Eddie Lewis, one of the original Busby Babes, has sadly lost his battle with cancer today. He was born in Manchester in 1935 and played for Goslings before joining the Manchester United Junior Athletic Club.

Lewis joined United in 1947 and made a total of 24 appearances, scoring 11 goals. He left United for Preston and played for West Ham the season the Munich Air Disaster occurred.

He later played for Leyton Orient and Folkestone Town before emigrating to South Africa in 1970 where he initially sold insurance.

Lewis then returned to his love of football as a manager of Wits University, where he won the 1978 Mainstay Cup which he regarded as the highlight of his career. He also had successful stints at Kaizer Chiefs, Giant Blackpool, Moroka Swallows and many other leading clubs.

In 2007, as a 72-year, Lewis was appointed Technical Advisor to one of the leading football clubs in South Africa, Moroka Swallows, after spending 37 years being involved in the development of South African football.

It was reported on KickOff that Sir Alex Ferguson gave Lewis a call last month after his condition deteriorated.

“Eddie was thrilled with the call from Sir Alex,” said his good friend Greg Jacoby. “He said, ‘Greg, you won’t believe who phoned me – Sir Alex Ferguson!’ Fergie had heard through the Ex-Pros that Eddie was not well, so he phoned him up to wish him all the best.”

1953 – 1954 Manchester United Youth Team in Bangor, Northern Ireland at the Hotel Pickie.

Back row, l-r, Ian Greaves, Walter Whitehurst, Tommy Barratt, Gordon Clayton, Alan Rhodes, Paddy Kennedy, Brace Fulton, Hotel Manager (name unknown)
Middle row, l-r, Eddie Lewis, Bill Inglis (Trainer), Jimmy Murphy, Bert Whalley, Noel McFarlane
Front row, l-r,Sammy Chapman, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Billy Whelan, Albert Scanlon