Duncan Edwards: Eternal: An intimate portrait of Manchester United’s lost genius

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If those United kids had played as Murphy believed they could, then his team-talk may well have gone down in history. But Chelsea were a good team: taking heed of what was happening in Manchester, they were hoovering up the local talent. They gave a polished display in the first half and took a lead in at the break. United, meanwhile, looked disjointed. Kenny Morgans was struggling at outside-right, and Brennan looked uncomfortable at centre-forward. Edwards and Charlton had been on the periphery of the game as inside-forward and outside-left. Murphy needed his two stars to exert their own influence. 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 Manchester Evening News will publish a series of excerpts from the upcoming biography, including this story that epitomises Edwards' remarkable skill on the pitch. Duncan Edwards' heart-breaking yet remarkable story is one entrenched into the folklore of Manchester United and the minds of every single supporter.

Duncan Edwards: Eternal : An intimate portrait of Manchester

I had a similar feeling when reading this as when I read Forever Young about Adrian Doherty. Even though I knew the ending, one of tragically unfulfilled potential, it didn’t stop me from pouring over the excellent detail of the days and weeks leading up to and after the crash. In analysing his game and what it actually was, you get a fairer picture and it really enhances his legacy. It normalises him. Don’t get me wrong, he was like a comic-book hero at times. That stuff is in there. All the stories – like the one Wilf McGuinness tells about Jimmy saying ‘Just give the ball to Duncan’– they are true. They are not embellished. The super-human element to it still exists, but you’re putting it the frame of a normal man. That’s what I hope comes across.” 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 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. The words above were uttered by legendary United figure Jimmy Murphy, as United trailed at half-time of an FA Youth Cup tie away to Chelsea in 1955. United would go onto win the match, and eventually the tournament.

Duncan Edwards: Eternal by Wayne Barton | Waterstones

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.” Written by author Wayne Barton, the book attempts to interpret Duncan’s life and career, and it has been fully authorised by the family of the lost genius. 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.Wayne has interviewed and worked with players through every decade of the club’s post-War years. In recent years Wayne has produced films in conjunction with his books, working on ‘Too Good To Go Down’ in 2018 and ‘True Genius: George Best’ in 2022, both for BT Sport.