I’m Man Utd’s last Busby Babe. Submitting a transfer request saved my life
It was November 1957, the Busby Babes were kings of England – and Jeff Whitefoot had just made the decision that probably saved his life.
Whitefoot was on the verge of swapping Manchester United, champions for the past two seasons, for a mid-table Division Two clash with Grimsby Town.
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It was the boldest move for a man who remains the youngest to play a competitive game for United and who spent seven years at Old Trafford.
But Whitefoot, who made his debut against Portsmouth in 1950 aged 16 years and 105 days, just wanted to play – and over the past 18 months he had not done nearly enough of it.
The most talented kids in football history – like Eddie Colman, David Pegg, Billy Whelan and the great Duncan Edwards – had broken through.
For wing-half Jeff, 23, appearances dwindled. With a heavy heart he asked boss Matt Busby – not yet a gentleman – to leave. And it was the next stop Grimsby.
Three months later, he and his wife Nell were hanging up the curtains in their new home when news broke of the air disaster that had devastated a country.
Seven of his United friends – fifteen days later Edwards became the eighth – were among the 23 fatalities in a plane that crashed into the mud of the Munich runway.
Had he stayed with the club, Jeff would have been on board. His transfer request was probably a lifesaver.
A year after joining Grimsby, Whitefoot left for Nottingham Forest and was part of the side that won the FA Cup in May 1959.
Not only is Jeff, now 90, the only living player from the 1956 Babes title winners, he is also the last survivor of the only time Forest lifted the trophy at Wembley.
The two sides will battle it out at the City Ground tonight for a place in the last eight of this year’s competition.
Whitefoot is one of the great football life stories. Yet the man himself, no matter how humble and unassuming you come across – modern players take note – is amazed that interest in him persists.
It was with the help of his daughter Judith that SunSport caught up with Jeff – and he gave an emotional and eye-opening glimpse into those glorious yet tragic times.
Whitefoot recalled: ‘When we heard the terrible news, my wife Nell and I were putting up curtains in our new house.
“We had only just moved, it had only been a few weeks since we left United and it shook me to my core. I couldn’t believe what had happened; absolutely devastating.
“Losing Mark Jones was a big blow, both personally and for the team. He was a tall Barnsley boy, a good player and friend.
“His wife June was pregnant with their second child, Lynne, at the time. Their son Gary lost his father. It was heartbreaking for everyone.
“It was not possible to go to all the players’ funerals. I went to Mark’s and left back Geoff Bent.
“When you talk about it, everything comes back and it’s still disturbing. But it’s good to remember the 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 that probably saved my life, or at least my career.”
That 2-1 cup final victory over Luton started a decade at Forest.
He added: “That was another highlight of my career. We played with ten men for much of the match after Roy Dwight (Elton John’s cousin) broke his leg – and there were no substitutes.
“The Queen was at the match and commented on how well we had played with a man short.”
And what the Babes could have achieved? Jeff insisted: “They were absolutely good enough to become European champions, that’s for sure.
“It was a huge part of my life and I feel so proud and privileged to be part of such an incredible group of footballers.”
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