Duncan Edwards tribute exhibition

A poignant exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Dudley's most famous footballing son was opening today.

The exhibition in memory of Duncan Edwards, who played for Manchester United and England before he was tragically killed in the Munich air disaster of 1958, is at Dudley Museum and Art Gallery.

It features the player's shirts, medals and England caps he won during his glittering career, as well as other personal mementoes including toys and items given to him by fans.

Edwards became the youngest player to play in the Football League First Division and made his debut for England against Scotland aged just 18 years and 183 days.

Video journalist Wendy Lloyd went along for a sneak preview of the exhibition - click the video for more.

Visitors will also be able to watch clips of Edwards' dazzling skills on a television screen which will demonstrate why Manchester United colleague Bobby Charlton described him as "the only player who made me feel inferior".

The collection was due to be opened as a permanent exhibition at the museum later this year, but staff decided to open it earlier because of enormous public demand.

The museum's operations manager, John Billingham, said the legend of Duncan Edwards still fascinated people nearly half a century after his death. "It's amazing how many people from all over the country have contacted us to tell us how much they want to come and see this exhibition," he said.

"People say there was no-one that could touch him as a player which made his death even more tragic because we'll never know how good a player he could have been.

"The exhibition is priceless because it gives people the chance to see things they can't see anywhere else - not even at the Manchester United museum."Edwards was born in Malvern Crescent, in the Woodside area of Dudley, in 1936 and signed for Manchester United on his 16th birthday in 1952.

After becoming the youngest player to play in the Football League First Division, Edwards quickly established himself as a central figures in the famed Busby Babes and made his debut for England against Scotland aged just 18 years and 183 days.

He went on to play 175 times for Manchester United, scoring 21 goals, and winning 18 caps for England and finding the net five times.

He was seriously injured when the aeroplane carrying him and his team mates crashed after a refuelling stop in Munich on February 6 1958 as they were returning home to England after a game against Red Star Belgrade. Despite amazing doctors with his fight for life, he eventually succumbed to his injuries two weeks later.