On This Day – 5th May
5th May 1956 was the date that made Bert Trautmann’s name known across the footballing world.
The former prisoner-of-war had joined Manchester City from non-league St Helen’s Town. His signing was initially an unpopular decision with the City fans, as they didn’t want a former German soldier playing for their club. 20,000 people even attended a demonstration against Trautmann joining the club!
He soon won the City fans over with some excellent performances and brave goalkeeping and this bravery would be shown when the club reached the 1956 FA Cup Final.
City were beating Birmingham City 3-1 with 17 minutes left to play when Birmingham’s Peter Murphy was played through on goal. Trautmann dived at his feet to stop the ball. He managed to stop the ball but picked up a serious injury to his neck in the process.
Unbelievably, Trautmann played through excrutiating pain until the final whistle and even made a few great saves before the game was over. City won their first FA Cup in 22 years and it was Trautmann who had played a massive part in winning them the Cup.
It wasn’t until four days after the match that Trautmann had an X-Ray on his neck. When he did get the injury checked over at Manchester Royal Infirmary, Professor David Lloyd Griffiths told Trautmann that the injury was so severe that he should be dead! Griffiths was an Orthopedic Surgeon at the hospital who was clearly shocked at the Manchester City goalkeeper’s neck injury!
The incident has gone down in football folklore and remains one of the most iconic moments from any Cup Final.
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