United mourn 'Busby Babe' Scanlon

Former Manchester United FC outside forward Albert Scanlon, who was among the survivors of the 1958 Munich air crash that claimed so many of the 'Busby Babes', has died in Salford at the age of 74 after suffering from kidney problems and pneumonia.

Dramatic recovery
The Hulme-born player came through the ranks at United, for whom he scored 35 goals in 127 games between 1954 and 1960, when he left for spells with Newcastle United FC, Lincoln City FC, Mansfield Town FC and Newport County AFC. Scanlon suffered a fractured skull and a broken leg among other injuries in the Munich air crash on 6 February 1958, but recoved in time to start the 1958/59 season. Eight of his team-mates and 15 other passengers were killed in the crash.

Sir Alex tribute
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I have known Albert since I came to Manchester United and he was always a pleasant and delightful man. He was always cheery and never lost his sense of humour despite the experience he had, and to come through that shows his strength of character. He will be a great loss, as he was a popular man, and our condolences go to his family."

'Joe Friday'
Former team-mate Wilf McGuinness added: "Albert's main asset was his pace. He really did have blistering speed and once he got a yard on his marker he was impossible to catch. During that period there was a very popular detective series on television featuring an American cop called Joe Friday who always talked out of the side of his mouth. That's how Albert talked and seeing that his middle name is Joseph you can understand why his nickname was 'Joe Friday'. He may have talked slowly but mentally he was as sharp as a button. It was astonishing he played so many games after the Munich Disaster following the injuries he sustained."