Jeff Whitefoot's final United interview (2024)

by

Joe Ganley

Cameras picked Jeff up in the crowd at The City Ground, a place where he made the majority of his 285 appearances for Forest.

But long before he joined the East Midlands outfit, he had broken into Matt Busby's United first XI at the age of just 16 years and 105 days old, making him the club's youngest-ever league debutant.

When we saw Jeff on our screens, we made a pledge to track him down for an interview, which was carried out just a few months before he passed away at the age of 90.

You can read his words, now rendered even more poignant, below...

Everyone at United is deeply saddened to learn that a former Busby Babe has passed away.

"Looking back, I realise how proud and privileged I feel to have been a part of such an incredible group of footballers as the Busby Babes. It was an amazing and exciting time. Playing at United, with such a group of talented players was a fantastic experience. One I shall never forget.

"I had started in my teens playing for Stockport Schoolboys, then England Schoolboys and, later, the RAF. Matt Busby came to my home in Cheadle to see my father, who was a City fan and not too happy about United’s interest, but I signed, and at only 15, I was taken on, cleaning boots and the like.

"I was 16 when I played my first game with the team. It was daunting to play with the older experienced players at Old Trafford. We played Portsmouth, who, at the time, were a really good team. The older players encouraged and looked after me during the game. They were very good with me. Initially, I had felt bewildered, but they got me through it. We lost, but it was an awesome day for me.

"Once the other younger players started to come through and we played together, it was a fantastic, exciting time. We were all very close and we looked after each other. Mark Jones and Dennis Viollet were my closest friends, but all the team had each other’s backs and life was good. We were a great group of friends and many of us spent a lot of time together socially.

"We all loved the game and winning matches. It wasn’t about money, we didn’t have much and, sometimes what we had, we gambled away, much to our wives’ annoyance! It was about the joy of playing and playing for Manchester United.

"Training was every weekday morning for about two hours. It was fun. We weren’t coached in a particular way. We kicked a ball around and honed our own particular skills. The game was instinctive and enjoyable.

"I was absolutely devastated when I heard the news about the crash on the radio. I just could not believe that, weeks earlier, I had been with so many pals who had now lost their lives.

"Mark tragically died in Munich, but Dennis fortunately survived. I don’t remember Dennis ever speaking about the accident. He was a great player and goalscorer. I believe, one season, he scored 32 goals in 36 matches. We remained friends until he died, again too soon, in his sixties. I feel so lucky to have had such a long life, when so many of the team died so young.

Fans who attended United games in the 1950s share personal memories of the eight players who perished in Munich.

"It would be hard to choose among the team. They were all really good players. Of course, Duncan Edwards was a great all-round footballer. Anyone could see that. We didn’t play that many games together, he came into the team later than me, but everyone admired his skill, speed, and strength. Such a tragic waste of talent, amongst other really talented players, sadly lost to the game.

"Matt Busby was a great manager. A hard taskmaster and it would be an understatement to say that he had high expectations. If we lost, he would tear us all apart. He used to take people to one side and ask, ‘How do you think you have played?’ Then he would tell you what he thought! That wasn’t much fun!

"I don’t think another manager at that time could have done what he did. To bring through so many young players and be so successful. To trust me to play at such a young age and to encourage me as he did. It was a truly wonderful experience.

We revisit a feature in which Sir Bobby Charlton and Wilf McGuinness remember their team-mates who perished in Munich.

"Probably unusually for the time, he and Mrs Busby would invite us to parties at their home. I recently lost my lovely wife, Nell, after 70 years together. She and the other wives would also be invited. We had some great times with him and, as a result, we met lots of interesting people. He made it feel like a reward – only if we won, of course. On those occasions, he would be happy with us all. His smile would say it all.

"Over the years, his son, Sandy Busby, was also a friend and a golfing partner. For many years, I kept in touch with United through the Association of Former Manchester United Players. Initially, it was run by my friends, John Doherty and Alan Wardle. We had wonderful charity dinners, golf days and golf trips abroad. They were good times. Unfortunately, we also lost John too early, and Alan now works with Jimmy Elms.

"In recent years, I regret that I haven’t really been up to travelling to Manchester from my home in Rutland, despite their kind invitations. I’m sorry for that lack of support for what they do because they deserve as much support as possible and are a credit to the United ex-players.

"I know that it was my choice to leave Man United, and I continued to have a successful career elsewhere, but my heart still remains with United.

"Being a Busby Babe shaped my life, leaving may have saved my life, and, at 90, I look back on those years with great fondness."

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