Duncan Edwards (October 1, 1936 - February 21, 1958) was an English international footballer. Born in Dudley, West Midlands, he signed for Manchester United in June 1952 as an amateur and turned professional on October 1, 1953. He was one of the Busby Babes, the young United team formed under manager Matt Busby in the mid 1950s, and one of the eight United players who perished in the Munich air disaster. It has been claimed by those who saw Edwards play that if he had not died young, he would have gone on to become one of the all-time footballing greats. is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jan. ... First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... Map sources for Dudley at grid reference SO9390 Dudley is a town in the West Midlands, England. ... // The West Midlands is an area of central England. ... Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 - President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. ... The Busby Babes were a group of Manchester United players who progressed from the clubs youth team into the first team under Sir Matt Busbys management. ... Statue of Sir Matt Busby Sir Alexander Matthew Busby, CBE (26 May 1909 – 20 January 1994) was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for his management of Manchester United F.C. during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. ... A plaque at Old Trafford Football Ground remembering the Munich air disaster The Munich air disaster took place on February 6, 1958, when the British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at the Munich-Riem airport in Germany. ...

Early years

He was born at 1 Malvern Crescent, in the Woodside area of Dudley, West Midlands, but spent most of his childhood living at 31 Elm Road on the Priory Estate, also in Dudley. He attended Priory Primary School and Wolverhampton Street Secondary School, and was a key player in both schools' teams. The young Duncan Edwards became a schoolboy international in 1950, where he immediately came to the attention of the major clubs. Joe Mercer, who was then coaching England schoolboys, remarked to Matt Busby that he thought the young player was 'going to be some player'. On hearing this, Busby dispatched his trusted chief scout Joe Armstrong to see Edwards play. After just 10 minutes Armstrong had seen enough and recommended that Busby go to Dudley himself. The following week, Busby went to watch him play and told Jimmy Murphy that United must not miss out on signing him. After watching him for 2 years, United made their move to sign him on his 16th birthday - 1 October 1951. The Priory Estate is a housing estate in Dudley, West Midlands, England. ... Joe Mercer, OBE (August 9, 1914 - August 9, 1990) was an English football player and manager. ... Statue of Sir Matt Busby Sir Alexander Matthew Busby, CBE (26 May 1909 – 20 January 1994) was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for his management of Manchester United F.C. during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. ... Statue of Sir Matt Busby Sir Alexander Matthew Busby, CBE (26 May 1909 – 20 January 1994) was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for his management of Manchester United F.C. during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. ... Joe Armstrong succeeded Louis Rocca as chief scout of Manchester United F.C. after the Second World War. ... Joe Armstrong succeeded Louis Rocca as chief scout of Manchester United F.C. after the Second World War. ... Statue of Sir Matt Busby Sir Alexander Matthew Busby, CBE (26 May 1909 – 20 January 1994) was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for his management of Manchester United F.C. during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. ... James Patrick Murpy b. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

United were not the only club to have shown interest in Edwards. He was also wanted by nearby club Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were among England's leading football sides in the early 1950s and for several years afterwards, but he had always wanted to play for United, and when the offer came, he couldn't refuse it. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. are an English football club playing at Molineux Stadium. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ...

Football career

On April 4, 1953, he became the youngest footballer to play in the Football League First Division, making his debut versus Cardiff City. He then became one of the central figures in what became known as the Busby Babes. At the age of 18 years and 183 days, he made his international debut in a match against Scotland on 2 April 1955, and became England's youngest post-war debutant. This record was not broken for 43 years, when Michael Owen made his England debut in 1998. The record has since been broken by Wayne Rooney and most recently Theo Walcott. Edwards made 175 appearances for Manchester United F.C., scoring 21 goals and winning 18 caps for England, scoring 5 goals. is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 - President Harry S. Truman announces the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. ... From 1889 until 1992, this was the highest division overall of organized football in England. ... Cardiff City Football Club is a football team based in Cardiff. ... The Busby Babes were a group of Manchester United players who progressed from the clubs youth team into the first team under Sir Matt Busbys management. ... First international Scotland 0–0 England  (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Scotland 11–0 Ireland  (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Biggest defeat  Uruguay 7–0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First... is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... For other persons named Michael Owen, see Michael Owen (disambiguation). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Theo James Walcott (born 16 March 1989 in Stanmore, London[1]) is an English footballer who currently plays for Arsenal, having signed there from Southampton on 20 January 2006. ... Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Cap (sport). ... First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in...

The Munich air disaster

On 6 February 1958, the aeroplane carrying Edwards and his team mates home from a European Cup away match against Red Star Belgrade crashed on takeoff after a refuelling stop in Munich, Germany. Seven of his team mates and 15 other passengers died, and Edwards was badly injured; injuries included multiple leg fractures and severely damaged kidneys. The doctors treating him were confident that he stood some chance of recovery, but were doubtful whether he would ever be able to play again.^[1] is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jan. ... European Cup redirects here. ... The name Crvena zvezda can also be applied to KK Crvena zvezda, VK Crvena zvezda, RK Crvena zvezda. ... For other uses, see Munich (disambiguation). ...

Fight for life

Doctors had an artificial kidney rushed to the hospital for him the following day, but the artificial kidney reduced his blood's ability to clot and he began to bleed internally. Doctors were "amazed" at his fight for life.^[2] However, his condition worsened and he died in the Rechts der Isar Hospital, in Munich on 21 February. He was buried at Dudley Cemetery five days later, and his grave is visited regularly by football fans. He is buried with his sister Carol Anne, who died in 1947 at the age of 14 weeks. His Tomb Stone Reads: "A Day of Memory, Sad to recall, Without Farewell He left us all". Artificial kidney is often a synonym for hemodialysis, but may also, more generally, refer to renal replacement therapies (with exclusion of renal transplantation) that are in use and/or in development. ... The Rechts der Isar Hospital is a hospital in Munich, Germany. ... For other uses, see Munich (disambiguation). ... is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Dudley Cemetary is the place where former Manchester United F.C. player Duncan Edwards is buried. ...

Recognition of Talent

In recognition of his obvious talents Edwards was made an Inaugural Inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. The Hall of Fame is housed at The National Football Museum in Preston, England. ...

Legacy and Appraisal

Duncan Edwards was and is still admired by all those who knew him. Bobby Charlton, England's all time top scoring player, claimed that he wasn't fit to lace Duncan's boots, and that he "was the only player that made me feel inferior". In fact the only player who can possibly match Edwards since has been Roy Keane according to Bobby Charlton. The former England manager Terry Venables watched him play against his beloved Tottenham Hotspur as a youngster and said he was the greatest player he had ever seen. Edward's Manchester United team mate Wilf McGuinness holds him in similar regard, and commenting on the Munich air crash stated: "We definitely did lose one of the all-time greats". The former Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty said of Edwards: "You can keep all your Bests, Peles and Maradonas - Duncan Edwards was the greatest of them all". Sir Matt Busby described him as "the best player in the world". Sir Robert Bobby Charlton, CBE (born 11 October 1937 in Ashington, Northumberland) is a former English professional football player who won the World Cup and was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1966. ... Terence Frederick Venables (born January 6, 1943 in Dagenham, London) is the Assistant England national football team manager and a former English international footballer. ... Wilf McGuinness (born October 25, 1937 in Manchester, England) was an English football player and manager, who played twice for England. ... Thomas Henderson Docherty (born Gorbals, Glasgow on 24 August 1928), usually known as Tommy Docherty or the Doc, is a Scottish former footballer and football manager. ... Sir Matthew Busby (Orbiston, Glasgow May 26, 1909 - January 20, 1994) was a football player and manager, most noted for his spell managing Manchester United F.C. during the 1950s and 1960s As a player, Busby enjoyed spells at Manchester City F.C and Liverpool F.C. and played at...

Due to his potential brilliance, it has even been claimed that had he lived on it would have been he, not Bobby Moore, who lifted the World Cup trophy as England captain in 1966, and added to Manchester United's already impressive success during this decade. Robert Frederick Chelsea Bobby Moore, OBE (born Barking, England, 12 April 1941 - died London, 24 February 1993) was an English footballer. ... Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ...

In his home town of Dudley he is commemorated in the stained-glass window of St Francis's Church and in October 1999 a statue of Edwards, resplendent in his England kit, was unveiled in the town centre.

A pub on the Priory Estate was renamed the Duncan Edwards in honour of him in 2001, but it closed within five years and was subsequently destroyed by arsonists. The Priory Estate is a housing estate in Dudley, West Midlands, England. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1993 a cul-de-sac of housing association homes off Queens Cross in Dudley was named Duncan Edwards Close, and a plaque marks its opening. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low cost housing for people in housing need. ... Map sources for Dudley at grid reference SO9390 Dudley is a town in the West Midlands, England. ...

Ability

According to those who played alongside and against Duncan Edwards on a football field, he was the 'complete footballer' without a single weakness in his game. He had unrivalled stamina and, it was said, could have run for days. He could shoot powerfully with both feet, was dominant in the air, could tackle very well, and was also a good passer of the ball.

Quotes

"The only player who made me feel inferior was Duncan Edwards. If I had to play for my life and could take one man with me, it would be him." Bobby Charlton Sir Robert Bobby Charlton, CBE (born 11 October 1937 in Ashington, Northumberland) is a former English professional football player who won the World Cup and was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1966. ...

Bibliography

McCartney, Iain (2004). Duncan Edwards — The Final Report. Britespot Publishing Solutions Ltd. ISBN 1-904103-29-4. 

References

1. ^  Duncan Edwards — The Final Report 114.
2. ^  Duncan Edwards — The Final Report 116.

External links

• Duncan Edwards website
• English Football Hall of Fame Profile