Here I am at the headstone of one
of the “Busby Babes” Manchester United football team who died following a
failed plane take-off on 6th February 1958 at Munich-Riem
Airport. Aboard were 44 people - the football team, supporters and journalists.
Twenty people died immediately and another three died later in hospital. Duncan
was one of these three people, dying two weeks after the crash. The local folk
have not forgotten him. Though he died in Munich he’s buried in his hometown and
there’re signposts in the cemetery telling you where the grave lies. It still
gets many visitors.
Duncan was born near this grave, the first child
of Gladstone and Sarah Edwards. There was a sister called Carol Anne but she
died weeks later. He was an outstanding footballer from a young age, playing
for county district teams. He could have chosen another career though - on the
same day he could play a trial for the English Schools Football Association's
under-14 team he could have competed in the National Morris and Sword Dancing
Festival (he was a good Morris dancer.) Had he chose the latter he would have
probably lived a much longer life.
He didn’t have to worry about getting a job when
he left school. He was spotted by a Manchester United scout who reported to
Matt Busby that he had "today seen a 12-year-old schoolboy who merits
special watching.” At the time Duncan could have gone playing for local teams
Wolverhampton Wanderers or Aston Villa but he went to Manchester United (Matt
Busby himself or coach Bert Whalley called at the
Edwards family home soon after midnight to get Duncan’s signature.) Should
football not pay a wage Duncan began an apprenticeship as a carpenter when he
left school.
Aged 16 years and 185 days he made his
professional debut for Manchester United, new talent Matt Busby was eager to
encourage. He made 36 first-team appearances and started scoring goals. Aged 19
he was selected for the England squad which travelled to Europe for matches
against France, Portugal and Spain. The Second World War interrupted life and
he served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps for two years (he was stationed near
Shrewsbury along with Bobby Charlton.) After the war he returned to football
and in total played 177 games for Manchester United (I won’t go into his short
but bright career here.) By the time he died aged 21 he was playing regularly for
England and was expected to become the captain.
He was an instinctive player, physically big and
strong, effective at short and long passing with any foot. He was mainly a
defensive mid-fielder but was so versatile he could play anywhere. His imposing
physique and tough playing earned him nicknames "Big Dunc"
and "The Tank". He didn’t touch alcohol, was private and not
comfortable socially. Very much a local unspoilt lad he spoke with a strong
Black Country accent - so strong his teammates impersonated him regularly. Away
from the field he enjoyed fishing, playing cards and going to the cinema. At
the time of this death he was engaged to be married to Molly Leech, a 22
year-old who he’d met at a hotel function at Manchester.
His early death is put down to slush on the
airport runway in Munich. Returning home from Belgrade the plane landed in
Germany to refuel. It crashed on its third attempt to take off. Seven players
died instantly but Duncan survived with broken legs, crushed ribs and damaged
kidneys. At hospital doctors expected him to live but not played professional football
again. An artificial kidney was fitted but it reduced the blood's ability to
clot properly. Although Duncan came round from the operation he bled internally
and died through the night on Friday 21st February 1958.
He was lowered into this grave where I’m stood
five days after his death (joining his sister Carol Anne.) More than 5000
people lined the streets of Dudley for the passing cortege. The words on his
tombstone read: "A day of memory, Sad to recall, Without farewell, He left
us all." What a waste. Had he signed up for another team he’d have
probably gone on to have a long football career and children. I did a hearty
salute and left.