Jeff Whitefoot dead at 90: Last-surviving Busby Babe passes away as Man Utd lead tributes
MANCHESTER UNITED legend Jeff Whitefoot has died at the age of 90.
United confirmed the sad news with a long tribute to Whitefoot, who was the last-surviving Busby Babe.
He was part of arguably the most talented crop of kids in football history along the likes of Eddie Colman, David Pegg, Billy Whelan and the great Duncan Edwards.
The Cheshire great joined the Red Devils straight from school in the summer of 1949.
And the unforgettable midfielder became the club’s youngest league debutant in April 1950 when he faced Portsmouth at Old Trafford at the age of 16 years and 105 days.
Whitefoot spent seven years with United and won the First Division in 1956.
The popular athlete surprisingly decided to swap Sir Matt Busby’s star side for Grimsby Town in 1957 as he wanted more minutes – a decision that probably saved his life.
Three months on, Whitefoot was hanging curtains with wife Nell in their new home when news came through of the Munich air disaster that devastated the entire world.
Seven of his pals — 15 days later, Edwards became the eighth — were among the 23 fatalities on a plane that crashed in the runway slush.
A year after joining Grimsby, Whitefoot left for Nottingham Forest and was part of the team that won the FA Cup in 1959 before his retirement in 1967.
He was the last surviving member of that famous Forest team.
United released a lengthy tribute on their official website and tweeted the following on X: “Sending our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Jeff Whitefoot, a former Busby Babe, who has passed away at the age of 90.”
Forest also posted the following: “Everyone at Nottingham Forest is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jeff Whitefoot, at the age of 90.
“Jeff spent nine years at The City Ground between 1958 and 1967, and was the last surviving member of the side which famously lifted the FA Cup in 1959.
“Our thoughts are with Jeff’s family, friends and all who knew him.”