Today we are devastated that our hero, legend and friend Harry Gregg has passed away.
It is a miracle that Harry lived to the ripe old age of 87 after not only surviving Munich, he was the reluctant hero that tragic night.
But it is still a shock to be saying farewell and RIP to a giant of a man the likes of which I doubt we will ever see again in our lifetime.
The tributes that have already been adorned on this incredible human being can never be overstated because Harry was the most understated hero you could ever hope to meet.
I am yet to complete the film I started three years ago when I spent eight hours in his home in Coleraine talking about his life, his highlights and his harrowing memories of Munich.
It was my intention to make the feature length documentary a campaigning film that would address unfinished business. And one of the biggest questions I was asking the world was why on earth was Harry Gregg never knighted?
There is too much to say about Harry here and the news is still raw. But the world is now mourning the loss of a man who thought nothing of his own life when he returned into the wreckage of the Munich Air Disaster to help survivors to safety.
Sir Bobby Charlton, now the lone survivor of Munich, was one of his injured team mates he pulled clear of the crash that claimed the lives of eight of his friends.
He saved lives including a pregnant woman and her child as he stumbled over the bodies of the young men he knew and loved.
The sad news released early this morning by the family of Harry passing away is extra poignant because it is only days since Manchester United fans around the world have been honouring the 62nd anniversary of the crash on 6th February 1958.
I was in Munich with several hundred Reds who attended an impeccable memorial service arranged by the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation at the crash site in Trudering.
On Friday it will be the anniversary of the day Duncan Edwards became the eighth Busby Babe to lose his life in Munich, after surviving with horrific injuries for 15 days.
Now Harry is joining the Flowers of Manchester whom I doubt he ever spent a single day not thinking about since the crash. And when we return to Munich next year there will be an extra tear in the eye for the proud Irishman we have loved and adored and most certainly never ignored.
As the MMMF have this morning posted on their website: “Whenever we speak of The Babes, Sir Matt or Jimmy in future, we will now include Harry.
“For us, and many of you, he was our hero, our legend, the true hero of Munich. Such a humble man, he would never allow us to say this in front of him but we all know, in our hearts it is true.
“RIP Harry. HERO. LEGEND. FRIEND. We will never forget you. ”
Those words sum up my own thoughts and feelings perfectly.
Harry made 247 appearances for United between 1957 and 1966 after joining from Doncaster for a then world record £23,000. But sadly he never won a medal with the Reds after injury ruled him out of 1963 FA Cup-winning side and limited his appearances in two title-winning seasons.
It is too late for the powers that be to do the right thing and honour him with a knighthood. But for his legion of fans around the world he will always be Sir Harry.
