1-0 the Reds - John Ludden - Bog

We begin in 1941, leaping flames as the Luftwaffe bomb Old Trafford. United appear done, a broken down wreck of a ground, but then appears Busby. We move then to a short novel about a young man that many who many saw play claim is the finest footballer to ever represent the reds. Duncan. Onto taking flight in the European Cup. A furious battle with the Basque, then the Busby Babes against Di Stefano's Real Madrid. Dancing with giants, Flamenco! We move to a last goodbye. The babes final match on British soil beneath the Highbury clock ticking away. An epitaph to a broken dream. The first game after Munich. United still fighting and Jimmy Murphy carries the flag as we are crying in the rain against Sheffield Wednesday. Our friends from Spain, Real Madrid return in wonderful generosity of spirit and blazing with stars. Don Alfredo, Puskas, Gento and Didi, taking apart a ghost of united team. The babes mostly dead. A Paradise lost. Ten years from Munich, the reds on a warm lit Wembley evening exorcise demons as the boys of 68 finally claim the European Cup. We arrive then at Matt and Jimmy. Sat together in an empty Old Trafford trying to work out and save a friendship thrown into mental turmoil after the crash. Talking and crying about their fallen angels. 1976: Offside! Bobby Stokes racing through and so far offside to be in another postcode, but we are beaten against the underdogs of Southampton. A defiant Tommy Doc declares ''we'll be back next year'' and is true to his word. United returning south to beat treble chasing Liverpool on a magic day in blazing London sunshine.
The following year, we danced to northern soul. Ron Atkinson's West Bromwich Albion come to Old Trafford on a late, bitterly cold January afternoon to win 5-3. Arguably the greatest first division game ever played. The ''Three Degrees''. Batson, Regis and the kid with diamonds on the soles of his football boots. Laurie Cunningham. 1983. Spilt milk. United make it to the League Cup final, (The Milk Cup) and lose against Liverpool. But they go down fighting. The same season. An FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at a Villa Park, turned blood red by United supporters. Robbo first, and then a young Irish kid called Norman Whiteside electrifies the Holte End with a screaming winner! Back at Wembley shooting seagulls. After a tension filled first game when ''Smith must score!'' but didn't. The replay saw Manchester United sweep past Brighton 4-0 and the cup returned to Manchester. Barca 84. 2-0 down from the first leg, the reds with Bryan Robson playing his finest ever game for United, beat a Barcelona team with Maradona and Schuster, 3-0! Robbo being raised high on the shoulders of Mancs at the final whistle. 1999. You couldn't make it up! The Nou Comp, time almost up but even if you close your eyes now you can see it. The Impossible Dream. On Sir Matt's birthday in Barcelona, Manchester United produce a footballing miracle against Bayern Munich. Now we turn to Both Sides Red. A screenplay, about the Glazer takeover, one never finished. To this day, it'll get done. Hopefully when they're gone. If Ole is to be remembered for one match before it all went to footballing hell as United manager, I hope it's this one. From Paris with love and a hangover. Marcus Rashford's last minute penalty sealing a sensational night under the Parisian stars. We finish, Sunday 2nd May 2021. Leaping Flames (part two) The Struggle against the Glazers rages on. The goal remains the same and the day they finally leave our football club will be the greatest 1-0 the reds ever!