We are deeply saddened to learn that Jeff Whitefoot, a former Busby Babe, has passed away at the age of 90.
The Cheshire-born wing-half, who became United’s youngest league debutant in April 1950 when he ran out to face Portsmouth at Old Trafford at the age of 16 years and 105 days, played the game with a cool, seemingly casual grace which masked a sharp competitive edge.
One of the original Busby Babes, Jeff had joined the Reds straight from school in the summer of 1949 as an office boy-cum-midfield schemer.
After turning plenty of heads on his senior entrance, Whitefoot spent most of the next three seasons consolidating his craft before nailing a regular berth in a classy half-back line alongside veteran stopper Allenby Chilton and teenage prodigy Duncan Edwards in 1953/54.
He continued to progress during the following campaign as Busby’s breathtakingly exhilarating side edged towards greatness, then made enough appearances in the no.4 shirt in the opening months of 1955/56 to earn a League Championship medal.
A stellar future with United seemed assured for the England Under-23 international, but suddenly there was a snag. That autumn yet another bewitchingly brilliant tyro, Eddie Colman, stepped up to claim the right-half slot and Whitefoot, who had barely put a foot wrong, found himself unexpectedly on the sidelines.
Matt Busby was keen to keep a player of Jeff’s quality at the club, but understandably enough he became restive, persuaded the manager to sanction a move and in November 1957 was reunited with his old comrade Chilton, by then boss of Grimsby Town in the Second Division.
However, Whitefoot clearly needed and deserved top-flight football and in July 1958 he joined Nottingham Forest, for whom he proved massively influential as they won the FA Cup in 1959. Thereafter he remained at the City Ground until 1967/68, tallying nearly 300 games for the East Midlands club.
May he rest in peace, with a special place in club folklore long since assured ❤️
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