Manchester United and Nottingham Forest have paid tribute to former star Jeff Whitefoot following his death at the age of 90.
Whitefoot was part of the original Busby Babes, led by Manchester United’s legendary manager Sir Matt Busby.
He became Man United’s youngest league debutant in April 1950 when he played against Portsmouth at Old Trafford at the age of 16 years and 105 days.
Whitefoot made 95 appearances in all competitions for Man United, forming part of their title winning side in 1955/56.
Man United issued a statement expressing its ‘deep sadness’ at Whitefoot’s death.
Jeff Whitefoot, aged 16, was interviewed by the BBC with Jimmy Murphy and Matt Busby in 1950
Whitefoot was part of Manchester United’s title winning side in the 1955/56 season
‘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,’ Man United said.
‘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, rapidly emerging as competent at the former task, exquisitely promising at the latter.
‘A beautifully balanced athlete whose ball control was deliciously assured with either foot, Jeff was almost serene in style, a rare quality in a young player.
‘He read the action intelligently and specialised in shrewd interceptions; he tackled briskly and was exceedingly competitive in the air for a player small in stature.’
Whitefoot left Man United in 1957 having lost his place in the side to Eddie Colman, leading to him submitting a transfer request.
He joined Grimsby Town months before the Munich air disaster which killed 23 people, including eight Man United players and three members of the club’s staff.
Whitefoot spent less than a year at Grimsby, before returning to the top flight with Nottingham Forest.
Forest joined Man United in paying tribute to Whitefoot, highlighting how he cemented his place in the club’s folklore in his first season.
Nottingham Forest joined the tributes to Whitefoot, a member of their 1959 FA Cup winning side
Whitefoot was the last surviving member of Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup winning squad
‘Jeff quickly establishing himself at the Club where he would go on to appear 285 times in all competitions under the management of Billy Walker, Andy Beattie and then Johnny Carey,’ a Forest statement read.
‘Jeff’s greatest achievement at Forest came in his debut season as Walker’s team defeated Luton Town at Wembley to win the FA Cup for the second time, with his first of seven goals for the Club coming in the fourth round of the competition against his old side Grimsby Town.
‘For nearly a decade Jeff was regularly a key part of the side as The Reds competed in the First Division, and during his final full season the team achieved what was their highest league finish at the time, finishing second in the First Division only behind his former club, Manchester United.’
Whitefoot had been described as the last of the original Busby Babes, as well as the last surviving member of the Nottingham Forest side to lift the FA Cup in 1959.