A MEMORIAL stone in honour of Busby Babe Mark Jones is set to be unveiled by his daughter later today - in what she admits will be an emotional tribute to her late father.
Jones, who was born on June 15, 1933, lived with his family in Wombwell before signing for Manchester United as an apprentice upon leaving school.
He had played for United in a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade on February 6, 1958.
The plane taking the team back to Manchester stopped at Munich for refuelling but tragedy struck when it tried to take back off in icy conditions.
It made two attempts and on the third it lost height, crashed through a fence, went across a road and into a house.
Twenty-three died including Mark’s Barnsley-born team-mate Tommy Taylor - whose name was used on the bridge at Market Gate in 2024.
But it will now be Mark’s turn to be honoured at a special event in Wombwell later today.
His daughter, Lynn Hargreaves, told the Chronicle she’s glad that there will finally be a lasting memorial to her father.
She said: “I’ve been campaigning a lot for this.
“I tried to get a figure placed somewhere in Barnsley but was told that it was going to cost way too much and I wouldn’t have been able to raise that amount of money.
“I then asked about a bust but that wasn’t much cheaper.
“But this is going to be a stone plaque in the floor with some wording on it.
“It’s taken 67 years to do something but I’m glad it’s finally going to happen.”
Mark is fondly remembered in Wombwell and this tribute to him has been organised as part of an event to mark the completion of major improvement works in Wombwell High Street.
These works have been carried out as part of Barnsley Council’s Principal Towns and Local Village Centres Investment Programme, which is transforming high streets and town centres across the borough.
Lynn will be the one to unveil the memorial stone in what she admits will be an emotional day - and she hopes it’ll make her dad proud.
“He really needs recognising,” she said.
“I’ve also purchased a hanging basket that will be adjacent to the memorial.
“It’ll be a really emotional moment.
“I hope that he and my mum (June) would have been proud of it.”
