Munich air disaster 60 years on: How Duncan Edwards was Man United's 21-year-old 'box-office' star with the world at his feet when fate cruelly robbed football of his talents

Daily Mail | February 5, 2018

It is August 31, 1955 and Matt Busby's Manchester United are playing Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. A testing assignment, undoubtedly, but United had a sprinkling of stardust in their ranks.

'If it ever comes to pass that clubs can pay their players on box-office value, count Duncan Edwards in the £100-a-week class,' was how the Daily Mail's Roy Peskett opened his account of United's 2-1 victory.

'He has not only become a very great player, but also an entertainer of the highest order.

Duncan Edwards pictured with his manager at Manchester United, Matt Busby, in March 1957

Edwards was just 21 when he died in the Munich air crash, a tragedy which robbed football of one of the most gifted players ever to take the fieldu00a0 — Edwards was just 21 when he died in the Munich air crash, a tragedy which robbed football of one of the most gifted players ever to take the field

'Edwards of the ultra-short shorts and tree-trunk thighs scored both of United's goals.