Obituary: Bobby Noble (1945-2023)

Noble, a defender born in nearby Stockport, made 33 appearances for Sir Matt Busby’s side between the years of 1966 and 1967 and seemed to be on the cusp of lasting greatness when his burgeoning career was ended by a cruel road accident in the early spring of 1967.

The 21-year-old was newly entrenched in Busby’s exhilarating side which was on the verge of securing their second league title in three years and pundits were queueing to hail him as the best young full-back in Britain.

Indeed, John Doherty, the former Busby Babe renowned as the shrewdest footballing sage on the Manchester scene, went further in his praise. He declared in hindsight that Noble had the credentials to become the Reds’ finest-ever flank defender.

Given that would have lifted the rookie above the eminent likes of John Carey, John Aston Snr, Roger Byrne, Tony Dunne, Denis Irwin, Patrice Evra and more, that was a staggering statement of belief.

But the evidence was impossible to ignore. Noble was harder than nails and the timing of his tackling was exquisite; he could run like the wind and read the unfolding action with a maturity rare in one so young; his touch on the ball with both feet was assured, his passing both accurate and perceptive.

Above all there was a ruthless certainty about all his work that was almost unnerving. That extended to his attitude, which was bold. Having captained a United team including George Best, David Sadler and John Aston Jnr to FA Youth Cup glory in 1964 and made his senior debut in April 1966, he felt he should have been in the first team at the outset of 1966/67.

Accordingly, Noble marched into Busby’s office and asked for a transfer, a course of action which demanded immense strength of character. The reaction from United’s avuncular but iron-willed boss revealed the depth of his regard for the feisty young man in front of him: ‘Not as long as I’m here, son!’

Noble had no alternative but to accept the verdict, but by the October of that 1966/67 season, the manager recognised that such an exceptional talent could no longer be held back so he dropped Shay Brennan, shifted the splendid Dunne to right-back and handed Bobby the no.3 shirt.

As the season wore on, the wisdom of that decision became ever more apparent, with Noble being touted as the likely long-term England successor to ageing World Cup winner Ray Wilson.

But then came calamity. On his way home following a 0-0 draw at Sunderland, Noble suffered hideous head, chest and leg injuries in a car crash near his home in Sale. He nearly died – only his supreme overall fitness saved his life – but complete recovery proved agonising, slow and ultimately unsuccessful. Operations to repair Bobby's damaged sight could not restore his co-ordination and although he trained with fearsome dedication, he always knew deep down that he was fighting a losing battle.

There was a hugely frustrating period when he turned out for United’s A and B teams but he could no longer judge the flight of the ball, which made it impossible to play the game, certainly at the elite level.

As he recalled: “I had to give up the only job I had known, at the age of 23. When the truth sank in, it was an incredible blow, an extremely depressing situation.”

Despite such a cruel end to his playing career and with knowledge of the glory that followed for that great side, he avoided bitterness.

“I have my positive memories,” he later said. “It’s important to know I was involved in winning the title and played alongside people like Best, Law, Stiles and Charlton. That much, at least, I shall never forget.”

Rest in peace, Bobby.