PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 2023

DUNCAN EDWARDS
A Black Country Colossus

By David Harrison

Foreword by Ron Atkinson

 

Duncan Edwards, who hailed from Dudley in the Black Country, played for Manchester United and England. He was one of the Busby Babes, the young, brilliant united team formed under manager Matt Busby in the mid-1950s. Even in such esteemed company Duncan stood out, noted for his skill, physical strength and toughness.

Tragically he was one of the eight players who died as a result of the Munich air disaster in February 1958. Many of Duncan’s contemporaries described him as the best player they had played with, played against, or had seen play.

David Barratt who, like Duncan, is from the Black Country, has spent a lifetime researching Duncan’s history. He brings together in this book – with the help of his lifelong friends David Harrison and Alan Hughes – the outstanding, but sadly brief, life of the great footballer.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

DAVID BARRATT is Tipton born and bred. He attended Park Lane Secondary Modern School before working as a toolmaker, retiring in 2012. He played amateur football and has been a West Bromwich Albion supporter all his life. A keen gardener, he lives in Dudley with his wife Elaine.

DAVID HARRISON was born and raised in Tipton and spent most of his working life as a journalist on local and national newspapers, mostly as a sports reporter. He has ghosted several football books for players like Alan Shearer and Michael Owen and co-wrote a biography of Wolves legend Derek Dougan. Now retired, he lives in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton.

ALAN HUGHES was a graphic designer at New Internationalist, Oxford. Born and raised in Tipton he was a sheet metal worker at British Federal, Dudley, for 15 years, before gaining a BA degree in visual communications. He supports Aston Villa FC. Now retired, he lives in Oxford with his dog Satchmo.