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English Football Legends Series

Duncan Edwards was the outstanding player in Manchester United's great 'Busby Babes' side.

An imposing midfielder, with great strength and a powerful shot, he was also noted for his stamina and his 'level of authortity' on the pitch, said to remarkable in a player so young.

Duncan Edwards

Clubs: Manchester United

Position: Midfielder

Appearances*: 151

Goals*: 20

Honours: League Championship, 2

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* League appearances and goals only

Manchester United

Edwards first attracted the attention of Manchester United when he was only 12-years-old. United scout Jack O'Brien advised Matt Busby that he was 'worth watching', and the club did keep tabs on the player, eventually signing him 4 years later.

He began his United career in the youth team, making several appearances in the FA Youth Cup winning side of 1953.

But by April 1953 he had already broken into the first team, making his debut in a 4-1 defeat to Cardiff City.

United were at the time introducing a number of young players into their aging side. Edwards, along with the likes of Dennis Viollet and Jackie Blanchflower, gave the side a youthful look, which earned them the nickname, 'Busby Babes'.

The 1953/54 season saw Edwards emerge as a first team regular, he made 24 league appearances, and was called up for England's under-23 team.

"He was strong and had a fantastic football brain. His ability was complete - right foot, left foot, long passing, short passing. He did everything instinctively."
Bobby Charlton

England International

The following season he made 36 appearances, scored his first senior goals, and earned a call-up to England's senior side.

In 1955 Edwards was called up for compulsory National Service. He was based at Shrewsbury, but was allowed leave to play for United.

League Champion

In the 1955/56 season, he played 33 times as United won the league. The following season he made 34 league appearances, and won a second consecutive league title.

He also played in the 1957 FA Cup Final, but United were beaten by Aston Villa and missed out on the double.

Also in that season he played seven games during United's first ever European campaign.

By now an England regular, Edwards played all four of England's World Cup qualifying games, and was considered the likely candidate to replace the veteran Billy Wright as national team captain.

In the 1957/58 season, United began the defense of their title in fine form, winning 5 of their first 6 games. By the time they went to Arsenal in February they were in third place.

Edwards scored the first goal as the Red Devils won a thrilling match 5-4. It would be his last game in England.

Munich

Five days later United drew 3-3 away to Red Star Belgrade to progress to the European Cup semi-finals.

Returning from the match, the aircraft carrying the team crashed on takeoff after a refuelling stop in Munich, Germany.

Seven players and 14 other passengers died at the scene. Edwards was rushed to hospital with multiple fractures and severe kidney damage.

Death

Despite the seriousness of his injuries, doctors were confident he would recover, and initially he seemed to be making progress. But after the failure of a kidney transplant his conditioned worsened, and he died of kidney failure on 21 February 1958.

Edwards was buried at Dudley Cemetery five days later. More than 5,000 people lined the streets of his home town for the funeral.

Legacy

Edwards is commemorated in a number of ways in his home town of Dudley.

There is a statue of him in the town centre and a stained-glass window depicting him at St Francis's Church.

A road near the cemetery where he is buried is called 'Duncan Edwards Close', Dudley's southern bypass is called 'Duncan Edwards Way'.

Edwards was an inaugural inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

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