Englis

Manchester United: a club like no other

PETER MORAN
SEPTEMBER 2007
around
A

© Pearson Education Polska 2007 PHOTOCOPIABLE

 more (Duncan Edwards) died in
hospital later; two others never
played again. Matt Busby survived,
but had to stay in hospital for many
months.
Even today, Manchester United
fans remember the eight players
who died and sing the song ‘Flowers
of Manchester’ in their honour. The
club has stopped the ‘Munich Clock’
above the entrance to United’s
stadium, Old Trafford, permanently
at 3.04pm - the time of the crash.

Champions at last
A year after the tragedy in
Munich, Matt Busby became
manager once again. He built a
great new team, with young players
like George Best playing alongside
crash survivors like Bobby Charlton.
In 1968, ten years after that terrible
crash in Munich, Manchester United
The early days won the European Cup for the first
time. Old Trafford
Manchester United FC was It was impossible to find a
founded by railway workers in 1878 successor to Matt Busby when he
as Newton Heath. The owners retired and United had to wait until
changed its name to Manchester 1986 before they found their next
United in 1902 and the club won the great manager: Alex Ferguson.
English League for the first time in
1908. The 1920s and 1930s were
difficult times for United, however - Manchester United today
in 1930 the team lost its first twelve
Ferguson’s teams have
matches in a row!
dominated English football for
almost twenty years and, in 1999,
The Busby Babes Manchester United became the only
For the next fifteen years United club to win the ‘Impossible Treble’:
struggled until, in 1945, Matt Busby the English League, the FA Cup and
joined the club as Manager. Busby the European Cup (Champions
and his assistant, Jimmy League).
Murphy, believed in Ferguson knows Manchester
training local schoolboys United’s traditions. His teams play
and they built a team out with an open and attacking style,
of young players - Duncan with young players - many from
Edwards, perhaps the best Manchester itself.
of all, was just sixteen The team is watched by almost
Duncan
years old when he made 80,000 fans every week at Old
Edards
his debut in 1953. Trafford (there are never empty
Because of its youth, people knew seats at Old Trafford) and has tens
the team as ‘The Busby Babes’. of millions of fans all over the world -
more than any other club. The
Tragedy in Munich history and traditions of Manchester
United’s young and exciting United are never forgotten and
team looked like it would dominate exciting young players like Cristiano
Europe but on February 6th 1958 Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney keep
tragedy struck: returning from a the traditions alive. Sir Matt Busby
European Cup semi-final in Munich would, we can be sure, approve.
the plane with the United team
on board crashed in the snow while
trying to take off. Seven players
were killed in the crash and one

The Flowers of
Manchester
Roger Byrne
© Pearson (29)Polska 2007
Education Geoff Bent PHOTOCOPIABLE

(25) Eddie Colman (21)

 Englis
Manchester United: a club like no other
PETER MORAN
SEPTEMBER 2007
around
B

© Pearson Education Polska 2007 PHOTOCOPIABLE

 later; two others never played again. Manchester United today
Matt Busby survived, but had to stay
in hospital for many months. Ferguson’s teams have
Even today, Manchester United dominated English football for
fans remember the eight players almost twenty years and, in 1999,
who died and sing the song ‘Flowers Manchester United became the only
of Manchester’ in their honour. The club to win the ‘Impossible Treble’:
‘Munich Clock’ above the entrance the English League, the FA Cup and
to United’s stadium, Old Trafford, is the European Cup (Champions
stopped permanently at 3.04pm - League).
the time of the crash. Manchester United’s traditions
are known to Ferguson. His teams
Champions at last play with an open and attacking
style, with young players - many
A year after the tragedy in
from Manchester itself.
Munich, Matt Busby became
The team is watched by almost
manager once again. He built a
80,000 fans every week at Old
great new team, with young players
Trafford (there are never empty
like George Best playing alongside
seats at Old Trafford) and has tens
crash survivors like Bobby Charlton.
of millions of fans all over the world -
In 1968, ten years after that terrible
more than any other club. People
crash in Munich, Manchester United
never forget the history and
won the European Cup for the first
traditions of Manchester United and
time.
exciting young players like Cristiano
The early days It was impossible to find a
successor to Matt Busby when he
Railway workers founded retired and United had to wait until
Manchester United FC in 1878 as 1986 before they found their next
Newton Heath. In 1902 the name great manager: Alex Ferguson.
was changed to Manchester United
and the club won the English League
for the first time in 1908. The 1920s
and 1930s were difficult times for
United, however - in 1930 the team
lost its first twelve matches in a row!
Old Trafford
The Busby Babes Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney keep
For the next fifteen years United the traditions alive. Sir Matt Busby
struggled until, in 1945, Matt Busby would, we can be sure, approve.
joined the club as Manager. Busby
and his assistant, Jimmy Murphy,
believed in training local
schoolboys and they built a
team out of young players
- Duncan Edwards, perhaps
the best of all, was just
sixteen years old when he
made his debut in 1953.
Duncan
Because of its youth,
Edards
the team was known as
‘The Busby Babes’.

Tragedy in Munich
United’s young and exciting
team looked like it would dominate
Europe but on February 6th 1958
tragedy struck: returning from a
European Cup semi-final in Munich
the plane with the United team on
board crashed in the snow while
trying to take off. The crash killed
seven players and one more
(Duncan Edwards) died in hospital

The Flowers of
Manchester
Roger Byrne (29) Geoff Bent
© Pearson Education Polska 2007 PHOTOCOPIABLE
(25) Eddie Colman (21)
 English
PETER MORAN
SEPTEMBER 2007
around

Manchester United: a club like no other

© Pearson Education Polska 2007 PHOTOCOPIABLE

The early days crash survivors like Bobby Charlton.
In 1968, ten years after that terrible
Manchester United FC was crash in Munich, Manchester United
founded by railway workers in 1878 won the European Cup for the first
as Newton Heath. In 1902 the time.
name was changed to Manchester It was impossible to find a
United and the club won the English successor to Matt Busby when he
League for the first time in 1908. retired and United had to wait until
The 1920s and 1930s were difficult 1986 before they found their next
times for United, however – in 1930 great manager: Alex Ferguson.
the team lost its first twelve
matches in a row! Manchester United
The Busby Babes today
Ferguson’s teams have
For the next fifteen
dominated English football for
years United struggled
almost twenty years and, in 1999,
until, in 1945, Matt
Manchester United became the
Busby joined the club
only club to win the ‘Impossible
as Manager. Busby and
Treble’: the English League, the FA
his assistant, Jimmy
Cup and the European Cup
Murphy, believed in
Duncan (Champions League).
training local schoolboys
Edward Ferguson knows Manchester
and they built a team
s United’s traditions. His teams play
out of young players -
with an open and attacking style,
Duncan Edwards, perhaps the best
with young players - many from
of all, was just sixteen years old
Manchester itself.
when he made his debut in 1953.
The team is watched by almost
Because of its youth, the team was
80,000 fans every week at Old
known as ‘The Busby Babes’.
Trafford (there are never empty
Tragedy in Munich seats at Old Trafford) and has tens
of millions of fans all over the world
United’s young and exciting - more than any other club. The
team looked like it would dominate history and traditions of
Europe but on February 6th 1958 Manchester United are never
tragedy struck: returning from a forgotten and exciting young
European Cup semi-final in Munich players like Cristiano Ronaldo and
the plane with the United team Wayne Rooney keep the traditions
on board crashed in the snow while alive. Sir Matt Busby would, we can
trying to take off. Seven players be sure, approve.
were killed in the crash and one
more (Duncan Edwards) died in
hospital later; two others never
played again. Matt Busby survived,
but had to stay in hospital for many
months.
Even today, Manchester United
fans remember the eight players
who died and sing the song
‘Flowers of Manchester’ in their
honour. The ‘Munich Clock’ above
the entrance to United’s stadium,
Old Trafford, is stopped
permanently at 3.04pm - the time
of the crash.

Champions at last
A year after the tragedy in
Munich, Matt Busby became
manager once again. He built a
great new team, with young players
like George Best playing alongside

The Flowers of
Manchester

©Roger Byrne
Pearson (29) Polska 2007
Education Geoff Bent PHOTOCOPIABLE
Old Trafford
(25) Eddie Colman (21)
 around English activities
sheet

Before you read

Look at these names. How are they important to Manchester United? Match the names with the explanations.

1. Newton Heath a. the location of a terrible tragedy

2. Matt Busby b. the name of the Manchester United manager
3. Munich c. the name of a current Manchester United player
4. Old Trafford d. the name of Manchester United’s stadium
5. Alex Ferguson e. the original name of Manchester United
6. Cristiano Ronaldo f. the name of a famous former Manchester United manager

First reading
Read the text quickly to check your answers.

Second reading
Eight words and phrases in the text are underlined. Match them to the definitions below.

someone who helps someone else in their work, someone who takes a job or position previously held
especially by doing the less important jobs by someone else

used to say that people or things do something or

continue to live after an accident, war, or illness
exist together at the same time

start something such as an organization, company,

stop working, usually because of your age school, or city, often by providing the necessary
money

show publicly that someone is respected and admired,

be likely to fail, even though you are trying very hard especially by praising them or giving them a special
title

(all definitions from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)

Vocabulary 2
Complete the sentences using one of the words above. You may need to change the form of the word.
1. My father worked for forty years in the same factory. He ____________________ a week ago, 65 years
old.
2. After his yacht sank, John had to ____________________ for two weeks in the Pacific before he was
rescued.
3. Pope Benedict XVI is Pope John Paul II’s ____________________.
4. The Queen can ____________________ citizens by giving them a title such as ‘Sir’ or ‘Lord’.
5. I really ____________________ in the exam. I couldn’t answer half the questions.

© Pearson Education Polska 2007 PHOTOCOPIABLE

6. I’ve had to work much harder since my ____________________ left last year.
7. My car looked small and old-fashioned ____________________ my boss’ new Jaguar.
8. King Casimir the Great ____________________ the city of Kraków 750 years ago.

around English activities

sheet

Grammar 1
Look at the two example sentences:

Manchester United FC was founded by railway workers in 1878 as Newton

Heath.

Railway workers founded Manchester United FC in 1878 as Newton Heath.

1. Are the sentences correct? Both of them? One of them? Neither of them?

2. What is the difference between the two sentences?

3. When is it better to use each form? Try to make a list of reasons for using each.

Grammar 2
Find someone who had a different version of the text (A and B) and work with them. Compare
your texts to find sentences which are different - there should be seven, including the
example above.

Work together and try to create a perfect text, choosing the best sentence from each pair.
Think about why you choose each sentence - your teacher will ask you for your reasons.

Project work
You’re going to make a poster telling the story of a person, place or organisation which you know well. It could be your home
town, your country, a favourite music group or sports team - you decide. Work in groups of 3-5 and plan what your poster will
include, considering the design (illustrations, colours, layout etc) and the content (information) to go on it. You may wish to do
some research, if you have time, using the internet, libraries etc.