That's just one of the many interesting insights and fascinating anecdotes from 'Duncan Edwards: Eternal', a new biography from the renowned author of 20 United books Wayne Barton. NEVER in the history of the game has one life brought both joy and tragedy in such huge measures. Duncan Edwards was the jewel in the crown of the Busby Babes, an all-time legend at just 21, who was denied the chance to achieve even greater footballing success by the Munich Air Disaster in 1958. This fascinating new biography, with support from friends and relatives, includes rare and unseen pictures and tells the story of the boy who left his home in Dudley to earn his Manchester United debut at the age of 16 - and made such an impression that he was an England international at 18. This fascinating new biography, with support from friends and relatives, includes rare and unseen pictures and tells the story of the boy who left his home in Dudley to earn his Manchester United debut at the age of 16 – and made such an impression that he was an England international at 18. This fascinating new biography, with support from friends and relatives, includes rare and unseen pictures and tells the story of the boy who left his home in Dudley to earn his Manchester United debut at the age of 16 - and made such an impression that he was an England international at 18.

Duncan Edwards: Eternal: An intimate portrait of Manchester

Duncan Edwards' heart-breaking yet remarkable story is one entrenched into the folklore of Manchester United and the minds of every single supporter.

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Team-mate Bobby Charlton summed Edwards up best: “Sentiment can throw a man’s judgement out of perspective. Yet it is not the case with him. A few are great, and deserve respect. But Duncan Edwards was the greatest.” Writing about Edwards and indeed Munich is a serious task, but Barton is confident fans will enjoy the book and learn more about Duncan's life. “It was terrifying! In the same way as doing the book on George [Best],” Wayne told us. “I felt so confident at the end of writing that, and I did a book on Jimmy Murphy before. People might disagree, but if you were to name five precious people in United history, Duncan, Jimmy and George are probably in that five. They might even be the top three you’d speak of, in terms of how precious the stories are and how careful you’ve got to be in telling that story. You want to do it because you want to challenge yourself, but also it’s so precious. Yet it is not the case with him. A few are great, and deserve respect. But Duncan Edwards was the greatest."'Eternal' is the complete story of an extraordinary footballer, whose influence on Manchester United and the success that followed can still be felt today. The book, which will be released on February 16, includes new interviews from United and English football heroes as well as unseen photographs from an iconic career and life that was agonisingly cut short by the Munich Air Disaster in 1958. The book, which will be released on February 16, includes new interviews from United and English football heroes as well as unseen photographs and is written with contributions from Edwards’ friends and family.

Duncan Edwards: Eternal by Wayne Barton | Waterstones

Bobby Charlton remembered it vividly too: “‘Try to put more pressure on your own ability,’ he told us. ‘There may be days when Dunc isn’t around. Sometimes you have to solve your own problems.’” With the growing legend of Duncan Edwards, Jimmy Murphy relayed a new message to his players before the first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Duncan had just played for England and was a first-team regular. Jimmy told us that was there for us to accomplish too. That we were good enough too. So we should not always look for him to get us out of trouble, we should rely on ourselves to make it happen. "He said, ‘Go and tear them apart like I know you can do.’” Over the following years, they’d make it known in conversations that there was a wish in Duncan’s family [to do a book]. There’s obviously been books on him before, and rightly he’s had this legendary, mythical status. But they just wanted some sort of record on him that portrayed him as a normal, every-day lad, and the person they knew. That was how those conversations started. I went down to Dudley a few times and I was talking to different people, and everyone that’s been to Dudley will know the regard that he’s held in. It seems like there’s something about him on every street corner. There’s a lot of pride down there. The penny started to drop in terms of how they wanted to portray him in a different way. Yeah, he’s this mythical son and they are so proud of him; they want the local kids to know that it’s aspirational; that a local ordinary lad did this. The most forensic account of this remarkable life and career includes new interviews, as well as contributions from icons of United and the wider English game - plus quotes from Edwards himself. Yet it is not the case with him. A few are great, and deserve respect. But Duncan Edwards was the greatest." 'Eternal' is the complete story of an extraordinary footballer, whose influence on Manchester United and the success that followed can still be felt today The most forensic account of this remarkable life and career includes new interviews, as well as contributions from icons of United and the wider English game – plus quotes from Edwards himself.