Duncan Edwards (1 October 1936 – 21 February 1958) was one of the star players in the Busby Babes before his death in the Munich air crash. Born in Dudley, he signed for Manchester United in June 1952 as an amateur. His extraordinary ability had been noted across the country when he was just an 11 year-old playing for Dudley schoolboys   Manchester United coach, Bert Whalley, drove through the night to the Edwards's home so that he could sign him before sunrise on the birthday when he became eligible to turn professional.   He made his Football League debut aged just 16 years and 185 days old on 4 April 1953, against Cardiff City. Edwards signed as a professional eight months later becoming a regular member of the team in the 1953/54 season. Although primarily a left-back, he could give an accomplished performance anywhere on the field. Edwards soon became one of the star players in the Busby’s young team that won the championship in 1956 and 1957 winning plaudits for his mastery of all aspects of the game as well as his good temperament.  In 1955 he became the youngest player ever to win a full England cap when he played against Scotland at the age of 18 years and 183 days helping his country to an extraordinary 7-2 victory.  In all he won 18 caps in his short career and many believe he would have been a member of the victorious 1966 World Cup side - had he lived he would have been 29.  According to those who played alongside and against Duncan Edwards on a football field, he was the 'complete footballer'. He had unrivalled stamina and could have run for hours. He could shoot powerfully with either foot, was dominant in the air, was strong in the tackle, and was a superb passer of the ball.  On 6 February 1958, the airplane carrying Edwards and his team mates home from a European Cup quarter final  match against Red Star Belgrade crashed on takeoff after a refueling stop in Munich. Seven of his team mates and 15 other passengers died, and Edwards was badly injured; injuries included multiple leg fractures and severely damaged kidneys.   He died a few weeks later. His tragic death at the age of 21 robbed football of one of its most outstanding talents at the very height of his powers. A permanent memorial to him is contained in a stained-glass window in St. Francis Church in Dudley, and a statue in the town centre was dedicated by his mother and Bobby Charlton in 1999.  Bobby Charlton once declared: ‘If I had to play for my life, and could take one man with me, it would be Duncan Edwards.’