Duncan Edwards honoured as his statue is relocated

Duncan Edwards pictured in April 1957, he died less than a year later in the Munich Air Disaster. Credit: PA Archive

Family, friends and football supporters are expected to make the pilgrimage to Dudley in celebration of one of the town's favourite sons, the late football legend Duncan Edwards, for a rededication service in the town centre.

The gathering will take place this morning, on what would have been the former Manchester United and England star's 79th birthday, to mark the relocation of his iconic statue to Dudley's newly refurbished market place.

The service will kick off with a delegation of Duncan's relatives departing from the nearby Council House. The town's mayor will also Dudley leads a floral tribute and two minutes of silence.

"The finest of his generation"

Duncan Edwards was among a group of rising young Manchester United players in the late 1950s, named 'The Busby Babes' after manager Sir Matt Busby.

He was among the players and staff who died in February 1958 when the aeroplane that was carrying them from a match crashed in Munich.

He was just 21 years old.

Despite his death so early into his career, Edwards had already been touted as one of the finest post-war footballers ever to play in the English top flight.

He managed 177 appearances with Manchester United and helped the side win League titles in 1956 and 1957.

He won 18 caps for the national side and was also England's youngest debutant for over 40 years, until Michael Owen made his debut in 1998.