Duncan Edwards

Duncan Edwards was born on 1 October 1936{{Hugman|5770|access-date=21 January 2025}} at 23 Malvern Crescent in the Woodside district of Dudley.McCartney, p. 1.{{refn|Dudley is currently in the West Midlands county but was in Worcestershire at the time of Edwards' birth.{{cite web|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/STS/Boundaries.html#Dudley|title=Staffordshire Boundary Changes|publisher=GENUKI|access-date=14 February 2008|date=26 March 2001}}|group=nb}} He was the first child of Gladstone and Sarah Ann Edwards and their only child to survive to adulthood, his younger sister Carol Anne dying in 1947 at the age of 14 weeks. His cousin, three years his senior, was Dennis Stevens, who also went on to become a professional footballer.{{cite news |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/sportingmemories/memorablematches/4047666.September_14__1957___Division_One__Wanderers_4_Manchester_United_0/ |title=September 14, 1957 – Division One: Wanderers 4 Manchester United 0 |newspaper=The Bolton News |first=Gordon |last=Sharrock |date=15 January 2009 |access-date=6 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319041832/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/sportingmemories/memorablematches/4047666.September_14__1957___Division_One__Wanderers_4_Manchester_United_0/|archive-date=19 March 2012}}

Soon after Edwards was born, his family moved to 31 Elm Road on the Priory Estate, also in Dudley. Edwards attended Priory Infant and Junior Schools from 1941 to 1948, and Wolverhampton Street Secondary School from 1948 to 1952. He played football for his school as well as for Dudley Schools, Worcestershire and Birmingham and District teams,McCartney, p. 4. and also represented his school at morris dancing.{{cite news|url=http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/display.var.2005757.0.your_memories_of_duncan.php|title=Your memories of Duncan|work=Dudley News|access-date=14 February 2008|date=30 January 2008}} He was selected to compete in the National Morris and Sword Dancing Festival, but was also offered a trial for the English Schools Football Association's under-14 team, which fell on the same day, and opted to attend the latter.McCartney, p. 5.

Edwards impressed the selectors and was chosen to play for the English Schools XI, making his debut against the equivalent team from Wales at Wembley Stadium on 1 April 1950. He was soon appointed captain of the team, a position he held for two seasons.{{cite news|url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/sport/2008/02/08/the-black-country-s-greatest-65233-20454126/|title=Edwards: The Black Country's greatest|work=Birmingham Post|access-date=14 February 2008|date=8 February 2008}} By this stage, he had already attracted the attention of major clubs, with Manchester United scout Jack O'Brien reporting back to manager Matt Busby in 1948 that he had "today seen a 12-year-old schoolboy who merits special watching. His name is Duncan Edwards, of Dudley."

Joe Mercer, who was then coaching the England schools team, urged Busby to sign Edwards, who was also attracting interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/enduring-legend-of-indomitable-edwards-671399.html|title=Football: Enduring legend of indomitable Edwards|work=The Independent|access-date=14 February 2008|date=1 October 2001|first=Brian |last=Viner}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Edwards signed for United as an amateur on 2 June 1952,McCartney, p. 12. but accounts of when he signed his first professional contract vary. Some reports state that it occurred on his 17th birthday in October 1953,{{cite web|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Legends/Duncan-Edwards.aspx?pageNo=2|title=Legends: Duncan Edwards|publisher=Manchester United F.C.|access-date=26 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530023213/http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Legends/Duncan-Edwards.aspx?pageNo=2|archive-date=30 May 2011|url-status=dead}}McCartney, p. 25. but others contend that it took place a year earlier.{{cite news|url=http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/display.var.2005880.0.0.php|work=Dudley News|title=Duncan Edwards{{snd}}50 years on|access-date=20 February 2008|date=30 January 2008}} Those accounts that favour the earlier date usually state that a club official, either Busby himself or coach Bert Whalley, arrived at the Edwards family home soon after midnight to secure the youngster's signature as early as possible, but other reports claim that this occurred when he signed his amateur contract.McCartney, p. 13. Wolves manager Stan Cullis was indignant at missing out on a highly touted local youngster and accused United of improperly offering financial inducements to Edwards or his family, but Edwards maintained that he had always wanted to play for the Lancashire team.Meek, p. 100. To guard against the possibility that he might not make a success of his football career, he also began an apprenticeship as a carpenter.McCartney, p. 16.

Edwards began his Manchester United career in the youth team and made several appearances for the team that won the first ever FA Youth Cup in 1953,Horne et al., p. 225. but by the time of the final had already made his debut for the first team. On 4 April 1953 he played in a Football League First Division match against Cardiff City, which United lost 4–1,{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=37293|title=Results/fixtures|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=13 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205064258/http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=37293|archive-date=5 December 2008|url-status=dead}} aged just 16 years and 185 days. Mindful of the fact that his team contained a large number of ageing players, Busby was keen to bring new young players through the ranks. Edwards, along with the likes of Dennis Viollet and Jackie Blanchflower, was among a number of youngsters introduced to the team that season, and the new group of players came to be known collectively as the Busby Babes. Reviewing his performance on his first-team debut the Manchester Guardian newspaper commented that "he showed promise of fine ability in passing and shooting, but will have to move faster as a wing half".McCartney, p. 22.

The 1953–54 season saw Edwards emerge as a semi-regular player in the United first team. After impressing in a friendly against Kilmarnock he replaced the injured Henry Cockburn for the away match against Huddersfield Town on 31 October 1953,McCartney, pp. 25–26. and went on to appear in 24 league matches as well as United's FA Cup defeat to Burnley.{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/MANCHESU.HTM|title=Manchester United|publisher=The Football Club History Database|access-date=19 February 2008}} Nonetheless he was also still an active part of the youth squad and played in the team which won the Youth Cup for the second consecutive season. He made his first appearance for the national under-23 team on 20 January 1954 in Italy,McCartney, p. 30. and was considered for inclusion in the full England team, but on the day when the selection committee watched him in action, against Arsenal on 27 March, he gave a poor performance and was not called up.McCartney, pp. 34–36.

The following season, he established himself as United's regular left-half, making 36 first-team appearances and scoring his first goals at senior level, finishing the season with six to his name. His performances revived calls for him to be selected for the senior England team, and a member of the selection committee was despatched to watch him play against Huddersfield Town on 18 September 1954, when he was just short of his 18th birthday, but nothing came of it in the short term,McCartney, p. 41. although he was selected for a Football League XI which played an exhibition match against a Scottish League team.McCartney, p. 52. In March he played for England B against an equivalent team from Germany and, despite being criticised in the press for his "poor showing",McCartney, pp. 52–53. was called up for the full national team a week later. He made his debut in a match against Scotland on 2 April 1955 in the British Home Championship aged 18 years and 183 days, making him England's youngest debutant since the Second World War, a record which stood for 43 years, until Michael Owen made his England debut in February 1998.{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/2008/01/08/duncan-edwards-tribute-exhibition/|title=Duncan Edwards tribute exhibition|work=Express and Star|access-date=18 February 2008|date=8 January 2008|archive-date=10 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310045837/http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/01/08/duncan-edwards-tribute-exhibition/|url-status=dead}} Three weeks later United took advantage of the fact that he was still eligible for the youth team to select him for the club's third consecutive FA Youth Cup final. The decision to field an England international player in the youth team was heavily criticised, and Matt Busby was forced to pen a newspaper article defending this decision, which paid off for United as the wing-half was instrumental in a third Youth Cup win. By now, the younger players were rapidly taking over the first team.McCartney, pp. 56–57.

In May 1955, Edwards was selected for the England squad which travelled to mainland Europe for matches against France, Portugal and Spain, starting all three matches. Upon returning from the tour, he began a two-year stint in the British Army with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Army service was compulsory at the time for all men of his age under the national service scheme, with the exception of students and those working in certain trades.McCartney, p. 59. He was stationed at Nesscliffe near Shrewsbury along with teammate Bobby Charlton, 12 months his junior, but was allowed leave to play for United.{{cite news|url=http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/1992211.Charlton_remembers_his_lost_team_mates_/|title=Charlton remembers his lost team mates|work=Messenger Newspapers|first=Simon|last=Greenhalgh|access-date=21 February 2008|date=4 February 2008}} He also served in Wales alongside future Tottenham Hotspur manager Keith Burkinshaw.{{cite web | url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/may/29/workington-raise-funds-reliving-when-they-stunned-manchester-united | title= Workington raise funds reliving day they stunned Manchester United | work=The Guardian | first=Jamie | last=Jackson | date=29 May 2020 | access-date=28 November 2023}} Edwards took part in army matches, and in one season played nearly 100 matches in total.Meek, p. 102. In the 1955–56 season, despite missing nearly two months of action due to a severe bout of influenza,McCartney, pp. 60–61. Edwards played 33 times as United won the championship of the Football League by a margin of 11 points ahead of their nearest challengers Blackpool.{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=5&seasonid=85&x=14&y=14|title=Final 1955/1956 English Division 1 (old) Table|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=19 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205064215/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=5&seasonid=85&x=14&y=14|archive-date=5 December 2008|url-status=dead}} The following season he made 34 league appearances, taking his total past the 100 mark, as United won a second consecutive league title,{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=5&seasonid=86&x=14&y=14|title=Final 1956/1957 English Division 1 (old) Table|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=19 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205064220/http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=5&seasonid=86&x=14&y=14|archive-date=5 December 2008|url-status=dead}} and was also in the team that contested the 1957 FA Cup Final, in which United missed out on the Double after a 2–1 defeat to Aston Villa.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/broken-dreams-united-and-villa-in-a-game-of-two-eras-767656.html|title=Broken dreams: United and Villa in a game of two eras|work=The Independent|access-date=19 February 2008|date=2 January 2008}} He also made seven appearances during United's first ever foray into the European Cup, including a 10–0 win over Anderlecht which remains the club's biggest-ever margin of victory. United reached the semi-finals of this competition, being ousted by Real Madrid.{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/team_records.sd?teamid=1724|title=Manchester United all time records|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=21 February 2008|date=23 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126063911/http://www.soccerbase.com/team_records.sd?teamid=1724|archive-date=26 January 2009|url-status=dead}}

By now he was also a regular in the England team, featuring in all four of England's qualifying matches for the 1958 World Cup and scoring two goals in the 5–2 win over Denmark on 5 December 1956.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/58qual.html|title=World Cup 1958 qualifications|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=15 September 2010}} He was expected to be a key player for England in the 1958 World Cup, and was seen as a likely candidate to replace the ageing Billy Wright as national team captain.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/02/03/sfnbob103.xml |title=Charlton: Duncan Edwards was hard as nails |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Bobby |last=Charlton |date=3 February 2008 |access-date=1 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404162658/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fsport%2F2008%2F02%2F03%2Fsfnbob103.xml |archive-date=4 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2252311,00.html|title=Busby Babes were destined for great things|first=David |last=Meek|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 February 2008|date=6 February 2008}}

Edwards began the 1957–58 season in good form and rumours abounded that top Italian clubs were seeking to sign him, as United battled with Wolverhampton Wanderers in their bid for a third successive league title, and made a strong start to their quest in the FA Cup and European Cup.McCartney, p. 105. His final match in England took place on 1 February 1958, when he scored the opening goal to help United defeat Arsenal 5–4 at Highbury.{{cite web |title=Busby Babes' last game before Munich |url=https://www.arsenal.com/history/post-war-arsenal/busby-babes-last-game-before-munich |website=Arsenal.com |publisher=The Arsenal Football Club |date=10 May 2017 |access-date=2 October 2018 }} The press were critical of his performance, with the Sunday Pictorial{{'}}s correspondent writing that he did not "think [Edwards'] display in this thrilling game would impress England team manager Walter Winterbottom, who was watching. He was clearly at fault for Arsenal's fourth goal when, instead of clearing, he dallied on the ball".McCartney, p. 113. Five days later he played his last ever match as United drew 3–3 away to Red Star Belgrade to progress to the semi-finals of the European Cup by an aggregate score of 5–4.{{cite news|url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2251378,00.html|title=United through: excitement aplenty in second half|author=Old International|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 February 2008|date=6 February 1958}}

{{further|Munich air disaster}}

File:DuncanEdwards2.JPG

Returning home from Belgrade on 6 February 1958, the aeroplane carrying Edwards and his teammates crashed on takeoff after a refuelling stop in Munich, Germany.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/6/newsid_2535000/2535961.stm|title=1958: United players killed in air disaster|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 February 2008 |date=6 February 1958 }} Seven players and 14 other passengers died at the scene, and Edwards was taken to the Rechts der Isar Hospital suffering from many serious injuries including multiple leg fractures, fractured ribs and severely damaged kidneys.{{cite news|url=http://www.bicesteradvertiser.net/oxfordunited/unitednews/display.var.2021225.0.hodgy_sheds_a_tear_for_mate.php|title=Hodgy sheds a tear for mate|work=Bicester Advertiser|access-date=18 February 2008|date=5 February 2008}} The doctors treating him were confident that he could recover, but were doubtful that he would ever be able to play football again.McCartney, p. 114.

Edwards regained consciousness soon after reaching the hospital. Over the next two weeks, his condition fluctuated. Doctors had an artificial kidney rushed to the hospital for him, but the artificial organ reduced his blood's ability to clot and he began to bleed internally. Despite this, the day after the crash he asked assistant manager Jimmy Murphy, "What time is the kick off against Wolves, Jimmy? I mustn't miss that match."Wagg et al., p. 22. By 14 February, his condition was reported to have "dramatically improved".{{cite news |title=Manchester soccer star much improved |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vGNkAAAAIBAJ&pg=3702,2703811&dq=munich+manchester-united&hl=en |work=Calgary Herald |agency=Reuters |date=14 February 1958 |access-date=23 April 2011 }} By 19 February, his condition had deteriorated again, and it was reported that he was "sinking rapidly", with use of the artificial kidney machine developing into a "vicious circle, gradually sapping his strength".{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-wFBAAAAIBAJ&pg=4122,5269032&dq=duncan+manchester-united&hl=en|title=Edwards is sinking rapidly|date=19 February 1958|access-date=24 April 2011|work=Evening Times|first=Gair|last=Henderson}}

Doctors had said several days earlier that they were "amazed" at his fight for life, and the next day a "very slight improvement" in his condition was reported.McCartney, p. 117.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2008/feb/05/2?picture=332386514|title=The lost Babes|work=The Guardian|date=5 February 2008|access-date=18 February 2008}} Nurses noticed that his circulation was failing, and injections briefly improved this, but his strength ebbed away and medical staff were unable to save him. He died at 2:15 a.m. on 21 February 1958.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+Dudley's+jewel+in+the+crown...+Busby+Babe+Duncan+Edwards...-a0175120455|title=Football: Dudley's jewel in the crown... Busby Babe Duncan Edwards died 50 years ago today, aged just 21|first=Roger|last=Clarke|date=21 February 2008|access-date=18 November 2012|work=Birmingham Mail}} Hours before his death, by coincidence, a new issue of Charles Buchan's Football Monthly was published in the United Kingdom, with a photograph of a smiling Edwards on the cover.{{cite book|title=The Best of Charles Buchan's Football Monthly|first=Simon|last=Inglis|page=57|publisher=Malavan Media|year=2008|isbn=978-0-9547445-8-8}}

Edwards was buried at Dudley Cemetery five days later, alongside his sister Carol Anne. More than 5,000 people lined the streets of Dudley for his funeral.McCartney, p. 121. His tombstone reads: "A day of memory, Sad to recall, Without farewell, He left us all" and his grave is regularly visited by fans.

File:DuncanEdwards3.JPG

Edwards has been commemorated in a number of ways in his home town of Dudley. A stained-glass window depicting Edwards, designed by Francis Skeat and paid for with donations from Football League clubs Brentford and Crystal Palace,{{Cite web|url=https://discover.dudley.gov.uk/media/11274/duncan-edwards-leaflet-2019.pdf|title=A Tribute to Duncan Edwards|publisher=Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council|access-date=26 July 2019}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~1232396,00.html |title=Full Credit to Bees of Old |date=4 February 2008 |publisher=Brentford F.C. |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801191744/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~1232396,00.html |archive-date=1 August 2018 |url-status=dead }} was unveiled in St Francis's Church, the parish church for the Priory Estate, by Matt Busby in 1961, and a statue of Edwards unveiled in the centre of the town in October 1999 by his mother and his former team-mate Bobby Charlton.{{cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/weekend/2018/02/04/dudley-filmmaker-marcus-distant-on-bringing-footballer-duncan-edwards-life-story-to-the-screen/|title=Dudley filmmaker Marcus Distant on bringing footballer Duncan Edwards' life story to the screen|first=Heather|last=Large|work=Shropshire Star|date=4 February 2018|access-date=2 October 2018}}

In 1993, a cul-de-sac of housing association homes near to the cemetery in which he is buried was named "Duncan Edwards Close".{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=505119|title=Born In Dudley, died at Munich|first=Peter|last=Madeley|publisher=ESPN|access-date=14 February 2008|date=4 February 2008|archive-date=21 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021200943/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=505119|url-status=dead}} The Wren's Nest pub on the Priory Estate, near where he grew up, was renamed "The Duncan Edwards" in honour of him in 2001, but it closed within five years and was subsequently destroyed by arsonists before being demolished.{{cite news|url=http://www.dudleynews.co.uk/news/local/1026614.___Eyesore____pub_set_for_revamp/|title='Eyesore' pub set for revamp|work=Dudley News|access-date=14 February 2008|date=16 November 2006}} In 2006, a £100,000 games facility was opened in Priory Park, where Edwards often played as a boy, in his memory. It was unveiled by Sir Bobby Charlton.{{cite news|url=http://archive.stourbridgenews.co.uk/2006/1/13/73853.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126012600/http://archive.stourbridgenews.co.uk/2006/1/13/73853.html |archive-date=26 January 2009 |title=Hero Bobby's back|work=Stourbridge News|access-date=18 February 2008|date=13 January 2006}} In 2008, Dudley's southern bypass was renamed 'Duncan Edwards Way' in his memory—this road had coincidentally opened to traffic nearly a decade earlier on the same day that his statue was unveiled.{{cite news|url=http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/12/29/new-road-signs-have-been-installed-to-honour-dudley-born-football-hero-duncan-edwards-97319-22563891/|title=New road signs have been installed to honour Dudley-born football hero Duncan Edwards|first=Steve|last=Bradley|work=Birmingham Mail|access-date=18 June 2009|date=29 December 2008|archive-date=26 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926025025/http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/12/29/new-road-signs-have-been-installed-to-honour-dudley-born-football-hero-duncan-edwards-97319-22563891/|url-status=dead}}

Until its closure in 2016, Dudley Museum and Art Gallery hosted an exhibition of memorabilia devoted to his career, including his England caps. This collection had originally been displayed at Dudley Leisure Centre in 1986, again with his mother and Bobby Charlton in attendance.{{cite web|url=http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums-galleries/dudley-museum-art-gallery/exhibitions/duncan-edwards-local-sporting-heroes/|title=Duncan Edwards & Local Sporting Heroes|publisher=Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council|access-date=15 November 2012|date=14 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122003343/http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums-galleries/dudley-museum-art-gallery/exhibitions/duncan-edwards-local-sporting-heroes/|archive-date=22 November 2012}}

A housing complex called Duncan Edwards Court exists in Manchester among a network of streets named after his fellow Munich victims, including Eddie Colman, Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor.{{cite news |first=David |last=Conn |title=FC United homage to history as they prepare for future at Newton Heath |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2010/apr/21/fc-united-supporter-owned-clubs |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media |date=21 April 2010 |access-date=4 January 2011 }} On 8 July 2011 a Blue Plaque was unveiled by Bobby Charlton at the site of the digs in Stretford where Edwards and other United players lived,{{cite web|url=http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/9048125.Sir_Bobby_Charlton_and_Dickie_Bird_to_unveil_Busby_Babes_plaques/|title=Busby Babes players honoured in blue plaque scheme|work=Stretford and Altrincham Messenger|date=26 May 2011|access-date=31 May 2011|first=Robert|last=Downes}} and in 2016 local dignitaries in Dudley launched a fundraising drive with the aim of placing a similar plaque in the town.{{cite news|title=Push to get blue plaque for Edwards|work=Express & Star|location=Wolverhampton|date=12 April 2016}} In 2022, a new leisure centre complex opened in Dudley and was named the Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre.{{Cite web |title=Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre |url=https://www.dbleisure.co.uk/duncan-edwards-lc |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=DB Leisure |language=en}}

In 1996, Edwards was one of five deceased players chosen to appear on British stamps issued as part of a "Football Legends" set issued to commemorate the UEFA Euro 1996 tournament, which England was hosting.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/english-stamp-their-authority-in-football-poll-1.460148|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|title=English stamp their authority in football poll|first=Iain|last=Wilson|date=27 March 1996|access-date=9 February 2011}} He was portrayed by Sam Claflin in the 2011 British TV film United centred on the Munich disaster and the success of the team in the two years leading up to it.{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010/11/15/family-so-proud-of-film-about-duncan-edwards/|title=Family so proud of film about Duncan Edwards|work=Express and Star|date=15 November 2010|access-date=27 April 2011}}

Contemporaries of Edwards have been unstinting in their praise of his abilities. Bobby Charlton described him as the best he ever saw or was likely to see.{{cite web|first=Nabil|last=Hassan|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7216050.stm|title=Munich remembered|publisher=BBC Sport|date=6 February 2008 |accessdate=24 October 2023}} He also considered Edwards "the only player that made me feel inferior" and said his death was "the biggest single tragedy ever to happen to Manchester United and English football".{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/News/2003/72868|title=Greatest England XI – Sir Bobby Charlton|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=19 January 2011|date=7 November 2003}} Terry Venables said that, had he lived, it would have been Edwards, not Bobby Moore, who lifted the World Cup trophy as England captain in 1966.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2008/02/01/edwards_duncan_charlton/|title=Charlton remembers 'greatest ever'|publisher=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=18 February 2008|date=1 February 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207014521/http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2008/02/01/edwards_duncan_charlton/|archive-date=7 February 2009}} Tommy Docherty stated that "there is no doubt in my mind that Duncan would have become the greatest player ever. Not just in British football, with United and England, but the best in the world. George Best was something special, as was Pelé and Maradona, but in my mind Duncan was much better in terms of all-round ability and skill."{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSL2719728120080202?feedType=RSS&feedName=inDepthNews|title=Edwards had everything but time on his side |work=Reuters |access-date=18 February 2008|date=1 February 2008|first=Mike |last=Collett}} In recognition of his talents Edwards was made an inaugural inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsHallFameNFM.html|title=England Player Honours – National Football Museum Hall of Fame|publisher=England Football Online|access-date=14 February 2008|date=1 November 2004}} His memorabilia were exhibited at Dudley Museum prior to its closure, and was subsequently sold to Manchester United with a selection to be loaned back for display at the Dudley Archives.{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-news/2017/01/11/duncan-edwards-collection-to-stay-in-dudley-after-talks-with-manchester-united/|title=Duncan Edwards' collection 'to stay in Dudley' after talks with Manchester United|work=Express and Star|date=11 January 2017|access-date=2 February 2017}}

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|quote=Physically, he was enormous. 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.

|source=–Bobby Charlton

}}

Although he is primarily remembered as a defensive midfielder, Edwards is said to have been able to operate in any outfield position.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2291044/Duncan-Edwards-could-have-been-the-greatest.html|title=Duncan Edwards could have been the greatest|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Robert |last=Philip|date=6 February 2008|access-date=13 February 2008}} His versatility was such that on one occasion he started the match playing as an emergency striker in place of one injured player before being switched to central defence in place of another.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/02/09/sfnwin109.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213152629/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fsport%2F2008%2F02%2F09%2Fsfnwin109.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 February 2008|title=Duncan Edwards: Blessed with majesty|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Henry|last=Winter|date=9 February 2008|access-date=19 February 2008}} His greatest assets were his physical strength and his level of authority on the pitch, which was said to be remarkable for such a young player,Holt, Lloyd, p. 140. and he was particularly noted for his high level of stamina.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7216050.stm|title=Why Edwards was king|publisher=BBC|first=Nabil |last=Hassan|date=6 February 2008|access-date=13 February 2008}} Stanley Matthews described him as being "like a rock in a raging sea",{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/pages/fame/Inductees/duncanedwards.htm|title=Duncan Edwards|publisher=The National Football Museum|first=Robert |last=Galvin|access-date=13 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115085909/http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/pages/fame/Inductees/duncanedwards.htm |archive-date=15 January 2008}} and Bobby Moore likened him to the Rock of Gibraltar when defending but also noted that he was "dynamic coming forward". His imposing physique earned him the nicknames "Big Dunc" and "The Tank",{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/a-rock-in-a-raging-sea-942330|title=A rock in a raging sea|work=Manchester Evening News|first=James |last=Robson|date=6 February 2008|access-date=13 February 2008}} and he has been ranked amongst the toughest players of all time.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2215721.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821145231/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2215721.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 August 2008|title=Football's 50 greatest hard men|work=The Times|first=Alex |last=Murphy|date=18 February 2008|access-date=7 August 2007 |location=London }}

Edwards was noted for the power and timing of his tackles and for his ability to pass and shoot equally well with both feet. He was known for his surging runs up the pitch and was equally skilled at heading the ball and at striking fierce long-range shots.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3295268.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013101410/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3295268.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2008|title=Lost in time – Manchester United's 1958 Busby Babes|work=The Times|first=Jonathan |last=Northcroft|date=14 February 2008|access-date=3 February 2008 |location=London }} After scoring a goal on 26 May 1956, in a 3–1 friendly win against West Germany, he was given the nickname "Boom Boom" by the local press because of "the Big Bertha shot in his boots".

Edwards was teetotal, and outside football he was known as a very private individual, whose interests included fishing, playing cards and visiting the cinema.McCartney, p. 38.McCartney, p. 61. Although he attended dances with his teammates he was never confident in social surroundings.McCartney, p. 39. He was described by Jimmy Murphy as an "unspoilt boy" and retained a strong Black Country accent which his teammates would impersonate.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3285463.ece|title=Tragedy of the golden boy whose talent knew no bounds|work=The Times|first=Matt |last=Dickinson|access-date=13 February 2008|date=1 February 2008 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201060527/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3285463.ece|archive-date=1 December 2008}} He was once stopped by the police for riding his bicycle without lights and fined five shillings by the authorities and two weeks' wages by his club.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/dietmar-hamann-urges-man-city-722678|title=Dietmar Hamann urges Man City fans to behave for minute's silence|work=Daily Mirror|first=Simon|last=Mullock|access-date=14 February 2008|date=10 February 2008}}

At the time of his death Edwards was living in lodgings in Gorse Avenue, Stretford.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/graham-kelly-rooneys-rise-mirrored-in-simpler-days-of-edwards-593622.html|title=Graham Kelly: Rooney's rise mirrored in simpler days of Edwards|work=The Independent|first=Graham |last=Kelly|access-date=22 February 2008|date=7 April 2003}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He was engaged to be married to Molly Leech, who was 22 years old and worked in the offices of a textile machine manufacturer in Altrincham. The couple met at a function at a hotel at Manchester Airport, dated for a year before becoming engaged, and were godparents to the daughter of Leech's friend Josephine Stott.{{cite news|url=http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/1985768.Remembering_a_legend_/|title=Remembering a legend|work=Messenger Newspapers|first=Simon |last=Greenhalgh|access-date=13 February 2008|date=22 January 2008}}

Edwards appeared in advertisements for Dextrosol glucose tablets and had written a book entitled Tackle Soccer This Way, commercial endeavours which supplemented his wage of £15 per week during the season and £12 per week during the summer. The book was published shortly after his death with the approval of his family and, after being out of print for many years,{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/02/03/busby-babe-duncan-edwards-exclusive-98487-20308570/ |title=Busby Babe Duncan Edwards exclusive |work=Sunday Mirror |first=Rory |last=Smith |access-date=13 February 2008 |date=3 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206090755/http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/02/03/busby-babe-duncan-edwards-exclusive-98487-20308570/ |archive-date=6 February 2008 }} was re-published in November 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.tstw.co.uk|title=Tackle Soccer This Way|publisher=Kelmscott Press|access-date=19 November 2009}}

:Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Edwards goal.

Manchester United{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/2274/goalcoms-top-50-english-players/2009/06/16/1324753/goalcoms-top-50-english-players-duncan-edwards-8|title=Goal.com's Top 50 English Players: Duncan Edwards (8)|access-date=10 May 2016|publisher=Goal.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/duncan-edwards_prs193323/person.shtml|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=2 October 2017|title=Duncan Edwards}}

• Football League First Division: 1955–56, 1956–57
• FA Charity Shield: 1956, 1957
• FA Cup runner-up: 1956–57{{cite book |first1=Leslie |first2=Jack |last1=Vernon |last2=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78 |year=1977 |publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd |location=London |isbn=0354-09018-6 |page=490}}

Individual

• Football League 100 Legends: 1998 (inducted){{cite web|title=Sport: Football Legends list in full |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/144986.stm|publisher=BBC|access-date=12 May 2016}}
• Inducted into the inaugural English Football Hall of Fame in 2002{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/explore-the-museum/hall-of-fame/about-the-hall-of-fame|title=ABOUT THE HALL OF FAME|access-date=10 May 2016|publisher=National Football Museum|archive-date=9 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109105741/http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/explore-the-museum/hall-of-fame/about-the-hall-of-fame|url-status=dead}}
• PFA Team of the Century (1907–1976): 2007{{cite news|title=England Boys of '66 dominate your Team of the Century: 1907–1976 |url=http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-legends/teams-of-the-century/team-of-the-century-1907-1976 |work=GiveMeFootball.com |publisher=Give Me Football |date=28 August 2007 |access-date=18 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022110958/http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-legends/teams-of-the-century/team-of-the-century-1907-1976 |archive-date=22 October 2008}}
• UEFA Jubilee Poll (2004): #61{{cite news|date=21 December 2006|title=UEFA Awards|work= Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/uefa-awards.html#100|access-date=12 March 2024}}
• Ballon d'Or 1957: 3rd place{{cite news|date=6 September 2023|title=Palmarès du Ballon d'Or|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Ballon-d-or-le-palmares-depuis-1956/1418186|access-date=14 October 2024|work=L'Equipe}}

• {{cite book |last1=Holt |first1=Nick |last2=Lloyd |first2=Guy |title=Total British Football |publisher=Flame Tree Publishing |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-84451-403-8 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Horne |first1=John |first2=Alan |last2=Tomlinson |first3=Garry |last3=Whannel |title=Understanding Sport: An Introduction to the Sociological and Cultural Analysis of Sport |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-419-13640-8 }}
• {{cite book |last=Leighton |first=James |title=Duncan Edwards: The Greatest |publisher=Simon & Schuster UK |location=London |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-85720-781-4 }}
• {{cite book |last=McCartney |first=Iain |title=Duncan Edwards: The Full Report |publisher=Britespot Publishing Solutions |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-9539288-5-9 }}
• {{cite book |last=Meek |first=David |title=Legends of United: The Heroes of the Busby Years |publisher=Orion Books |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7528-7558-3 }}
• {{cite book |last=Wagg |first=Stephen |editor-first=David L. |editor-last=Andrews |title=Manchester United: A Thematic Study |publisher=Routledge |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-415-33333-7 }}

Notes

{{reflist|group=nb}}

Citations

{{reflist}}

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Category:1936 births

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Category:Men's association football midfielders

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