'Keep all your Bests, Peles and Maradonas – Duncan Edwards was the greatest of them all': Tommy ‘The Doc’ Docherty pays tribute to Dudley's most famous son
Footballing legend Tommy ‘The Doc’ Docherty dropped into the Black Country to pay tribute to ‘world class’ Duncan Edwards on the 60th anniversary of his death.
The former Wolves and Villa manager said he was delighted to join fellow footballers Alex Stepney and Graham Williams to remember – in his own words – ‘the greatest of them all’.
Now 89-years-old, The Doc proudly stood up in front of a packed audience at Dudley Archives centre to recount his fondest memories of ‘Black Country Boy’ Duncan, who died aged 21.
The pair had played against each other in Duncan’s international debut for England in April 1955 against Scotland at Wembley Stadium.
In his thick Scottish accent, The Doc said: “Duncan was outstanding. So much skill and strength and at 18 he was the finished article, a complete player. I feel even to this day he was world class. You don’t realise what a tragedy it is – for his family, for his club, for the boy and for the country.”
The visit came as Dudley Council revealed it is to launch an annual Duncan Edwards day on October 1 – his birthday.
Determined not to make it his visit on Wednesday a sad event, former right half Docherty, who also went on to manage Man Utd, had the crowd in stitches from the word go, especially with a classic line on the late George Best.
He said: “We never knew where George was. He just kept on going missing at the time – Miss America, Miss Canada, Miss Great Britain.”
He admitted he felt at home in the Black Country, adding: “I did my National Service at Whittington Barracks too in 1946 – so I’m quite at home here in the Midlands.”
And in a poignant moment during a presentation on Duncan’s life, The Doc uttered one of his most famous quotes, and said: “You can keep all your Bests, Peles and Maradonas – Duncan Edwards was the greatest of them all.”
Fans, friends and family gathered at Dudley Archives in tribute to Woodside-born Duncan.
The exhibition took two years of planning, led by curator Jim Cadman, and shows off new archive items featuring the late Manchester United player.
The star tragically died at the age of 21 after he was involved in the Munich air disaster 60 years ago. Originally surviving the crash, he succumbed to his injuries a few weeks later on February 21, 1958.
West Bromwich Albion cup winning captain Graham Williams attended the event to chat to supporters, sign photos, and tell stories about Duncan to a packed room.
The 79-year-old, who spent his entire 17-year career with the Baggies, said: “I was honoured to come and talk about such a great player.
"Duncan was one of ours – he was such a great player but he had this strong Black Country accent. And he used to frighten the life out of me he was so big.”
Former Manchester United goalkeeper from 1966-78 Alex Stepney said he was honoured to be invited to remember his fellow footballer.
He first saw Duncan play in 1956, when he was just 14.
The 75-year-old ex-goalie, who was the team’s goalkeeper when they became the first English club to win the European Cup, said: “I didn’t actually support Chelsea – I was a Spurs fan – but I was a South London lad so used to go and watch the games. And one time the great Manchester United were coming. And I got to see Duncan play. He was absolutely incredible – he stood out amongst all the other players, he was like a giant. For him to be playing at 18. It was unheard of in those days – you didn’t play until you were 25 or 26.
“Like everyone then, you know where you where when the crash happened and you just cried.”
Duncan Edwards’s cousin 87-year-old Betty Cooksey, who lives in Netherton, came along to the talk with her son John, and spoke fondly of her younger relative.
She said: “Duncan was a nice lad. He had no airs and graces, he was down to earth. Proper working class. He used to play with my brother. It’s very important to remember him. We went to visit his grave and met someone there who said they had come from Australia.”
The room was packed full of people who shared a love for Duncan Edwards – including 84-year-old David Stevens in Netherton, who played alongside the footballer in the Dudley Boys team when he was 13 and Duncan was just 11, the youngest player.
A team photo featuring them both sits proudly in the display.
A book on Duncan Edwards, titled ‘Black Country Boy to Red Devil’ is now in the making and more details will be released in October. The exhibition at the Tipton Road archives comes to an end on March 30.
