Billy Whelan, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetBilly Whelan
Irish association footballer
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Dublin, Leinster, Ireland
About Billy Whelan
- William Augustine Whelan (1 April 1935 – 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 born in Dublin.
- He came from a large family; his father John had died in 1943, when Whelan was just eight years old.
- He was not a confident flyer and just before the aeroplane took off from Munich, he was heard to say: "Well, if this is the time, then I'm ready." Whelan began his career with Home Farm before joining Manchester United as an 18-year-old in 1953.
- He was capped four times for the Republic of Ireland national team, but did not score.
- His brother John played for Shamrock Rovers and Drumcondra F.C.. He made 98 first-team appearances in four seasons at United, scoring 52 goals.
- He was United's top scorer in the 1956-57 season, scoring 26 goals in the First Division and 33 in all competitions as United won their second successive league title and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup and FA Cup.On 8 December 2006 the railway bridge on Fassaugh Road/Dowth Avenue junction in Cabra, Dublin 7 close to Dalymount Park was renamed in his honour.
- The campaign to have the bridge renamed was initiated and organised by members of the Cabra, GAA club, Naomh Fionbarra (Irish language spelling) (St.
- Finbarr's) and sanctioned by Dublin City Council in early 2006.
- It is close to St.
- Attracta Road, the street in which he was born.
- The unveiling ceremony was performed by Whelan's Manchester United teammate at the time of the aircrash, Sir Bobby Charlton. On 4 February 2008, the Irish national postal body An Post issued a 55c postage stamp for the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster showing a photo of Liam Whelan. Whelan is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.
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