Harry Gregg: the life and career of the Manchester United player and Munich disaster hero

Manchester United's legendary Northern Irish goalkeeper died on Sunday 16 February at the age of 87.
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The famous stopper was revered for his footballing ability and known as the “Hero of Munich” thanks to his courageous actions in the wake of the Munich Air Disaster.

The Irish Football Association described him as "A legend of the game and a brave, selfless giant of a man".

Here’s what you should know about Harry Gregg.

Gregg is widely regarded as one of Manchester United's greatest ever goalkeepers. Picture: Kent Gavin/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesGregg is widely regarded as one of Manchester United's greatest ever goalkeepers. Picture: Kent Gavin/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Gregg is widely regarded as one of Manchester United's greatest ever goalkeepers. Picture: Kent Gavin/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Sir Bobby Charlton & Sir Alex Ferguson in tribute to Man Utd legend Harry Gregg

Where did Gregg's career begin?

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Gregg's football journey began while he was working as a joiner's apprentice, playing for Linfield's reserve team, the Windsor Park Swifts, on the side.

He quickly earned a move to his local team, Coleraine, and by the time he was 18 his goalkeeping potential was clear enough for Doncaster Rovers to bring him over the Irish Sea to join their side.

Despite playing for a hugely talented Manchester United team, Gregg never took home a winner's medal. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesDespite playing for a hugely talented Manchester United team, Gregg never took home a winner's medal. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Despite playing for a hugely talented Manchester United team, Gregg never took home a winner's medal. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Over the next five years, Gregg went on to appear in goals almost 100 times for the Rovers. Then, in 1957, Manchester United paid £23,000 to acquire his services.

While that might seem like nothing in the face of today's eight and nine-figure transfer fees, at the time it was the highest transfer fee any club had ever paid for a goalkeeper.

How did he become famous?

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In the summer preceding his record-breaking move, Gregg had been named the World Cup's best goalkeeper as Northern Ireland made it all the way to the tournament’s quarter-finals.

His performances for Northern Ireland saw Gregg celebrated as one of the best keepers in the world. Picture: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesHis performances for Northern Ireland saw Gregg celebrated as one of the best keepers in the world. Picture: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
His performances for Northern Ireland saw Gregg celebrated as one of the best keepers in the world. Picture: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

He would go on to earn 25 caps for his country.

Already a national hero, his years at Manchester United secured his reputation as a legend of the game.

In the 247 appearances he made for the Old Trafford side, he kept an imperious 48 clean sheets and is now widely considered to be one of the best goalkeepers Manchester United have ever had.

In spite of how good he was and how successful the club were at the time, Gregg's nine years at the team somehow failed to yield a single medal.

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He lost in the final of the 1958 FA Cup and then missed the 1963 final due to a shoulder injury and subsequent knocks prevented him from playing enough games to claim a league winners medal at the end of United's triumphant 1964-65 season.

They won the league again in 1967 but Gregg had already been sold earlier in the campaign.

What happened in Munich?

Far beyond his footballing prowess, though, Harry Gregg is renowned for his heroic role in the aftermath of the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.

In the February of that year, Manchester United's team were on a plane that crashed while trying to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Reim Airport. 20 of the 44 people on board the plane died at the scene.

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Many of those that survived had Gregg to thank, with the goalkeeper risking his own life to dive back into the plane's burning wreckage and drag numerous passengers to safety.

Among those he helped rescue were club legends like Bobby Charlton, the team's manager George Busby, a pregnant woman and her two-year-old daughter.

For his brave, life-saving efforts, Gregg was christened “The Hero of Munich.”

Two weeks later, he was back between the goalposts, keeping yet another clean sheet for Manchester United.