Busby Babe, Jeff Whitefoot, has left his £200,000 fortune to his two children after his wife of 65 years died 11 months before him. The wing-half made his debut for Manchester United, aged just 16 years and 105 days.
He was among the most talented group in football history with the likes of Eddie Colman, David Pegg, Billy Whelan and the great Duncan Edwards. He joined the Red Devils under manager, Sir Matt Busby, straight from school in the summer of 1949 spending seven years there and winning the First Division in 1956.
His young team was affectionately known as the Busby Babes. He chose to play for Grimsby Town in 1957 as he wanted more minutes – a decision that probably saved his life. Three months later, in February 1958, eight of Whitefoot ‘s former club mates were killed in the Munich Air Disaster.
The star players were among 23 fatalities on a plane that crashed in the runway slush Whitefoot died aged 90 on 24 June, last year. Exactly 11 months earlier, on 24 July 2023, his wife Ellen – known as Nell – died unexpectedly, also aged 90.
The couple wed in late 1957 and had a daughter, Judith, and a son, Peter. It was six weeks before he joined Grimsby. A year later, Whitefoot left for Nottingham Forest and was part of the team that won the FA Cup in 1959 before his retirement in 1967.
He later took over The Wheatsheaf pub in Oakham, Leicestershire. His Grant of Probate documents reveal the gross value of his estate was £205,690 and the net value was £200,040. His will – written on 27 November 2015 – revealed he appointed Ellen and the children as the executors.
After outliving his wife, his estate and personal property were left to Judith and Peter. He stated his wish to be cremated.
Whitefoot won the First Division title twice under Sir Matt Busby, in 1952 and 1956, before going on to enjoy FA Cup success with Nottingham Forest in 1959. The England Under-23 wing-half became United’s youngest league debutant when given his opportunity, aged 16 years and 105 days, in April 1950.
He left the club for Second Division Grimsby after losing his place in the side in November 1957, three months before the Munich air disaster which killed eight of his United team-mates. He returned to the top flight with Forest the following year and went on to make 285 appearances for the City Ground outfit before retiring in 1967. He later ran a greengrocer’s and then a pub.
A statement from United in July last year read: “There were few more perceptive and precise passers of a football in England than Jeff during the mid-1950s. May he rest in peace, with a special place in club folklore long since assured.”
Forest said in a statement at the time: “Everyone at Nottingham Forest is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jeff Whitefoot, at the age of 90. Jeff spent nine years at The City Ground between 1958 and 1967, and was the last surviving member of the side which famously lifted the FA Cup in 1959.”