Billy 'Liam' Whelan was born in Dublin on April 1st 1935. He began playing for Dublin side Home Farm from an early age but was soon spotted by English giants, Manchester United and in May 1953 - at the tender age of 18 years - he made the move across the Irish Sea to Old Trafford. Whelan spent a couple of seasons at United before he began to command a regular place in their first team. Playing at inside-forward for United, Whelan was to become one of their biggest weapons as they won back to back League Championships in 1955-56 and 1956-57.

Whelan was United's top goalscorer in 1956-57 with an incredible 26 goals from 39 appearances. Overall he scored a total of 52 goals from 96 appearances - a scoring rate that any player would have been proud of. Indeed, Whelan's talents were supreme - he was indeed the pick of a very fine bunch of players that were widely known as the Busby Babes.

Whelan in Manchester United's colours

As well as winning two League Championship medals with United, Whelan also won an FA Cup Runners-up medal in 1957. United lost the final to Aston Villa controversially - Villa scored after a challenge on United's goalkeeper resulted in him leaving the pitch to receive treatment for a fractured cheekbone! Had United won the match they would have also won the distinction of becoming the first side in the twentieth century to win the League and Cup double.

Whelan prior to one of the four International appearances for Ireland

Whelan made his international debut for Ireland in the 4-1 win over Holland on May 10th 1956. He also played in Ireland's 2-1 win over Denmark in October of that year and in May 1957 he played in both matches against England - the 5-1 defeat at Wembley and the 1-1 draw in Dublin. He did not score any goals for his country in those four matches.

Whelan died in February 1958. He was on board the plane carrying Manchester United back to England following their aggregate victory over Red Star Belgrade, and was one of those who tragically died when it crashed following take-off at Munich. He was only 22 years old. The loss of Whelan to Manchester United was huge; however, his loss to Ireland is incalculable. Whelan promised to become one of the finest players to have ever pulled on the green jersey and would have played well into the 1960s. His United Team-mate Bobby Charlton once said that Liam Whelan was the only player whose skill he envied - as accolades go, they really don't get much higher than that.