March 7 - O Brother, Where Art Thou?

IT’S not easy being the little brother. Younger siblings everywhere have always had chips on their shoulders concerning over-achieving elders, whether it’s Anton Ferdinand, Phil Neville or Liam Gallagher. Today in 1933 big brother Danny was cooing over the newest arrival to the Blanchflower family, as his mother gave birth to another talented football sprog in the shape of Jackie Blanchflower.

Whilst Danny was off making a legend of himself as the key part of Bill Nicholson’s historic double-winning Spurs side, Jackie could only look on and dream about what could have been.

As a youngster Jackie was picked up by Manchester United, graduating from the club’s youth system when he made his first-team debut at Anfield in 1951. He became a regular in the side, picking up two league titles during the 1950s. Proving himself to be at ease anywhere on the pitch, he started his career up front before being moved to the heart of the United defence, where he could use aerial power and intelligent reading of the game to the full effect.

Unfortunately, most football fans will know where this story is headed. Jackie was on that infamous Flight 609 that decimated the Busby Babes when it crashed in Munich in 1958. Blanchflower sustained broken arms and legs, as well as a fractured pelvis. His right arm was almost severed and his kidneys were crushed, but unlike 23 of his fellow passengers he survived.

Jackie attempted a comeback, but was told by doctors that any further damage to his kidney would leave him in bad shape, so he called it a day a year later. His career was prematurely over by the age of 24, when he could look back at 117 appearances for United and 12 for his country.

It seemed that his luck got no better the older he got. He was from an age where players weren’t the gazillionaires that they are today, so he had to make a living the normal way, but fate kept conspiring against him. When he opened a paper shop in Manchester a supermarket would soon open around the corner. After getting a job as a bookmaker, the country soon found itself covered in snow, meaning all horse racing was abandoned and Jackie was laid off. He bounced back and did the old footballer’s trick of opening a pub, but after two weeks the breathalyser was introduced.

All this was while big bro Danny was becoming one of the greatest players of the era. Some people have none of the luck. Well leave with some footage of Jackie and his fellow Busby Babes in action, so younger siblings of the world unite in praising Jackie and head over here tomorrow for the story of a Brit who broke down barriers in Iberia.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...