Centenarian commentator honoured at Utd game

THE man who reconnected Matt Busby with Old Trafford following the Munich air crash in 1958 took centre stage at Manchester United yesterday afternoon.

Les Burgess was the hospital radio commentator for United during those dark days, part of a 16-year stint in the job, and it was his task to speak with Busby direct from his Munich hospital bed to give United fans assurance the “father of football” would pull through.

“A crowd of us got together and formed the hospital commentaries, so I ended up speaking to Matt from the ground while he was in hospital,” Burgess explained.

“They put me through to him whilst I was at the game and I relayed it to the crowd.

“It was a way of keeping everyone in touch. You were part of the family of the club and you wanted to keep it all together.”

Burgess celebrates his 100th birthday next month and United marked the occasion by making him guest of honour for Premier League game with Sunderland.

It means that he is one of the few who is almost as old as the ground itself, given its centenary was marked earlier this year.

“My connection with Manchester United goes back a long way,” he admitted. “I was eight when I attended my first game and I still follow the team’s fortunes now.

“They are doing well at the moment. They are not the best of teams but they are there. And Mr Ferguson doesn’t tend to let go when he gets hold of something.”