Lasting legacy of our Duncan (From Halesowen News)

Lasting legacy of our Duncan

10:52am Thursday 11th January 2007 in Black Country News

IN just one sentence the life and legacy of Dudley icon and superstar footballer Duncan Edwards is summed up by writer Gordon Burn, who has chronicled his and George Best's lives in a brand new book.

Best and Edwards - Football, Fame and Oblivion' charts the contrasting destinies of the two Manchester United stars, men blessed with natural talent but very different personalities from very different eras.

Duncan was the modest, clean cut footballer from the 1950s while George was the first superstar footballer' from the reborn' United of the 1960s.

Despite football fans already being familiar with their two careers, the book explores their impact on the club and the way the game has changed from the two eras they played in and the modern day game.

Their two tales are mixed with the cult of modern celebrity as Gordon explores the idea that you do not need a natural talent to succeed in modern day Britain but a gimmick as he looks at the careers of reality TV stars such as George's son Calum.

During the research stage of his book London-based Gordon paid five visits to Dudley and a chapter of the book is devoted to the recently demolished Duncan Edwards pub.

The book itself was released on October 5 this year - what would have been Duncan's 70th birthday.

Newcastle United fan Gordon said: "Duncan had a kind of modesty, he was self-effacing compared to the footballers of today who earn £130,000 a week.

"He kept it real. Terry Venables, Bobby Charlton and Matt Busby all say without a doubt Duncan was the greatest ever England player.

"The two had paralleled lives really. George Best had it all and threw it away, Duncan Edwards had it all and had it taken away.

"Duncan Edwards would have been the 1966 England World Cup winning captain.

"Whenever Manchester United are playing in the Midlands fans make regular pilgrimages to his grave in Dudley.

"Everyone thought that Duncan would sign for Wolves, his family were flabbergasted he was not a Wolves player."

On George Best, Gordon, who has lived in London for 15 years, said: "He really was an artist. He seemed to be thrown by the fact he had been given this gift."

Best and Edwards' is priced £16.99.