William Augustine Whelan (born 1 April 1935 in Dublin – 6 February 1958), also known as Billy Whelan or Liam Whelan, was an Irish footballer and one of the eight Manchester United players who were killed in the Munich air disaster. He was 22 years old when he died.
Whelan was a devout Roman Catholic who came from a large family; his father John had died in 1943, when Whelan was eight years old. He was not a confident flyer and just before the aer...
more
William Augustine Whelan (born 1 April 1935 in Dublin – 6 February 1958), also known as Billy Whelan or Liam Whelan, was an Irish footballer and one of the eight Manchester United players who were killed in the Munich air disaster. He was 22 years old when he died.
Whelan was a devout Roman Catholic who came from a large family; his father John had died in 1943, when Whelan was eight years old. He was not a confident flyer and just before the aeroplane took off from Munich, he was heard to say: "If this is the end, then I'm ready for it".
Whelan began his career with Home Farm before joining Manchester United.
He made 98 first-team appearances between August 1955 and February 1958, scoring 52 goals. He had previously played for Irish club Home Farm, and was a regular in the Republic of Ireland national team.
On 8 December 2006 the railway bridge on Faussagh Road/Dowth Avenue junction in Cabra, Dublin 7 close to Dalymount Park was renamed in his honour. The campaign to have the bridge...
less
