THE images are etched in the memory.

George Best dribbling the ball around the goalkeeper and sliding the ball into the net. Brian Kidd rattling the crossbar and then heading home the rebound.

Most of all the sweat-stained shirt of Bobby Charlton lifting the European Cup to the Wembley skies after Manchester United had beaten Benfica 4-1 to give manager Matt Busby the prize he craved most.

It was 10 years after the Munich air crash and Sir Bobby is convinced the spirit of the Busby Babes, who perished in February 1958, provided the inspiration for United to become the first English club to win football's most prestigious club prize.

He also believes the triumph helped ease Busby's sense of responsibility for the tragic consequences of taking the club into Europe.

Charlton said: "It was marvellous because winning the European Cup was something you could aim at to put things right in a way. The accident had happened, this great tragedy and loss.

"And if we could win the European Cup for Matt Busby because it was his team, his lads, it would be fantastic.

"When we won it, that was a big thank you really.

"I think Matt Busby could feel a lot happier because he probably missed the players more than anyone else. He felt responsible."

Charlton scored two goals in the final and it was a night which was all the more poignant because United had invited the parents of the eight players who died in the crash to the match and the post-match banquet at London's Russell Hotel.

You can only imagine their thoughts as they helped congratulate Best and Pat Crerand and goalkeeper Alex Stepney and the rest.

Charlton said: "I think of all the parents of the little kids who wanted to play for Manchester United and Sir Matt actually brought them to play at Manchester United and they were his.

"It was a family club. It is said often but it really was a family club and he was the father, so you can imagine when it happened it was a tragedy that hit him more than anyone else."

Charlton is convinced, however, that United would have won the European Cup 10 years before they actually did if it had not been for Munich.

They had reached the semi-final in 1957 and one year later Charlton believes United could have wrecked one of sport's great feats, the one which saw Real Madrid win the European Cup five times in succession from its inaugural competition in 1956.

Charlton said: "If the accident hadn't happened, I think we would have won the European Cup that year.

"Real Madrid won the European Cup for the first five years, but we were never going to go backwards once we set off on this path to be the best in Europe.

"Yes we would have beaten them. We would have beaten Real Madrid."

No-one, of course, will ever know for sure, but you sense Charlton might just be right.

EIGHT Manchester United players lost their lives as a result of the Munich air disaster on February 6, 1958. A further 15 club officials and journalists were also killed in the tragedy.

Here, Press Association Sport offers short profiles on the players who died.

GEOFF BENT

Largely a reserve player, who was kept out of the side by first John Aston and then Roger Byrne. The Salford-born full-back was handed his debut in the 1954-55 season but made only 12 First Division appearances for United. He was included on the trip to Munich only because Byrne was carrying a slight injury. He died aged 25.

ROGER BYRNE

The full-back was born in Manchester and made his debut for the Red Devils in the 1951-52 season, and impressed sufficiently to be the captain of Matt Busby's team. In total he made 245 appearances, scoring 17 goals, and died aged 28.

EDDIE COLMAN

Salford-born Colman was the youngest player to die in the tragedy, aged 21. He made 85 appearances, scoring once from right half.

DUNCAN EDWARDS

Many who saw him play swear he would have gone on to be the finest footballer ever seen. Dudley-born Edwards made his United debut as a 16-year-old in the 1951-52 season, becoming the youngest player to appear in a Football League game at the time. Broke a post-war record when making his England debut aged 18, and had won 18 caps in total. He died of his injuries aged 21, 15 days after the crash.

MARK JONES

Barnsley boy Jones made his debut in the 1950-51 campaign, and the centre-half made 103 appearances for the Red Devils and won two league titles. He died aged 24.

DAVID PEGG

A left-winger who won his first England cap nine months before the crash. Played in the 1957 FA Cup final and won two league titles with United, having made his first-team bow in 1952-53. He died aged 22.

TOMMY TAYLOR

Managed 22 goals in 46 games for home-town club Barnsley before joining United for a world-record fee just shy of £30,000. He had netted 112 in 166 games and he was also a prolific scorer for England, with 16 goals in 19 appearances. He died aged 26.

LIAM WHELAN

'Billy' Whelan was an inside forward who joined United from Irish side Home Farm, making his debut in the 1954-55 season. He was United's top scorer with 27 in the 1956-57 term. He died aged 22.