06 Feb 2017 18:57:33
T'was the night before Christmas, Old Trafford was bare.
The staff all gone home, there was nobody there.
The lights cast a shadow, a soft glimmer which
lit up the soft green grass on the pitch.
Just as the clock gave out its twelfth chime
An old man appeared, as if frozen in time.
He gazed at the tunnel, then broke out in voice
"ITS TIME TO BEGIN. let's HAVE YOU MY BOYS"
Out from the tunnel appeared a lone figure
Same as in life, only infinitely bigger
The old man called out as he slowly drew near
"good evening Duncan, are the rest of you here"
The figure broke out in wide open smile
"Good Evening Sir Matt, it has been a long while
The rest are all coming, they'll be here soon, "
As seven more shadows were cast by the moon.
Whelan and Bent, Pegg, Taylor and Byrne,
Jones, and Colman, they came out in turn.
He greeted each one, just by calling their name
then proudly announced "do you fancy a game"
They took to the pitch, and the still night was broken
By leather on leather, not one word was spoken
They played once again, like they did long before
And imagined the sound of the Old Trafford roar
Edwards called out "come on lads let's pretend
That we've just scored a goal at the old Stretford End"
As they ran to the edge of the pitch by the goal
There in the stands sat a solitary soul.
His eyes were all puffy, his cheeks wet with tears
As his mind wandered back to those wonderful years
"come down and join us" they cried all as one
"yes come down and join them" said Matt "go on son"
The lonely man stood and with much pain he said
"I'm afraid I can't play with you, you are all dead.
You are all ghosts, and I am alive
That was the price that I paid to survive"
My role was to go on, inspire the team
And finally realise Matt Busby's dream
To tell of your greatness, and as I get older
To burden the weight of your life on my shoulders. "
The ghost of Sir Matt then raised up his head
Giving out a loud groan, he finally said
"Bobby, You survived, that much is true
But we wouldn't be here if it were not for you
For you are the one who has kept us alive
That was the reason you had to survive
If you were with us, all we have would be gone
And the game that we play could no longer go on
If you can't understand why it happened this way
Then come here and watch when United play
They sing about us, they remember us all
We live and we breathe with each kick of the ball
The legends that live here, Robson and Best,
Cantona, Law, Giggs, Scholes and the rest
They are us, we are them, we are all here as one
And that is the reason United goes on
So come down and join us, we're begging you do
You are still one of us, and we're still one of you"
And then Bobby's face rose and he gave them a smile
And he said "I would love to come play for a while"
They played and they played, as they did in the past
Only not quite as skilful, and not quite as fast
And when it was over, and when it was done
They'd defeated Benfica by four goals to one.
Then Sir Matt said "lads, its been fun you know
But It's now Christmas day, and we really must go"
They walked to the front of the stadium and turned
And Sir Bobby said "there is something I've learned"
"You did not die, on that February night
You're still here with us, as you're with me tonight
And you'll live on forever as long as we play"
As the ghosts disappeared down Sir Matt Busby Way.
R. I. P boys, never forgotten.
06 Feb 2017 19:17:19
Thanks mate in tears now amazing.
06 Feb 2017 19:30:28
Brendan. Thank you so much for sharing your feelings with us all. Thoroughly enjoyed your writing on a sad sad day in Uniteds history. So well said and a reminder to us all to not get so caught up with success as the be and all.
06 Feb 2017 19:33:04
Brilliant, brought a tear to my eyes.
06 Feb 2017 19:51:21
It's a lovely piece. Need to be in Munich next year for the 60th anniversary.
06 Feb 2017 19:51:45
Remarkable, wonderful, brilliant.
06 Feb 2017 20:11:02
Echo ask the above. Remarkable.
06 Feb 2017 20:24:19
Absolutely beautiful.
06 Feb 2017 20:40:50
Well said that man. Very touching😆😆.
06 Feb 2017 20:54:04
Beautiful brought tears to my eyes!
06 Feb 2017 21:11:54
remembering the fantastic busby babes today god rest their souls.
07 Feb 2017 02:17:19
what an emotional piece brendan absolutely lovely, it captures everything about those special players, and my thoughts always go out to bobby charlton who lives with the memories of the tragedy which befell his friends every day, he's a remarkable man.
07 Feb 2017 05:27:08
Nice Brendan.
I read and as I read more I start getting goosebumps. By the time you finished reading I felt physically cold even tho aircon was off (my country averages 33deg C) and the goosebumps just won't go away. Sad but proud to be a Man Utd fan. Bless them all and may God keep them safe in heaven.
07 Feb 2017 07:37:51
Never read anything better than this. R. I. P. The Busby Babes.
Brendan81 - Can I share this poem with the people who I play football with? I need your permission before I post it. Please let me know if that will be alright with you. Thank you.
07 Feb 2017 08:27:53
Tearfully Brilliant!
Same as Raghav asked, may we share?
07 Feb 2017 11:54:43
That was absolutely brilliant mate. Brought a tear or two down my cheek. And I was visualizing each line you wrote. I saw them turn and disappear down Sir Matt Busby way.
07 Feb 2017 16:06:07
Its an excellent piece, I get goosebumps every time I read it. I posted it on facebook a few years ago, not sure where it came from, but it keeps coming back on my timeline every christmas.
07 Feb 2017 18:54:32
Yeah share away, it's not my work. I came across it a number of years ago and it still gives me goose bumps when I read it, especially at this time of year. It's so easy to picture the scene and it makes you think how they would love another chance to do the thing they loved so much, and at OT. So sad.
{Ed025's Note - it is brendan mate..