|
Full Name
|
Roger William Byrne
|
|
Date of Birth
|
8th Feb 1929
|
|
Place of Birth
|
Gorton, Manchester
|
|
Position
|
Left Back
|
|
Height
|
5ft 9
|
|
United debut
|
24/11/1951
vs Liverpool (A)
|
.....
|
Byrne's United Record 1951-1958
|
| |
Appearances
|
Goals
|
|
League
|
245
|
17
|
|
FA Cup
|
18
|
2
|
|
League Cup
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
Europe
|
14
|
0
|
|
Total
|
277
|
19
|
|
Byrne's International Record
1954-1958
|
33 Caps for
England - 0 Goals
1st Div League
Championship 1957
1st Div League
Championship 1956
1st Div League
Championship 1952
|
Roger
Byrne was the great captain of the legendary Busby Babes. An
inspirational and charismatic leader he was a key element in
making United the team of the mid 1950's.
Byrne nearly didn't become a footballer having played Rugby
Union for a time, but eventually he was spotted and joined
United's youth team at the comparatively late age of 20.
Matt Busby recognised a quality in him that could be
developed but at first it was not sure which position he
would play. Versatile Bryne played as winger, wing-half and
left-back. In 1951 he made his debut against Liverpool and
continued to put in fine performances.
United and Byrne went on to win the League title in 1952
with Byrne on the wing but when Busby forced him to play on
the wing permanently in 1952 Bryne was unhappy and asked for
a transfer. Busby backed down and quickly made Bryne a left
back, a position he would make his own.
He was one of the new generation brought in by Busby, fast,
strong and always in control, often using his speed to allow
him to come up the wings and participate in attacks. As left
back Roger Byrne was rock solid, hard working, powerful,
skilful, efficient - a player who refused to be beaten. Even
the great wingers of the day, Stanley Matthews and Tom
Finney rarely, if ever, got the better of him.
He was cool and confident with excellent awareness and
positional skills. Not the most naturally gifted of players
he made up for it by putting in long hours of training and
study therefore making sure he was never caught out. A truly
great footballer's talents are as much mental as physical
and anticipation was Roger Byrne's great strength - he could
always detect danger. |
