Rare Man U autographs sell for $22,600

LONDON: A menu card believed to be the last item signed by Manchester United's "Busby Babes" before the 1958 Munich air disaster was sold at auction on Wednesday for 12,000 pounds ($22,600).    

The card, autographed by 14 members of the famous young squad managed by Matt Busby, was bought by a private collector from London at a special football memorabilia sale in Ludlow, west central England.    

Auction charges meant the buyer had to pay more than 14,000 pounds.    

The menu is dated February 5, 1958, and bears the signatures of Duncan Edwards, Roger Byrne, Geoff Bent, Eddie Colman, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Liam "Billy" Whelan, who were killed just hours after signing it.    

The team, which also included England's 1966 World Cup winner Bobby Charlton, had beaten Red Star Belgrade 5-4 on aggregate and signed the menu during the post-match meal at the Majestic Hotel.    

The plane crashed taking off in a blizzard at the German airport, where it had stopped to refuel. A total of 23 of the 43 passengers on board were killed.    

Auctioneer John Mullock said the card was remarkable as it was so rare.    

"We expected an awful lot of interest in it as there had been nothing like this on the market before," he added.

"It is so rare, it is one of the most important items of football history relating to one of the worst disasters ever to hit the sporting world," he said.