Retro: Busby Babe remembered with prider

It is 59 years this week since Doncaster became part of a tragedy that sent shock waves across the world.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Feb 2017, 14:52 BST
Updated 1st Mar 2017, 08:55 BST
50th anniversary of Manchester United Munich air crash...one of the players who died was David Pegg of Doncaster... Picture shows from left Tommy Taylor, Bobby Charlton and David50th anniversary of Manchester United Munich air crash...one of the players who died was David Pegg of Doncaster... Picture shows from left Tommy Taylor, Bobby Charlton and David
50th anniversary of Manchester United Munich air crash...one of the players who died was David Pegg of Doncaster... Picture shows from left Tommy Taylor, Bobby Charlton and David

Talented 22-year old footballer David Pegg was among 23 people who died when a plane carrying the Manchester United football team crashed on a Munich runway.

Eight footballers, known as the Busby Babes after manager Sir Matt, perished in the horrific crash on February 6, 1958.

The late Manchester United footballer David Pegg.The late Manchester United footballer David Pegg.
The late Manchester United footballer David Pegg.
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David Pegg grew up on Coppice Road in Highfields, Doncaster. He had signed for United when he left school in 1950 and aged 17, made his first-team debut against Middlesbrough in a Football League First Division match.

He helped Man United reach the European Cup semi-finals twice and won two League championship winners’ medals.

He scored 28 goals in 148 games and was capped for England Under 23s and at full international level.

But his short career ended with the disaster that still evokes strong memories in and around the former mining community of Highfields.

The late Manchester United footballer David Pegg.The late Manchester United footballer David Pegg.
The late Manchester United footballer David Pegg.
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Former Doncaster Free Press news editor Peter Whittell reported on events as they unfolded, and a young Michael Parkinson covered the funeral.

Mr Whittell knew the Pegg family well, and told how, as the news broke, the family were oblivious to what had happened to their only son and brother.

They had no telephone or television, and were unaware that David had been away to play in the European Cup.

Their worst fears were confirmed at 7am the next day.

Hundreds attended the funeral with police brought in to direct the surge of people and traffic, as crowds lined the streets leading to Adwick’s Red House Cemetery.. A small plaque in the village miners’ club was later unveiled by Bobby Charlton, David’s best friend.