would also be rude of us not to shout out their annual ‘Crimbo Dinner’ toastie – complete with gooey brie cheese, cranberry, stuffing and even a pig in blanket – which we still believe is one of the best sandwiches in Manchester full stop. We loved this place since, well, forever, basically.
Credit: The Manc Group
10. Bada Bing – NQ
In at number 10, we’ve got arguably the goat of all Manchester sandwiches, the return of the king if you will: Bada Bing has been bada BACK for a while now, and they’ve been biblically good ever since they returned to the scene.
Serving giant hoagies, heroes, subs – whatever you want to call them, they’re well worth the £10-13 price stage and you likely won’t need to eat again that day if you finish one.
From the self-titled ‘Bing’ packed with cured Italian meats, salami and yes, gabagool done just like Tony Soprano himself likes, to a stacked turkey offering, a veggie pistachio one that genuinely surprised, and a Chicago beef inspired by another US TV favourite, The Bear, we’ve happily devoured all of these.
Next up is one that has taken a loyal following over in Stockport and started expanding further out into Greater Manchester, combining brilliant brunch and brews for a tried and tested combo.
While it may not be a dedicated sandwich shop per se, their lineup of four fantastic sarnies are all well worth shouting about individually in their own right.
Choose from the classic ‘Caesar Royale’ flavour, another breaded and fried option called the ‘Emerald Chicken’, the Thai-influenced sriracha tuna, or their trademark steakhouse melt that is just pure gooey and just the right amount of greasy satisfaction.
Arguably best known for their more bistro-esque dishes like those big rotisserie chickens, Tartuffe, located within Side Street, quietly does very good sandwiches – especially if you like proper crusty French loaves.
We always feel like we could do with more baguettes in our lives, so we’re heavily biased towards the chicken Kyiv one on toasted garlic herb bread; the steak and brie one is also a combo we never expected to hit as hard as it does.
That being said, they also do a great club sandwich and a Niçoise variation for those who like something a little softer. Make no mistake, by the way: these might be on the ‘lunch’ menu, but they’ll fill you up just as much as any proper tea.
Returning to NQ and a Manchester staple through and through, Rustica isn’t just a long-standing city centre favourite, it’s nothing short of a local institution.
This humble little hatch, right in the heart of the neighbourhood, has been feeding the people for 25 years, and owner Jeanette isn’t just the modest Manc mum archetype personified, she’s an absolute legend who looks after he own.
One reason we adore these guys so much is the no-nonsense approach to everything; it’s an old-school butty shop down to a tee that welcomes everyone from builders and tradies to uni students and trendy townies. It may be no frills, but it always hits the spot, and the prices are still as great as ever.
14. Gooey – NQ, Circle Square, Manchester Airport, Trafford Centre
Now this one has one foot firmly in that viral spot that daytrippers organise entire schedules around when they visit Manchester, but Gooey have been making great butties well before they ever made it onto ‘the ‘gram’ or TikTok, etc.
Yes, they may be known for their sweet treats such as doughnuts, cookies, buns and more, but we think they’re still criminally overlooked when it comes to things bookended by bread.
Famous faces have sung their praises for the tofu sandwich, specifically, but the rest of their brunch and guest butties are also well worth writing home about. With several branches across the region, including NQ, Selfridges Foodhall at Trafford Centre, the Airport, and most recently Oxford, you can’t ignore them.
If you haven’t tried them already, what are you waiting for?
15. Half Dozen Other – Green Quarter and Oxford Road Corridor
From one bakery to another, Gooey and Half Dozen Other have lots in common, including some very good bread, which unsurprisingly makes for great sandwiches.
Their bakehouse in Red Bank might be the place to pick up a fresh focaccia/a roll or two to make your own at home, but another thing they share with Gooey is an invisible fence, for lack of a better phrase, as they’re also neighbours on Circle Square.
At this cafe location, they’re available from 10am onwards, either to eat in or take away, and once they’re gone, they’re GONE, so you’d best be quick about it.
Head inside the shopping emporium and indie paradise that is Afflecks, and you’ll find Panino 23 up on the first floor, serving up delicious Italian paninis (the plural, in case it hadn’t clicked).
They feel somewhat understated at first glance – maybe it’s because they’re tucked away inside a much larger, often overwhelming building – but it only takes one bite to know that they’re the standout in here when it comes to food and drink.
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Menu-wise, it’s small but simple and satisfying, but we will say that the sandwiches themselves are more like big Italian-American style subs than what most of us may think of when we hear ‘panino’.
Either way, who cares? Just look at the state of this stack:
Up next, Provisions over in Bolton might be one of the furthest you’ll potentially have to go for a barm on this list, but we will say that if you’re in the area any time soon, you simply have to pop in here.
A family-run deli in the old Lancashire stronghold, many may still argue whether or not they’re in Greater Manchester, but there can be no question about the quality of produce on show.
It’s far from just things sandwiched between slices of bread here, but even if it were, we’d make the journey for the healthily-layered muffaletta, a toasted ham and cheese croissant, or that simple, salty and superb ‘Parisian’ alone.
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Whether you try their Bromley Cross shop or the Heaton venue, you won’t be disappointed.
From one deli to another, this Vietnamese variant on the edge of Salford and Manchester city centre knows exactly how to scratch that very specific Southeast Asian itch.
This Blackriars bahn mi spot does offer lots more, but we’re not going to pretend this isn’t why most people head here on their dinner hour or for a quick grab-and-go bite.
Fairly simplistic in components but saucy, well-stuffed and satisfying, the cafe is just two minutes away from Deansgate and also serves sublime egg coffees.
Credit: The Manc
19. Loafi – Ramsbottom
Another one that’s a little bit further out, Loafi may be known for all manner of sweet bakes and pastries, but they also have a fabulous savoury offering too, like sausage rolls made with meat from Walmsley’s Butchers, and bacon butties on soft milk rolls.
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Four or so different sandwiches drop onto the counter at 11am every day, each of them guilt-free, fuss-free, and affordable.
The fillings change regularly but are always local ingredients, prepared and made right in front of you, from cured hams and corned beef to coronation chicken.
One last dive into cheesy, gooey, toastie goodness, Grubfellas over at the likes of Ghost x Kitchens is arguably the most takeaway-type addition to this round-up.
Nevertheless, we thought we’d throw it in the mix right at the last minute because they serve as yet more proof that sandwiches are just a snack or the default launch back-up; done properly, and they can be the most satisfying meal around.
You don’t even have to eat in – just order for delivery and make a mess like Dean on almost every single episode of Takeaway Champions:
Last but not least, our go-to in the city centre for fresh falafel, technically this is a wrap, but we’re going to allow it. It’s not just the herby chickpea goodness that does it for us here – it’s all the salads, pickles and other saucy accoutrements that go in alongside it too.
Their wraps are stuffed with your choice of pickled cabbage, potato, salad, tahini, chilli sauce and lashings of fresh hummus, with grilled aubergine and an optional extra. Go Falafel also makes its own fresh juices to order, which are well worth a try.
With multiple locations across the North, including Piccadilly, Deansgate and Rusholme, they’ve looked after us for a long time, so show your appreciation.
And that should be your fill. To be honest, if you’re still hungry and looking for more after that, then we’d be seriously worried about your health and/or addiction to butties, though we do sympathise.
Bread is, after all, one of the single greatest inventions in human history.
Last but not least, we hope it goes without saying that this is by no means a totally exhaustive list of the best sandwiches in Greater Manchester, and we’re sure you can find the perfect place for you elsewhere in the 10 boroughs if you don’t find it here – and please let us know where it is if you do!
Every week is National Sandwich Week if you ask, so you might as well celebrate properly.
How a cult classic game helped create the sound of Blossoms’ new album
Danny Jones
More specifically, their soundtracks, as in a recent chat with the Blossoms boys, we found out that their upcoming album was at least partly influenced by a beloved PlayStation 2 classic from 2006.
This is just more proof that you really can find inspiration in just about anything.
Yes, even if only in part, an old video game that many of you may have played back in the day is somehow connected to the latest and technically still yet to be announced release.
We’ve heard of groups such as The 1975 trying to make an album that sounds “as if John Hughes had directed a movie about our lives”, and Red Rum Club leaning further into the growing Western aesthetic with almost every outing, but we never thought we’d hear of a record born out of a love for Bully…
The lads actually touched on that whole ‘still TBC’ when we spoke to them at their studio in Stockport, joking not just about divorce but how they’re baffled by the whole ‘are they working on new music?’ speculation in the media. “Well, yeah, we’re a band – that’s what we do for a living”, as they put it.
But back to the point at hand: lead guitarist Dewhurt’s affection for Bully, a cult favourite PS2 title released by Rockstar Games – the same people behind Grand Theft Auto (GTA) and Red Dead Redemption – and the score behind it, essentially served as a seed for the feel of their newest work.
As he explained above, before being expanded on by frontman and primary lyricist Tom Odgen, they were fortunate enough to be in possession of the details for one half of a duo they both admire: Young Gun Silver Fox, a.k.a. British artist Andy Platts and US multi-talented instrumentalist, Shawn Lee.
Lee also just so happens to be the composer of the original Bully video game soundtrack.
Ultimately, this all came about because Josh contacted him over email simply to praise the game’s music (sure, when he was a teenager, we promise), and only took them until the last year or so to put two and two together. Small world, eh?
Oh, the nostalgia.
It has since occurred to us that we’ve come across him before, too.
For us, it was when playing the first Tales From The Borderlands (a spin-off of the popular action role-playing looter-shooter series that has since been turned into a Hollywood movie), which features his song ‘Kiss The Sky’ and ALSO enjoyed in our late teens.
It still continues to baffle us how things can come full circle like this.
As it turns out, his music appears in various pieces of pop culture, and with Tom professing his love for the funky, bass-forward 80s vibes of Lee and his partner Platts’ stuff, he was then roped in as part of the production team on the hypotheticalBlossoms LP number six. Not that we know anything about that…
What has now come out of all this is the previously alluded to lead single entitled ‘Joke About Divorce’, the music video for which dropped last month.
‘Joke About Divorce’ our new single is out now! We love this record, we recorded it live to tape at Tilehouse Studios with Shawn Lee producing. The second we got the mix back it felt like an instant Blossoms classic (if we do say so ourselves)!
We’re still not sure whether or not this is just the first finished song from the project, the opener or indeed even a title track; all we know is it’s another catchy creation from the Stopfordians.
But yeah, in a roundabout way, somehow that ‘problematic’ game that our parents and teachers complained about when we were kids, either by sheer chance, serendipity or perhaps the divine will of the audio gods, appears to have served as a kind of sonic sapling for a fresh era of the local outfit.
Sadly, we have very little else to offer you in terms of information regarding the ‘as yet confirmed’ next studio release from the Blossoms, but we can tell you we’re very much looking forward to hearing what comes next – especially live.
In case you missed it, they’re headlining this year’s edition of NBHD Weekender music festival at the end of the month; you can see the rest of the lineup down below.
The Manc -
5th February 2021 
