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.

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Rex

He was part of arguably the most talented crop of kids in football history alongside the likes of Eddie Colman, David Pegg, Billy Whelan and the great Duncan Edwards.

The Cheshire-born 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 .

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.

Speaking exclusively to SunSport in February, he recalled: “When we heard the terrible news, my wife Nell and myself were hanging curtains in our new home.

“We had only just moved, it was just weeks since we had left United and it shook me to my bones. I could not believe what had happened — absolutely devastating.

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REX

“Losing Mark Jones was a major blow, both personally and to the team. He was a tall Barnsley lad, a good player and friend.

“His wife June was expecting their second child, Lynne, at the time. Their son Gary lost his father. It was heart-breaking for everyone.

“It wasn’t possible to go to all the players’ funerals. I went to Mark’s and left-back Geoff Bent’s.

“Talking about it is bringing it all back and it is still upsetting. But it’s a good thing to remember those times shared and the friends lost.

“It wasn’t about money. It was about the joy of playing — and playing for United. But it was my choice to leave. It was a decision which probably saved my life, at least my career.”

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.

Jeff later helped Nell to run a bookmaker’s while still playing, before enjoying a spell as a greengrocer and then taking over The Wheatsheaf pub in Oakham, Leicestershire,

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.”