Johnny Berry
Encyclopedia
Reginald John "Johnny" Berry (1 June 1926 – 16 September 1994) was an English football player. Berry joined Manchester United
from Birmingham City
in 1951. He was a natural right winger, with technique and pace as his strengths. He played 277 matches for Manchester United, scoring 44 goals along the way, including helping Manchester United win three league championships. He played regularly for the first six seasons, before losing his place in the starting XI to youngster Ken Morgans
. Injuries sustained in the Munich air disaster
brought his footballing career to an end, at age 31.
When he woke up he was totally unaware of the plane crash, his injuries having caused a light form of amnesia. One month after he regained consciousness, he found out about the crash from seeing a newspaper. He spent two months in hospital with a fractured skull
, a broken jaw, a broken elbow, a broken pelvis
, and a broken leg. All of his teeth had to be removed while treating his jaw injuries.He only found out which of his team-mates had been killed some time after he returned to England.
His first job after retiring from football was with Massey Ferguson
at Trafford Park
, but in 1960 he was asked to leave the Manchester United owned house to accommodate new signing Maurice Setters
, and he left the Manchester area to return to Aldershot
.
He later ran a sports business with his brother Peter in Cove
, a village near Aldershot, until the 1980s, spending the final years of his working life as a storeman in a local warehouse.
Johnny Berry died in September 1994, aged 68, after a short illness. He was the first surviving player of the Munich Air Disaster to have died.
He was survived by his wife Hildaand his son Neil, who was later the head teacher of Brampton Manor School
. Neil published a book in 2007 describing his father's years at Manchester United.
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
from Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in 1951. He was a natural right winger, with technique and pace as his strengths. He played 277 matches for Manchester United, scoring 44 goals along the way, including helping Manchester United win three league championships. He played regularly for the first six seasons, before losing his place in the starting XI to youngster Ken Morgans
Ken Morgans
Kenneth Godfrey "Kenny" Morgans is a former Welsh footballer. He signed for Manchester United on leaving school in the summer of 1955 and played on the youth team's right wing....
. Injuries sustained in the Munich air disaster
Munich air disaster
The Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958, when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport in Munich, West Germany. On board the plane was the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the "Busby Babes",...
brought his footballing career to an end, at age 31.
When he woke up he was totally unaware of the plane crash, his injuries having caused a light form of amnesia. One month after he regained consciousness, he found out about the crash from seeing a newspaper. He spent two months in hospital with a fractured skull
Skull fracture
A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the skull usually occurring as a result of blunt force trauma. If the force of the impact is excessive the bone may fracture at or near the site of the impact...
, a broken jaw, a broken elbow, a broken pelvis
Pelvis
In human anatomy, the pelvis is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the lower limbs .The pelvis includes several structures:...
, and a broken leg. All of his teeth had to be removed while treating his jaw injuries.He only found out which of his team-mates had been killed some time after he returned to England.
His first job after retiring from football was with Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson Limited was a major agricultural equipment manufacturer which was based in Canada before its purchase by AGCO. The company was formed by a merger between Massey Harris and the Ferguson tractor company in 1953, creating the company Massey Harris Ferguson. However in 1958 the name was...
at Trafford Park
Trafford Park
Trafford Park is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. Located opposite Salford Quays, on the southern side of the Manchester Ship Canal, it is west-southwest of Manchester city centre, and north of Stretford. Until the late 19th century it was the...
, but in 1960 he was asked to leave the Manchester United owned house to accommodate new signing Maurice Setters
Maurice Setters
Maurice Edgar Setters is an English former football player and manager. As player, he made more than 400 appearances in the Football League representing Exeter City, West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Stoke City, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic, and in the United Soccer Association with...
, and he left the Manchester area to return to Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
.
He later ran a sports business with his brother Peter in Cove
Cove
A cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. They usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often inside a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are often considered coves...
, a village near Aldershot, until the 1980s, spending the final years of his working life as a storeman in a local warehouse.
Johnny Berry died in September 1994, aged 68, after a short illness. He was the first surviving player of the Munich Air Disaster to have died.
He was survived by his wife Hildaand his son Neil, who was later the head teacher of Brampton Manor School
Brampton Manor School
Brampton Manor Academy is a multi-cultural comprehensive secondary school situated in East Ham, east London and has around 1600 students and over 100 staff. Brampton Manor is the second biggest school in Newham. It was awarded specialist status as an Arts College.The school's current headteacher is...
. Neil published a book in 2007 describing his father's years at Manchester United.
External links
- Profile at StretfordEnd.co.uk
- Profile at MUFCInfo.com
- Profile at England Football Online
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-johnny-berry-1450520.html His obituary in the Independent newspaper