Hotel suite to be tribute to Duncan Edwards 60 years after Munich disaster
Making room for a football legend
ABLACK Country hotel has created a permanent tribute to Manchester United legend Duncan Edwards.
The Copthorne Hotel in Merry Hill has dedicated a room to the local boy made good to mark the 61st anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster.
The Duncan Edwards Tribute Room has been decorated with an array of photographs and memorabilia to commemorate the icon’s links to the region.
Born and bred in Dudley, Edwards came from humble beginnings to enjoy a shining football career.
But he died tragically young, at the age of 21. By then he had appeared 170 times for United and won 18 England caps.
On February 6, 1958, British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at MunichRiem Airport in West Germany.
On the plane was the United football team nicknamed the “Busby Babes” along with supporters and journalists.
Twenty of the 44 people on the air- craft died at the scene. The injured, including Edwards, were taken to the Rechts der Isar Hospital in Munich but he died 15 days later on February 21, 1958.
In all, there were 23 fatalities and 21 survivors. More than 5,000 people lined the streets of Dudley for Edwards’ funeral.
The team was returning from a European Cup match, having eliminated Red Star Belgrade to advance to the semi-finals of the competition.
The flight stopped to refuel in Munich because a non-stop flight from Belgrade to Manchester was beyond the Airspeed Ambassador’s range.
James Cadman, the chairman of the Duncan Edwards Tribute group, is one of the driving forces behind the new room.
“We’ve focused on something that local people can relate to,” he said. “We based this exhibition here at the request of the Copthorne Hotel. You can hire the room and reflect on the impact Duncan Edwards has made.
“People from all over the country ask for more information about Duncan and the echo of that is they find out more about the Black Country.
“Those who live in the region are very hard-working, they’re very proud of their heritage and he is immortalised as proving what can be done. Your dreams should not be stunted. Say you want to captain England at Wembley – that’s what Duncan did.”
In his youth, Edwards served two years of national service, which was celebrated by members of the Army Reserve at the opening.
Sergeant Adam Sefton said: “We are from the Black Country and what Duncan Edwards represents is important for us, our community and our identity – we’re known as the Black Country Cavalry!
“He was a young lad from a poor background and what he rose to do is a success story, and shows that anyone can do that. No matter where you’re from, if you get your head down and work hard, you can achieve.”