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{{short description|English footballer and coach}}
'''Bert Whalley''' (?-[[February 6]], [[1958]]) was a professional [[football (soccer)|football]] [[coach (sport)|coach]] for [[Manchester United]].
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Bert Whalley
| image =
| fullname = Herbert Whalley
| birth_date = {{birth date|1913|8|6|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=AqVucusosNLJCxueYw9ovA&scan=1|title=Index entry |accessdate=4 March 2012 |work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Lancashire]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1958|2|6|1913|8|6|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Munich]], West Germany
| height = 5 ft 9 in<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-dispatch-football-guide-1936-v-di/134566111/ |title=Manchester United. Weak positions improved |newspaper=Sunday Dispatch Football Guide |location=London |date=23 August 1936 |page=v |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
| position = [[Midfielder|Half-back]]
| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1933–1934 |clubs1 = [[Stalybridge Celtic F.C.|Stalybridge Celtic]] |caps1 = ? |goals1 = ?
| years2 = 1934–1948 |clubs2 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] |caps2 = 32 |goals2 = 0<!-- LEAGUE ONLY -->
}}
'''Herbert Whalley''' (6 August 1913 – 6 February 1958) was a [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[midfielder|half-back]] for [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] from 1934 to 1946, later serving on the [[coach (sport)|coaching staff]] at the club. He died in the [[Munich air disaster]] in 1958, at the age of 44.


==Career==
He died in the [[1958]] [[Munich air disaster]], which also killed eight of the team's players.
Born in [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Lancashire]], Whalley began his career with nearby [[Stalybridge Celtic F.C.|Stalybridge Celtic]] in 1933, before transferring to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 7 May 1934. He made his debut on 30 November 1935 as a left-half in a 0–0 draw with [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]. The outbreak of the [[World War II|Second World War]] meant he was limited to 38 official appearances for the club; however, he played more than 200 times during the war, as well as making guest appearances for [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] and [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]. He made just seven more appearances after the war, following the appointment of [[Matt Busby]] as manager.


In the latter years of his career, Whalley trained as a coach. In late 1947, while coaching a schoolboy side, he suffered an eye injury that put an end to his playing career. Busby visited him in the hospital and promised Whalley would always have a job at the club, and Whalley was soon appointed to the club's coaching staff, working predominantly with the youth teams. After [[Jimmy Murphy (footballer)|Jimmy Murphy]] officially became assistant manager to Busby in 1955, Whalley was promoted to the role of chief trainer. In that capacity, he travelled with the team to Belgrade for a [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] match against [[Red Star Belgrade]] in February 1958; on the journey back to England, the team's plane stopped in Munich to refuel. Bad weather meant the plane struggled to take off, and on the third attempt, it crashed through the end of the runway, killing 23 of the people on board, including Whalley, in what became known as the [[Munich air disaster]].
{{england-footybio-stub}}

==Legacy==
Whalley was played by actor [[Dean Andrews]] in the 2011 television drama ''[[United (TV film)|United]]'', which centred on the successes of the [[Busby Babes]] and the decimation of the team in the Munich crash.<ref>{{cite news |first=Graham |last=Walker |title=United: 'Honoured' to be in Busby Babes TV drama, says Ashes star Dean Andrews |url=http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/listings/talks-courses-and-workshops/united_honoured_to_be_in_busby_babes_tv_drama_says_ashes_star_dean_andrews_video_1_3320024 |work=Sheffield Telegraph |publisher=Johnston Publishing |date=24 April 2011 |accessdate=29 April 2011 }}</ref> In July 2021, Whalley was commemorated with a [[blue plaque]] at Stalybridge Celtic's ground, [[Bower Fold]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Eleanor |last=Whitehead |title=Bert Whalley: a father figure for United |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/bert-whalley-man-utd-former-player-and-coaching-career-remembered |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=28 July 2021 |accessdate=28 July 2021 }}</ref> In conjunction with the unveiling of the plaque, which was carried out by former Manchester United captain [[Bryan Robson]], the Manchester United under-23s team played a friendly match against Stalybridge Celtic; Manchester United won the match 5–1.<ref>{{cite news |first=Cliff |last=Butler |title=Under-23s record friendly win at Stalybridge |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/stalybridge-celtic-v-man-united-u23s-friendly-bert-whalley-2021 |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=27 July 2021 |accessdate=28 July 2021 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/whalley_b.html Profile] at StretfordEnd.co.uk
*[http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/a-z_player_archive/a-z_player_archive_pages/whalley_herbert.html Profile] at MUFCInfo.com
* http://menmedia.co.uk/tamesideadvertiser/news/s/1035544_moving_tributes_to_tragic_united_coach {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130421030913/http://menmedia.co.uk/tamesideadvertiser/news/s/1035544_moving_tributes_to_tragic_united_coach |date=21 April 2013 }}

{{Munich air disaster}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whalley, Bert}}
[[Category:Footballers from Ashton-under-Lyne]]
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1958 deaths]]
[[Category:Stalybridge Celtic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C. wartime guest players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers killed in the Munich air disaster]]


{{England-footy-midfielder-1910s-stub}}

Revision as of 12:13, 15 November 2023

Bert Whalley
Personal information
Full name Herbert Whalley
Date of birth (1913-08-06)6 August 1913[1]
Place of birth Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England
Date of death 6 February 1958(1958-02-06) (aged 44)
Place of death Munich, West Germany
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Half-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1933–1934 Stalybridge Celtic ? (?)
1934–1948 Manchester United 32 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Herbert Whalley (6 August 1913 – 6 February 1958) was a footballer who played as a half-back for Manchester United from 1934 to 1946, later serving on the coaching staff at the club. He died in the Munich air disaster in 1958, at the age of 44.

Career

Born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Whalley began his career with nearby Stalybridge Celtic in 1933, before transferring to Manchester United on 7 May 1934. He made his debut on 30 November 1935 as a left-half in a 0–0 draw with Doncaster Rovers. The outbreak of the Second World War meant he was limited to 38 official appearances for the club; however, he played more than 200 times during the war, as well as making guest appearances for Oldham Athletic and Bolton Wanderers. He made just seven more appearances after the war, following the appointment of Matt Busby as manager.

In the latter years of his career, Whalley trained as a coach. In late 1947, while coaching a schoolboy side, he suffered an eye injury that put an end to his playing career. Busby visited him in the hospital and promised Whalley would always have a job at the club, and Whalley was soon appointed to the club's coaching staff, working predominantly with the youth teams. After Jimmy Murphy officially became assistant manager to Busby in 1955, Whalley was promoted to the role of chief trainer. In that capacity, he travelled with the team to Belgrade for a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade in February 1958; on the journey back to England, the team's plane stopped in Munich to refuel. Bad weather meant the plane struggled to take off, and on the third attempt, it crashed through the end of the runway, killing 23 of the people on board, including Whalley, in what became known as the Munich air disaster.

Legacy

Whalley was played by actor Dean Andrews in the 2011 television drama United, which centred on the successes of the Busby Babes and the decimation of the team in the Munich crash.[3] In July 2021, Whalley was commemorated with a blue plaque at Stalybridge Celtic's ground, Bower Fold.[4] In conjunction with the unveiling of the plaque, which was carried out by former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson, the Manchester United under-23s team played a friendly match against Stalybridge Celtic; Manchester United won the match 5–1.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Manchester United. Weak positions improved". Sunday Dispatch Football Guide. London. 23 August 1936. p. v – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Walker, Graham (24 April 2011). "United: 'Honoured' to be in Busby Babes TV drama, says Ashes star Dean Andrews". Sheffield Telegraph. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  4. ^ Whitehead, Eleanor (28 July 2021). "Bert Whalley: a father figure for United". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  5. ^ Butler, Cliff (27 July 2021). "Under-23s record friendly win at Stalybridge". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 28 July 2021.


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