|
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 |
| Other games |
3 |
1 |
| Total |
280 |
20 |
|
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.
|
