14 Facts About Jackie Blanchflower

John Blanchflower was a Northern Irish footballer.

Jackie Blanchflower graduated from Manchester United's youth system and played for the club on 117 occasions, winning one league title, before his career was cut short due to injuries sustained in the Munich air disaster.

Jackie Blanchflower was capped 12 times at senior level by Northern Ireland.

Jackie Blanchflower was the younger brother of Danny Blanchflower, the captain of the Tottenham Hotspur side that dominated English football in the early 1960s.

Jackie Blanchflower helped the club win the league title in 1956, however he missed out on a winner's medal in 1957 after only appearing in 11 games.

Jackie Blanchflower played in some of United's first European Cup fixtures.

Jackie Blanchflower scored 27 goals during his time at the club, most of them during his time as a forward.

Jackie Blanchflower was severely injured, suffering from a fractured pelvis and arms and legs, and crushed kidneys, and his right arm was nearly severed.

Jackie Blanchflower was in hospital for two months and was read the last rites but survived.

Jackie Blanchflower tried to return to football, but never made a full recovery.

Doctors advised him not to return to football because of fears he would damage his kidney and, a year later, Jackie Blanchflower retired from football.

Jackie Blanchflower married his wife Jean in 1956 and eventually pursued studies in finance and began a career as an accountant.

Jackie Blanchflower later became an after-dinner speaker and was a regular on the after-dinner circuits until his death from cancer on 2 September 1998.

Jackie Blanchflower was 65 years old, and just two weeks before he died he had attended the Munich air disaster testimonial match at Old Trafford.