Busby Babes tug-of-love as Shamrock Rovers want their ball back

A football signed by the Busby Babes was at the centre of a tug-of-love last night after it emerged for auction in Dublin.

The ball was present at one of the most famous fixtures in Shamrock Rovers’ history. In October 1957, the then League of Ireland champions were drawn against the star-studded English league champions in the European Cup — the first time a League of Ireland side played in the competition. United easily won the first leg at Milltown 6-0, but Rovers played brilliantly at Old Trafford, narrowly going down 3-2.

Now Dublin auction house Whyte’s has listed a football for sale from that second leg, signed by Matt Busby, Bobby Charlton, Duncan Edwards and all the United squad, including Dubliner Liam Whelan, who was among the 23 who lost their lives in the Munich air crash a few months later.