A podcast digging up the weird, wild, and occasionally spooky stories you only find in the footnotes of history. <br/><br/><a href="https://fantasticfootnotes.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">fantasticfootnotes.substack.com</a>
Fantastic Footnotes Podcast
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A podcast digging up the weird, wild, and occasionally spooky stories you only find in the footnotes of history. <br/><br/><a href="https://fantasticfootnotes.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast">fantasticfootnotes.substack.com</a>
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June 30, 2026
The Note Stack: 6.30.26
<p>This month on The Note Stack we talk about some new research on Homo naledi burials, a Japanese Hell Ship, a mystery cave painting, and the reconstruction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Instead of Listener Comments Chris tells us the tale of the WWII Devil Duck (yes, she was a real duck) and then we share our Substack picks and what we are reading and watching.</p><p><strong>News Roundup</strong></p><p>Homo Naledi Burial</p><p>Scientists have successfully extracted ancient proteins from the tooth enamel of Homo naledi fossils for the first time, leading to a surprising discovery. None of the 20 individuals studied showed evidence of protein from the Y chromosome, suggesting they may all have been biologically female. Because this new technique works even when ancient DNA has long since broken down, researchers now think the South African cave could have been an intentional female-only burial site more than 300,000 years ago-possibly the oldest known example of sex-specific burial practices. Scientists caution that there are other possible explanations, including a rare genetic mutation, but the discovery gives researchers an exciting new way to study our ancient relatives. It also adds another intriguing chapter to the ongoing debate over whether Homo naledi, despite its relatively small brain, deliberately buried its dead and displayed other surprisingly complex social behaviors.</p><p>Original article <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/homo-naledi-female-proteins-fossils">here</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/homo-naledi-female-proteins-fossils">here</a></p><p>Japanese Hell Ship</p><p>More than 80 years after one of World War II's lesser-known maritime tragedies, researchers have finally located the wreck of the Japanese "hell ship" Hōfuku Maru off the coast of the Philippines. On September 21, 1944, the unmarked cargo ship was carrying more than 1,200 British and Dutch prisoners of war-many of them survivors of the brutal Burma-Thailand Death Railway-when it was mistakenly attacked by U.S. aircraft that had no way of knowing POWs were on board. The ship split in two and sank in less than three minutes, killing more than 1,000 prisoners. By combining newly discovered Japanese wartime records with Allied reports and underwater surveys, researchers were finally able to confirm the wreck's identity. Now protected as a war grave, the site stands as a sobering reminder of the terrible conditions endured aboard Japan's infamous "hell ships" and the heartbreaking tragedies that can occur in the fog of war.</p><p>Original article <a target="_blank" href="https://www.iflscience.com/in-1944-over-1000-allied-pows-sunk-on-a-hell-ship-82-years-on-theyve-just-found-the-wreck-83847">here</a></p><p>Mysterious Tusked Monster</p><p>A new study suggests that a mysterious 200-year-old rock painting created by the San people of South Africa may actually depict a dicynodont, a tusked, mammal-like animal that went extinct more than 200 million years ago. The creature in the "Horned Serpent" panel has downward-pointing tusks and other features that closely resemble dicynodont fossils found throughout the nearby Karoo Basin. Researchers believe the San may have discovered these fossils and incorporated them into their art and spiritual traditions, an idea the authors call Indigenous paleontology. The study adds to growing evidence that Indigenous peoples recognized fossils and wove them into their stories and beliefs long before Western scientists began studying and naming these ancient animals.</p><p>Read the article <a target="_blank" href="https://www.iflscience.com/200-year-old-rock-art-of-a-tusked-monster-may-depict-an-extinct-creature-that-vanished-200-million-years-ago-83850">here</a> and the journal article <a target="_blank" href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0309908">here</a> </p><p>Reconstructing the Lighthouse of Alexandria </p><p>Archaeologists have recovered 22 massive stone blocks from the submerged ruins of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Some of these enormous blocks weigh up to 88 tons and include pieces of the lighthouse's entrance, foundation, and tower. By combining these newly recovered stones with underwater surveys, historical records, and advanced 3D scanning technology, researchers with the PHAROS Project hope to create the most accurate virtual reconstruction of the lighthouse ever attempted. More than 700 years after earthquakes brought it crashing into the Mediterranean Sea, one of history's greatest engineering marvels is finally beginning to reveal what it really looked like.</p><p>Read the article <a target="_blank" href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/lost-for-700-years-one-of-the-seven-wonders-is-emerging-from-the-sea-again-as-22-giant-blocks-help-solve-a-2000-year-old-mystery/articleshow/131936754.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com&from=mdr#google_vignette">here</a></p><p>Also, the new Sultana Disaster Museum is opening November 14, 2026!</p><p><strong>Instead of Listener Comments…</strong></p><p>Instead of listener comments this week, Chris tells us about the infamous <a target="_blank" href="https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2022/11/23/the-marine-who-was-a-duck-yes-an-actual-duck/">Devil Duck of WWII.</a></p><p><strong>Featured Substacks</strong></p><p>Tina’s Pick: <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/@dennisbodzash">Dennis Bodzash</a></p><p>Chris’ Pick: <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/@laurencicco">Lauren Ciccomascolo</a></p><p><strong>Watching/Reading List</strong></p><p>Mostly, we are watching World Cup games and of course, Europeans visiting Buc-ees and trying Ranch dressing. Check out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sidequestdad">Side Quest Dad</a> for some fun soccer/Kansas City content</p><p>Tina is reading:</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Red-White-Royal-Blue-Novel-ebook/dp/B07J4LPZRN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1R9J62D0SHJ5I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hMDkfdpcL0cU7X8uH-TcsnNAPG2baVCcEdUKcEof1oo6LJYhmRNFIaGf42Dl_zv7EtcPlECdIebL9EZGRzVwo0exQapJ1N9xn_N-mAilPRM9fTSbUq5mDxypS-k_ZjhA9tJaOBpp88RXeZeCCf4so1eYk9_N0SlLJs3qLNDYBMW9LYtrC0KNqDHXpG-iUFLZWGo1Og6m39KRwKZCJ_m0LtS_e3qVc-NrkSPHiwuC4lo.vm0kClsg3COdUYSd-YrZMMMc2Na6nozhFCLQrKAcwbQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=red+white+and+royal+blue+book&qid=1782792067&sprefix=red+white+and+roya%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1">Red, White, and Royal Blue</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Red-White-Royal-Blue-Novel-ebook/dp/B07J4LPZRN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1R9J62D0SHJ5I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hMDkfdpcL0cU7X8uH-TcsnNAPG2baVCcEdUKcEof1oo6LJYhmRNFIaGf42Dl_zv7EtcPlECdIebL9EZGRzVwo0exQapJ1N9xn_N-mAilPRM9fTSbUq5mDxypS-k_ZjhA9tJaOBpp88RXeZeCCf4so1eYk9_N0SlLJs3qLNDYBMW9LYtrC0KNqDHXpG-iUFLZWGo1Og6m39KRwKZCJ_m0LtS_e3qVc-NrkSPHiwuC4lo.vm0kClsg3COdUYSd-YrZMMMc2Na6nozhFCLQrKAcwbQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=red+white+and+royal+blue+book&qid=1782792067&sprefix=red+white+and+roya%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1"> by Casey McQuiston </a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Do-Aliens-Speak-Physics-Questions-ebook/dp/B0DXQDMXZM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=FEFRAK2JPWQI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GRNlstTQa9E6EVVcrcOSji57lA6OgtvArrHhjMcess7gOTo33hLMGv7sxEJNBIB6.YuhcUVQW8KBLM42J0WlEUuDKygKpzINpotdHOwlc1uU&dib_tag=se&keywords=do+aliens+speak+physics&qid=1782792111&sprefix=do+ali%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1">Do Aliens Speak Physics</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Do-Aliens-Speak-Physics-Questions-ebook/dp/B0DXQDMXZM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=FEFRAK2JPWQI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GRNlstTQa9E6EVVcrcOSji57lA6OgtvArrHhjMcess7gOTo33hLMGv7sxEJNBIB6.YuhcUVQW8KBLM42J0WlEUuDKygKpzINpotdHOwlc1uU&dib_tag=se&keywords=do+aliens+speak+physics&qid=1782792111&sprefix=do+ali%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1"> by Daniel Whiteson and Andy Warner</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Heavens-Went-Sale-Geniuses-ebook/dp/B0B9SLZX9M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5XD2D2090DK0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.76HDqEf55cEkAtWU4guBfM4WrQvN7_FHZ7fFwOg4DeR-enwG2TDoBwxC19Of9_SExRJt7JCD6iuszOI5mFwWKJ1qIu1ZDDNfCDyi0l8VyjE3U9wCNVkX-66es8Oa78OfLmO-bZVd25W7-y6DlA-781eJM-AYUpp2FYWQja4RmIrJUTXTfZHEB2bYenXkr4TZa0t1W0zFc49jc97LL7rTHvJ0rLilNDwz7y2z3Vzfqrg.2mqt07EUTJixpR2vayLxbRr4JM-hmBIl0T2v9Pk2VR4&dib_tag=se&keywords=when+the+heavens+went+on+sale+book&qid=1782792164&sprefix=when+the+heavens+we%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-1">When the Heavens Went on Sale</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Heavens-Went-Sale-Geniuses-ebook/dp/B0B9SLZX9M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5XD2D2090DK0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.76HDqEf55cEkAtWU4guBfM4WrQvN7_FHZ7fFwOg4DeR-enwG2TDoBwxC19Of9_SExRJt7JCD6iuszOI5mFwWKJ1qIu1ZDDNfCDyi0l8VyjE3U9wCNVkX-66es8Oa78OfLmO-bZVd25W7-y6DlA-781eJM-AYUpp2FYWQja4RmIrJUTXTfZHEB2bYenXkr4TZa0t1W0zFc49jc97LL7rTHvJ0rLilNDwz7y2z3Vzfqrg.2mqt07EUTJixpR2vayLxbRr4JM-hmBIl0T2v9Pk2VR4&dib_tag=se&keywords=when+the+heavens+went+on+sale+book&qid=1782792164&sprefix=when+the+heavens+we%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-1"> by Ashlee Vance</a></p><p>Chris is watching:</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@AlexHormozi">Alex Hormozi</a></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://fantasticfootnotes.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">fantasticfootnotes.substack.com</a>
June 23, 2026
The History Behind Some of World Cup's Most Famous Games
<p>Soccer is truly a worldwide sport, which sometimes comes with worldwide issues. Today we’re going to talk a little bit about how politics affects international soccer. From outright bans and boycotts to contentious, and potentially contentious, games, let’s see how the World Cup has been shaped by politics.</p><p>Let’s start with teams that have been outright banned.</p><p><strong>1950 – Germany and Japan</strong></p><p>Germany and Japan were banned because of sanctions following World War II. Interestingly enough, both East and West Germany were barred from participating.</p><p><strong>1970–1990 – South Africa</strong></p><p>South Africa was banned because of apartheid. It was actually illegal to have mixed-race sports teams in South Africa, and foreign countries were required to bring all-white teams into the country to play. South Africa eventually hosted the World Cup in 2010 and gave us what is, in my opinion, the greatest World Cup song ever: <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/pRpeEdMmmQ0?si=4oTObP93nzZ5qRts">Waka Waka</a> by Shakira.</p><p><strong>1994 – Yugoslavia</strong></p><p>FIFA banned Yugoslavia from participating in the 1994 World Cup because of United Nations sanctions related to the wars in the Balkans, particularly the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina.</p><p><strong>2022–Present – Russia</strong></p><p>Russia has been banned from FIFA competitions following its invasion of Ukraine.</p><p></p><p>Some countries have chosen to give up their chance to play in the World Cup through boycotts.</p><p>In 1958, so many countries refused to play Israel that FIFA actually had to create a new rule. During the qualifying rounds, Israel managed to advance without playing a single match.</p><p>Israel was originally supposed to face Turkey, but Turkey withdrew because it objected to its placement in the Africa/Asia qualifying zone. Israel was then scheduled to play Indonesia, which also withdrew. Indonesia had requested that the matches be played on neutral ground rather than in Tel Aviv or Jakarta, but FIFA declined. Next came Egypt and Sudan, both of which refused to play Israel.</p><p>As a result, Israel qualified without taking the field. FIFA quickly decided that wasn’t acceptable and created a rule requiring teams to win at least one qualifying match. A European runner-up was drawn at random, and Israel ended up facing Wales. And after all of that… Isreal lost. It became the first time that Wales ever qualified to play in a World Cup. Wales made it to the quarter-finals that year and lost to Brazil. The only goal scored was by a 17yr old Brazilian player… Pelé.</p><p>Interestingly, because of the qualifying debacle in 1958, Israel now competes in UEFA, the European soccer federation rather than with Middle Eastern teams. </p><p>In 1966, much of Africa boycotted World Cup qualifying in protest of the allocation system. Sixteen spots were available in the tournament, but the way they were distributed was unfair. Europe received ten spots, South America received four, and North America/Central America/the Carribean received one. That left just one place for all of Africa, Asia, and Oceania combined.</p><p>African nations decided that was unfair and largely refused to participate. The boycott eventually led FIFA to guarantee Africa its own qualification spot beginning with the 1970 World Cup. The unfortunate part is that many people believe the team from Ghana that year was good enough that they could have won the entire tournament. </p><p>In 1973, the Soviet Union refused to play its second World Cup qualifying match against Chile. The first match had been played in Moscow, but the second game was scheduled for Chile’s National Stadium. Just weeks earlier, Chile had experienced a military coup in which President Salvador Allende was overthrown by General Augusto Pinochet. Following the coup, thousands of political prisoners were detained, interrogated, and tortured inside the National Stadium.</p><p>The Soviet Union refused to play there. Humanitarian concerns were certainly part of the decision, though the fact that the Soviets had supported Allende’s government probably played a role as well.</p><p>When match day arrived, the Soviet team never appeared. The referee started the game anyway, Chile kicked the ball into an empty net, and the match was immediately ended. Chile advanced to the World Cup. It is still remembered as the “Match of Ghosts”. </p><p>Some games have had the potential to be contentious, though most worked out just fine.</p><p>In 1998, Iran played the United States. The two countries had not had diplomatic relations since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Many people were concerned about tensions surrounding the match, but it remained peaceful. Before kickoff, the Iranian players presented the Americans with white roses as a symbol of peace. The U.S. team reciprocated with commemorative pennants. Iran went on to win 2–1, earning its first-ever World Cup victory.</p><p>In 1974, East Germany played West Germany in the group stage. This wasn’t just Germany versus Germany. It was democracy versus communism, NATO versus the Soviets, and one of the most politically charged matches in World Cup history. East Germany won 1–0, but was eventually eliminated. West Germany recovered from the loss, advanced through the tournament, and ultimately won the World Cup that year.</p><p>The 2018 World Cup match between Serbia and Switzerland was also tense. Many of the Swiss players, including Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, had family roots in Kosovo and Albania. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, and the legacy of the Kosovo War runs deep in the region. During that conflict, Serbian and Yugoslav forces were responsible for a campaign that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Kosovo Albanians and the displacement of hundreds of thousands more.</p><p>Serbia led 1–0, but Switzerland rallied to win 2–1. After scoring, Xhaka and Shaqiri celebrated by making a hand gesture widely interpreted as the Albanian double-headed eagle. Serbia viewed the gesture as a political statement, and FIFA fined both players after the match.</p><p>The final game on this list was politically charged, but it is remembered for an entirely different reason.</p><p>In 1986, Argentina and England met in the World Cup quarterfinals. Just four years earlier, the two countries had fought the Falklands War, which resulted in nearly 650 Argentine military deaths. It was always going to be a tense match, but it became famous for another reason.</p><p>In the second half, Diego Maradona scored one of the most famous goals in soccer history: the Hand of God goal.</p><p>From the referees’ perspective, Maradona had headed the ball into the net. What they couldn’t see was that he had actually punched it with his hand. After the match, Maradona joked that the goal had been scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” Years later, in his autobiography, Maradona openly admitted that he had used his hand. This goal led to the Argentina win over England, 2-1.</p><p>There are two games that could carry political significance in this year’s tournament.</p><p>First, Iran and the United States could potentially meet. Relations between our two countries are extremely tense, and recent events in the Middle East have only increased that tension. Couple that with the fact that Iran was supposed to have a base camp here in the US and were denied last minute, and that they are not allowed to stay overnight even after games, the atmosphere if they play could be tense.</p><p>The other possible matchup is Algeria versus Morocco.</p><p>The two North African nations share a border, but that border has been closed since 1994. One major source of tension is Western Sahara. Morocco claims the territory as part of its country, while Algeria supports the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara.</p><p>Another “political” game could happen, but this one would be a lot more fun than contentious.</p><p>The United States could potentially play England on July 4th - the 250th birthday of America. Even better, there is a small chance the match could take place in Philadelphia, one of the original thirteen colonies. Talk about a historical rematch!</p><p>In all, the World Cup brings people together, a fact you can see if you have watched even a single video of a European going to Buc-ees or the Tartan Army taking over Boston, but the matches do have the possibility of being politically and historically charged. Luckily, humanity always almost wins out and the World Cup remains a way to bring us all together. </p><p></p><p><strong>Sources:</strong></p><p> https://www.weforum.org/stories/2018/06/here-are-4-of-the-most-politically-charged-world-cup-games-ever-played-russia2018/</p><p>https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/every-world-cup-nation-banned-120000200.html</p><p>https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaellewis/2026/03/09/a-history-of-teams-that-were-banned-or-refused-to-play-the-world-cup/</p><p>https://time.com/6234776/countries-banned-world-cup-russia/</p><p>https://en.majalla.com/node/331514/politics/world-cup-has-always-been-pitch-global-politics</p><p>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36763036</p><p>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification</p><p>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeria%E2%80%93Morocco_football_rivalry</p><p>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_hand_of_God</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://fantasticfootnotes.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">fantasticfootnotes.substack.com</a>
June 9, 2026
The Plane Crash That Claimed a Generation of Football Talent
<p>At 3:04 p.m. on Feb. 6, 1958, a disaster occurred that still ranks among the greatest disasters in sports. As the Manchester United team was returning from a game in Yugoslavia, their plane crashed, killing 23 people.</p><p>Manchester United is an English football team (soccer for you Yanks). They were making their mark in 1958 and were famous as the Busby Babes. Their manager, Matt Busby, was making headlines because he was in favor of signing young players and developing them rather than recruiting older, more seasoned players. The average age of the Babes was only 22. They were doing well that year, and their record before the accident was 15 wins, 7 losses, and 6 draws.</p><p>The day before the accident, Manchester United had been in Yugoslavia to play Red Star Belgrade. They tied the game, but had enough points on aggregate to advance to the semifinals of the European Cup. They were headed home to England from Yugoslavia with a stop in Munich to refuel. The weather in Munich that day was cold and snowy.</p><p>After refueling, the plane was cleared for takeoff. However, both the first and second attempts were aborted. The aircraft, an Airspeed Ambassador, was prone to boost surging in the engines, which caused issues on the first two takeoff attempts. They returned to the terminal and had the plane looked at. The engineers concluded that the engines were working, but the surging was being caused by the fuel mixture and the conditions at the Munich airport. To fix the problem, the crew was to open the throttle more slowly on the next attempt.</p><p>The passengers were all in the terminal, and some had even sent messages home saying that flights were canceled and they would not be home that evening. Everyone was surprised, and a little hesitant, when they were told to get back on the plane. To prevent another surge with the engines, the crew opened the throttles more slowly. In the time since their first attempt, it had been snowing continuously, and though the crew checked the wings for icing, they did not factor in the snow and slush on the runway. The official reports do not blame the decreased engine throttle, but the snow for what happened next.</p><p>The plane barreled down the runway for a third time, passing the speed to abort takeoff but still not airborne. In fact, the plane never left the ground. At 3:04 p.m., the plane slammed through a fence at the end of the runway. It crossed a road, struck trees, and collided with a nearby house. One wing was torn away. The tail section separated, and the fuselage slammed into a building that contained a truck loaded with tires and fuel, which erupted into flames.</p><p>Twenty people were killed instantly. The crew was afraid the fuel would explode and shouted for people to run from the wreckage. Many did, but not the hero of the hour, Harry Gregg. He helped pull teammates Bobby Charlton, Jackie Blanchflower, and Dennis Viollet from the aircraft. He also rescued Vera Lukić, the pregnant wife of a Yugoslav diplomat, and her young daughter. He also helped his badly injured manager, Matt Busby. Gregg would always downplay his actions, but many regard him as one of the true heroes of Munich.</p><p>Of the forty-four people aboard the aircraft, 23 ultimately died. Twenty of those died at the crash site. Former England goalkeeper and journalist Frank Swift died while being transported to the hospital. Kenneth Rayment, the co-pilot on this flight, survived the initial crash but was severely injured. He died in the hospital 28 days later as a result of a brain injury. Duncan Edwards also survived the initial accident but died 15 days later in the hospital. Many considered Edwards one of the most gifted footballers England had ever produced. Even today, historians of the sport often wonder what might have been had he lived.</p><p>Eight Manchester United players were among the dead: Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor, Billy Whelan, and Duncan Edwards.</p><p>The disaster also claimed Manchester United club secretary Walter Crickmer, trainer Tom Curry, chief coach Bert Whalley, airline steward Tommy Cable, and several journalists covering the team.</p><p>A woman and her three children were in the house that was hit, but luckily all escaped and survived.</p><p>Nine other Manchester United players were on board but survived. Two of those players, Johnny Berry and Jackie Blanchflower, sustained injuries serious enough that they never played again. Manager Matt Busby ultimately survived, but was in the hospital for two months. He was in very critical condition and was administered the Last Rites on two separate occasions.</p><p>After the disaster, the Manchester team was devastated both mentally and physically. Their coach, Jimmy Murphy, was instrumental in rebuilding the team. He had actually stayed behind on this trip because he was coaching Wales in a World Cup qualifier, and after the accident he stepped up and helped put the team back together.</p><p>The football world responded with an outpouring of support. Manchester City, United’s local rival, held a moment of silence at their game and even took up a collection for the victims. Maybe more importantly on an emotional level, Manchester City declined to take Manchester United’s spot in the European Cup. Other clubs offered players so that United could field a team. In the club’s first match after the disaster, a makeshift Manchester United side defeated Sheffield Wednesday 3–0, but the match program was heartbreaking. Where the players’ names should have appeared, there were just blank spaces.</p><p>Despite the victory, their season collapsed. After the disaster, they won only one more league match and finished ninth. They reached the FA Cup Final, but lost 2–0 to the Bolton Wanderers.</p><p>Today, the victims of the disaster are remembered in multiple countries. Probably the most famous memorial is the Munich Clock at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s home stadium. The clock is forever paused at 3:04.</p><p>Manchester Cathedral contains a stained-glass window honoring those who died, and near the site of the crash in Munich stands Manchesterplatz, a memorial square featuring inscriptions in both English and German. Even the Majestic Hotel in Belgrade has a small memorial. The team was believed to have stayed in this hotel before leaving Yugoslavia, and the hotel displays a menu card signed by 14 of the players, including the eight who were killed. They also have a photograph taken at the meal, a match ticket, and a piano played by Mark Jones the night before the incident.</p><p>The club continued to rebuild, and ten years later, in 1968, defeated Benfica to win the European Cup. Manchester United is one of the most famous clubs in the world now and has had players recognized the world over. Even non-football fans will recognize names like David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, George Best, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Many people say that without Jimmy Murphy, the team may not have survived, but luckily for soccer fans, it came through one of the worst sports disasters ever and is even stronger today.</p><p></p><p><strong>Sources:</strong></p><p>https://gjfootballarchive.com/2025/02/06/the-munich-air-disaster-a-long-read-2/</p><p>https://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/munich_58/munich.html</p><p>https://www.theguardian.com/football/from-the-archive-blog/2018/feb/05/munich-air-disaster-crash-manchester-united-busby-1958</p><p>https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5187460/2024/02/06/munich-air-disaster-manchester-united-crash/</p><p>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957%E2%80%9358_Manchester_United_F.C._season</p><p>https://www.mancity.com/features/acityunited/</p><p>Podcasts:</p><p>Disaster Area: British European Airways Flight 609</p><p>History Daily: The Munich Air Disaster</p><p>Newspaper:</p><p>Liverpool Daily Post (Merseyside ed.), Fri, Feb 07, 1958, page 1</p><p>The Birmingham Post, Fri, Feb 07, 1958, page 13</p><p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://fantasticfootnotes.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1">fantasticfootnotes.substack.com</a>
19 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for Fantastic Footnotes Podcast
Frequently asked questions
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- What is Fantastic Footnotes Podcast?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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