Bert Trautmann Testimonial Benefit Manchester Combined Team 1964

Description

DATE 15/04/64

Bert Trautmann Testimonial

International X1 v Manchester City/United Combined team

Football Benefit Match 1964

THEY SAY ALL GOALKEEPERS ARE CRAZY,AND THIS MAN SUMMED IT UP PERFECTLY

HE FOUGHT FOR THE GERMANS DURING THE WAR AS A PARA,AND AFTER WINNING 5 MEDALS INCLUDING THE IRON CROSS,HE WAS EVENTUALLY CAPTURED,AND WAS ONE OF ONLY 900 FROM HIS PLATOON OF 1,000 TO SURVIVE

INSTEAD OF RETURNING ON HIS RELEASE IN 1948,HE WORKED THE FARM FIELDS IN LANCASHIRE,AND PLAYED LOCAL FOOTBALL IN HIS SPARE TIME

IN 1949 IT CAUSED A NATIONAL OUTCRY WHEN HE SIGNED FOR CITY,WITH DEMONSTRATIONS EVERYWHERE,ONE OF WHICH 20,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED

SOMEHOW HE IGNORED ALL THE ABUSE,AND BEING A GOALIE OF COURSE HE WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE FANS.BUT HE GOT ON WITH PERFORMING EVERY WEEK,AND GRADUALLY THE FANS WARMED TO HIM

THE TURNING POINT CAME IN THE 1956 FA CUP FINAL,WHEN HE REFUSED TO GO OFF THE FIELD AND PLAYED ON WITH A BROKEN NECK

HE THEN BECAME A NATIONAL HERO,AND WON THE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR.

Condition

V Good,cfld,lcr

Click Abbreviations Key