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<Links to Official
Manchester United Website
2000> 

Player profiles out of the Wembley Match Day
Programme
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HARRY
GREGG, Goalkeeper It was in this Stadium last November
that Gregg made his name with a brilliant display which contributed so
much to Ireland's unexpected victory over England. Six weeks later
Manchester United bought him from Doncaster Rovers for £23,000, the
record fee for a goalkeeper. First
capped against Wales in 1954, he joined Doncaster from Dundalk. One of the
Munich survivors, he was born at Mayerafelt, Co. Derry, and is 23, 6 ft. I
in., and 13 St. |
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BILLY
FOULKES, Right Back (Capt.) Was working at
the pit face when United first signed him and then became a part-time
professional. He had been
spotted playing for Whiston Boys' Club, St. Helens.
He made his league debut in 1952 and was capped by England against
Ireland in October, 1954. He
also had two games with the under-23 team that season.
Missed only three first team games last season and has taken over
the captaincy since surviving at Munich.
Born at St. Helens, he is 26, 5 ft. II in., and 12 st. 4 Ib. |
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IAN
GREAVES, Left Back Was signed from the Cheshire
League Club, Buxton, and had 15 games in the League side two seasons ago.
He was then playing on the right and keeping Foulkes out of the
side. Last season, however, he got only three chances in the League team.
Given his chance since the loss of Roger Byrne, he has proved
himself a rugged, fearless defender. Born at Oldham, he is 24,6 ft., and
12 st. 4 Ib. |
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FREDDIE
GOODWIN, Right Half Here is another who is not a recent
newcomer to the League side, in fact, this tall, hard tackling wing half,
made a tremendous impression in the
1954-55 season, when he had five games in the League side.
Yet there were only eight League games for him in the following
season, and six last season. Such was the penalty for having to understudy
such an artist as the late Eddie Colman. Born at Heywood, he is 24, 6 ft. 2 in., and 13 st 2 Ib. |
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RONNIE
COPE, Centre Half Played for Crewe and England
Schoolboys before joining the United in October, 1951 at the age of 17.
I saw him play bis first League game against Arsenal at Highbury.in
September, 1956. There was
only one more League game for him until February this year.
In the meantime he had to be content with being third choice behind
the late Mark Jones and Jackie Blanchflower.
Born at Crewe, he is 24, 5 ft. II in., and II st. |
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STAN
CROWTHER, Left Half It was less than an hour
before playing his first game for the United in their Fifth Round F.A. Cup
Tie with Sheffield Wednesday that Crowther was transferred from Aston
Villa for £18,000. It was
only at the beginning of last season that he was playing for Bilston in
the Birmingham League, but he became a regular in Villa's first team, won
a Cup Medal against his new club, and was chosen for England's Under-23
team. Born at Bilston, he is
22, 5 ft. II in., and 11 st. 3 Ib. |
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ALEX
DAWSON, Outside Right The son of a Hull trawlerman,
Dawson was born at Aberdeen. He played a tremendous part in Manchester
United's success in the F.A. Youth Cup last season, scoring in every game,
20 goals altogether in 10 games. He is 18, 5 ft. 11 in., and 12 st. 7 Ib. |
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ERNIE
TAYLOR, Inside Right This brilliant little ball
player joined Newcastle from Hylton Colliery Juniors during the war.
He was transferred to Blackpool in 1951 for £27,000 after playing
in the Newcastle team which beat Blackpool 2-0 in the Final that year.
He gained another Cup Winners' Medal with Blackpool when they beat Bolton
4-3 in 1953. Born at Sunderland, he is 33, 5 ft. 5 in., and 10 st. 6 Ib. |
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BOBBY
CHARLTON, Centre Forward Nephew of the old
Newcastle star, Jackie Milburn, and brother of the Leeds centre-half, John
Chariton. He went to the
United straight from school and made his debut at Chariton, scoring twice.
Since the Munich crash has become a full International.
Born at Ashington, he is 20, 5 ft. 8 in., and 10 st. 13 Ib. |
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DENNIS
VIOLLET, Inside Left Was born near the Manchester
City ground, on which he captained England Schoolboys against Wales in
1949. Another Munich
survivor, it was not until April 21 that he returned to United's First
team. He was already their
leading scorer before that with 19 Cup and League goals, but he did not
get one goal in the Cup run last season, when he was inside left in the
Final. Has just topped 150
League games for the Club and is approaching a century of goals. He is 24, born at Manchester, 5 ft. 8 in., and 10 st. 10 Ib. |
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COLIN
WEBSTER, Outside Left Recommended by Dennis Viollet,
who served with him in the Army, Webster was signed from Cardiff City
after the Welsh club had failed to renew his registration.
Led the Welsh attack against Czechoslovakia in the World Cup Tie at
Cardiff last May. An
adaptable type, he was an outside right in the first games after Munich,
but it was from centre-forward he scored the goal that beat West Bromwich
in the sixth round. Born at Cardiff, he is 25, 5 ft. 9 in., and II st. 2
Ib. |
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WILF
McGUINNESS, Wing Half Formerly Captain of
Manchester and England Schoolboys. Made
a quick recovery from a cartilage operation which he had only in February.
Born at Manchester, he is 21, 5 ft. 8 in., and 10 st. 8 Ib. |
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KEN
MORGANS, Forward One of the Munich survivors, it was
only at Easter that Morgans returned to League football. Joined United in
1955 and made his League debut in the home game with Leicester last
December. Born at Swansea, he is 19, 5 ft. 7 in., and 10 st. 8 Ib. |
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MARK
PEARSON, Forward Like Dawson and Morgans, Pearson was a
member of United's Youth Cup winning team last season.
He had played for Derbyshire and England Boys before joining the
club straight from school. He
has come in for some criticism because of his rugged style of play, but it
is only fair to put it down to his youthful enthusiasm.
Born at Sheffield, he is 17, 5 ft. 7 in., and 10 st. 8 Ib. |
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