Ex-Man Utd goalkeeper and Munich air disaster hero passes away at 87

Gregg was a United goalkeeping hero (Image: COURTESY)

Former Manchester United goalkeeper and Munich air disaster hero Harry Gregg has passed away at the age of 87.

Gregg, a Northern Ireland international, helped rescue some of his teammates and other passengers on board the plane which came down in Munich as United travelled back from a European Cup tie in Belgrade on February 6, 1958.

Twenty-three passengers on board the plane were killed, including eight United first-team players.

United icon Bobby Charlton credits Gregg for saving his life after the crash, while he also helped pull a baby from the wreckage of the aircraft.

Gregg passed away at the age of 87 [COURTESY]

Gregg - who was back in the United goal just two weeks after the disaster - received an MBE in 1995 and an OBE in 2018, both for his services to football.

He played 247 times for United in all competitions after joining the club from Doncaster Rovers in December 1957, just two months before the disaster.

United tweeted: "It is with deepest sadness that we have learned of the passing of former player Harry Gregg OBE. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club go out to Harry’s family and friends."

Gregg also played for Doncaster Rovers and Stoke City, and had spells as a manager at Shrewsbury Town, Swansea City, Crewe Alexandra and Carlisle United between 1968 and 1987.

The goalkeeper is widely recognised as one of the greatest stoppers ever to play for United, and maintained that he was determined not to be remembered for his actions at Munich alone.

Speaking at a service marking 60 years since the disaster in 2018, Gregg said, via BBC Sport:"I would be telling lies if I said that I thought about it all the time. In fact I would go insane.

"I know the media would like to talk about what happened on a runway.

"I don't blame people for that but if all I was ever part of, or all I ever achieved was to do with what happened in Germany, in Munich, if that was what my life was all about, it didn't come to very much."