Regardless of the tragedy that would cement the Busby Babes' place in history, the common view is names such as Duncan Edwards would have lived on in football folklore.
It was their ability as footballers that forged their legend well in advance of the Munich air disaster in 1958. Even now when Manchester United fans celebrate that team of the 1950s, it's football that defines the conversation. They want to talk about how talented individual players were, how they represented what the club is all about to leave their footprint on the game.
Matt Busby's budding stars won five FA Youth Cups on the bounce. From 1953 to 1957, the competition was theirs in every sense. Considering the aggregate scores in some of those finals—they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 9-3, West Bromwich Albion 7-1 and West Ham United 8-2—just reinforces the fact.
It was a unique period in English football that few clubs have come close to emulating. Going for their third successive FA Youth Cup this season, Chelsea aren't too far off themselves, though.
The Blues face Manchester City on Friday in the first leg of the final before welcoming them back to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Repeat their success over their opponents at the same stage last year and history will be made—not since the 1950s has a club been so dominant in the competition.
It was their ability as footballers that forged their legend well in advance of the Munich air disaster in 1958. Even now when Manchester United fans celebrate that team of the 1950s, it's football that defines the conversation. They want to talk about how talented individual players were, how they represented what the club is all about to leave their footprint on the game.
Matt Busby's budding stars won five FA Youth Cups on the bounce. From 1953 to 1957, the competition was theirs in every sense. Considering the aggregate scores in some of those finals—they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 9-3, West Bromwich Albion 7-1 and West Ham United 8-2—just reinforces the fact.
It was a unique period in English football that few clubs have come close to emulating. Going for their third successive FA Youth Cup this season, Chelsea aren't too far off themselves, though.
The Blues face Manchester City on Friday in the first leg of the final before welcoming them back to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Repeat their success over their opponents at the same stage last year and history will be made—not since the 1950s has a club been so dominant in the competition.
This year is the sixth FA Youth Cup final Chelsea have contested in seven seasons—a phenomenal record in itself. They've won four of them (2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015), and had it not been for the 2013 loss to Norwich City, they would be on the brink of something even greater than they already are.
It's why comparisons between Chelsea's youngsters and those Busby Babes is apt. Just by getting this far, the current crop has surpassed the exploits of Chelsea's back-to-back Youth Cup winners from 1960 and 1961.
Those teams featured Terry Venables and Ron Harris among other players who would go on to be recognised as Tommy Docherty's Diamonds. Given how the Busby Babes are revered by neutrals as well as their own supporters, it's that sort of acclaim these youngsters and Chelsea should be chasing.
Like United were back then, there's a sense Chelsea could well be on the cusp of bringing through a generation of players nurtured by the club that will define a large part of their history.
Harris, John Hollins and Peter Osgood—although the latter wasn't a Youth Cup winner—did that for Chelsea by winning the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. It was a level of success the club wasn't accustomed to at the time, although the Busby Babes were winning league titles in their pomp. That's the target.
It's why comparisons between Chelsea's youngsters and those Busby Babes is apt. Just by getting this far, the current crop has surpassed the exploits of Chelsea's back-to-back Youth Cup winners from 1960 and 1961.
Those teams featured Terry Venables and Ron Harris among other players who would go on to be recognised as Tommy Docherty's Diamonds. Given how the Busby Babes are revered by neutrals as well as their own supporters, it's that sort of acclaim these youngsters and Chelsea should be chasing.
Like United were back then, there's a sense Chelsea could well be on the cusp of bringing through a generation of players nurtured by the club that will define a large part of their history.
Harris, John Hollins and Peter Osgood—although the latter wasn't a Youth Cup winner—did that for Chelsea by winning the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. It was a level of success the club wasn't accustomed to at the time, although the Busby Babes were winning league titles in their pomp. That's the target.
By dominating youth football like they are, Chelsea's youngsters are showing they're not just any type of player. These are kids who are the best at their level. The focus must be to transfer that to the realms of senior football.
On Monday, they successfully retained the UEFA Youth League by defeating Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the final. They have the chance to add to that.
Manchester City stand in the way of Joe Edwards' side, but much bigger than the challenge City will offer on Friday is the question of courage. Can Chelsea trust their nerve to bring these talented youngsters through once they've outgrown their youth tag?
That's where the club has failed for too long. We've seen players with the talents of Josh McEachran depressingly fade into the ether despite their starring roles in the junior ranks. Whether it's been bad coaching, a highly skilled squad blocking the pathway or just mismanagement of players, the system hasn't worked.
Now Chelsea need it to.
On Monday, they successfully retained the UEFA Youth League by defeating Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the final. They have the chance to add to that.
Manchester City stand in the way of Joe Edwards' side, but much bigger than the challenge City will offer on Friday is the question of courage. Can Chelsea trust their nerve to bring these talented youngsters through once they've outgrown their youth tag?
That's where the club has failed for too long. We've seen players with the talents of Josh McEachran depressingly fade into the ether despite their starring roles in the junior ranks. Whether it's been bad coaching, a highly skilled squad blocking the pathway or just mismanagement of players, the system hasn't worked.
Now Chelsea need it to.
The stick often used to beat the club with is that no homegrown player has become established at Stamford Bridge since John Terry came through at the turn of the century. He's 35 years old now and at the end of the road in terms of his playing career.
Terry must be replaced—and not just as a player. Chelsea need to rebuild the club this summer to get back to winning ways after a disastrous campaign that has ruthlessly exposed the shortcomings we've long since known have been there.
And the best way of avoiding those mistakes that have got Chelsea to this point is by putting faith in the homegrown element.
It's by promoting from within that clubs are strongest. Barcelona's recent success has been built around that model in the same way Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United depended heavily on the Class of '92.
It's about combining a club culture and tradition with a sprinkling of stardust that comes with a selection of external players. It's about getting the balance right, having the club's values coursing through the veins of the team.
Terry must be replaced—and not just as a player. Chelsea need to rebuild the club this summer to get back to winning ways after a disastrous campaign that has ruthlessly exposed the shortcomings we've long since known have been there.
And the best way of avoiding those mistakes that have got Chelsea to this point is by putting faith in the homegrown element.
It's by promoting from within that clubs are strongest. Barcelona's recent success has been built around that model in the same way Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United depended heavily on the Class of '92.
It's about combining a club culture and tradition with a sprinkling of stardust that comes with a selection of external players. It's about getting the balance right, having the club's values coursing through the veins of the team.
Chelsea had it to some degree with the Terry and Frank Lampard generation. They need to rediscover it as the Stamford Bridge dressing is looking alarmingly short on players who truly understand Chelsea's history and what the club stands for.
Shortly after making his 700th Chelsea appearance against Everton in March, Terry gave an interview to the Chelsea matchday programme in which he touched upon that fact.
Captains have come and gone since the days when Harris was living up to his Chopper moniker along the King's Road in the 1960s, but it was arguably only Dennis Wise, during his time as captain in the 1990s, who rivaled him for the affection of Chelsea fans.
Terry has done that through his brilliance as a player, although the fact he is a homegrown star has meant his relationship with those on the terraces has always ran that bit deeper.
"When I first came into the team, we had the likes of Marcel Desailly [and] Frank Leboeuf—big players—and the fans were so keen to see youngsters coming through," Terry explained.
"Jody Morris was established before me, then he moved on. Jon Harley had been in and out of the team, and then left the club. I have had such a good relationship with the fans from Day 1. They have been loyal to me, singing my name. It's just incredible really.
Shortly after making his 700th Chelsea appearance against Everton in March, Terry gave an interview to the Chelsea matchday programme in which he touched upon that fact.
Captains have come and gone since the days when Harris was living up to his Chopper moniker along the King's Road in the 1960s, but it was arguably only Dennis Wise, during his time as captain in the 1990s, who rivaled him for the affection of Chelsea fans.
Terry has done that through his brilliance as a player, although the fact he is a homegrown star has meant his relationship with those on the terraces has always ran that bit deeper.
"When I first came into the team, we had the likes of Marcel Desailly [and] Frank Leboeuf—big players—and the fans were so keen to see youngsters coming through," Terry explained.
"Jody Morris was established before me, then he moved on. Jon Harley had been in and out of the team, and then left the club. I have had such a good relationship with the fans from Day 1. They have been loyal to me, singing my name. It's just incredible really.
"That obviously built with success, with performances and with what I've done with the club—of course it has. But I’m telling you now, I couldn't have done what I've done without them, 100 per cent."
It's the fundamentals that count most in football, which Terry understands. He couldn't have achieved what he has without that backing from supporters. But more than that, it took a level of trust in him from his manager and peers.
Terry wasn't a part of any record-breaking youth teams. Indeed, ask even the most ardent of Chelsea supporters and they would struggle to name any of those he played alongside before he became the player we see today.
It could prove the same for those who take the field against Manchester City on Friday. Yet with all they are achieving and have achieved, it shouldn't.
To steal a phrase, this generation of youngsters at Stamford Bridge isn't one from the bottle; it's a special one. It would be a travesty if Chelsea allowed it to go ignored.
It's the fundamentals that count most in football, which Terry understands. He couldn't have achieved what he has without that backing from supporters. But more than that, it took a level of trust in him from his manager and peers.
Terry wasn't a part of any record-breaking youth teams. Indeed, ask even the most ardent of Chelsea supporters and they would struggle to name any of those he played alongside before he became the player we see today.
It could prove the same for those who take the field against Manchester City on Friday. Yet with all they are achieving and have achieved, it shouldn't.
To steal a phrase, this generation of youngsters at Stamford Bridge isn't one from the bottle; it's a special one. It would be a travesty if Chelsea allowed it to go ignored.
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