Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland goalkeeper Harry Gregg, passed away, Aged 87.
The goalkeeper appeared 247 times for Manchester United from the year 1950 to 1960 and was usually named as “Hero of Munich” because of his selfless act in the Munich Air Disaster. Gregg had rescued teammates and other passengers following the 1958 plane crash which claimed 23 victims.
He was announced dead by the death was announced by the Harry Gregg Foundation on Monday morning.
“It is with great sorrow that we inform of the death of Manchester United and Northern Ireland legend Harry Gregg, OBE,” it said in a statement posted on Facebook.
“Harry passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his loving family.”
It was Manchester United that assisted Gregg to become the most expensive goalkeeper in his times, who was initially brought from Doncaster for £23,500, and he was voted the best gloveman at the following summer’s World Cup.
Northern Ireland reached the quarter-finals in Sweden before being beaten by France, with the tournament’s top scorer Just Fontaine netting twice.
He was with the Red Devils for 9 years, however, he never won a medal for the club. He has left aside due to his injury in the 1963 FA Cup final which restricted him to appear in two title-winning campaigns of the club.
He spent nine years with the Red Devils and, although he never won a medal with the club, injury has ruled him out of the 1963 FA Cup final and restricted his appearances in two title-winning campaigns, an unforgettable career was forged.
Gregg however still is remarkable goalkeepers for the United goalkeepers, a prime leader between the posts and a revered shot-stopper other eras, Gregg might have been expected to take the summer for reflection and recuperation after the trauma of the previous months. Instead, he lined up in his country’s first-ever World Cup and was later named the best keeper in the competition.
His stunning performance against West Germany, in particular, was an unforgettable show that left the rival’s striker Uwe Seeler likening Gregg to a ‘springing panther’.
According to Seeler, for the rest of the world, Gregg was an amazing athlete, competitor, opponent. But more importantly, he was an embodiment of the human spirit in adversity. A hero.
