Sadly, Dennis passed away in 2003, aged just 58. But Paddy Crerand, who played alongside Walker that afternoon at the City Ground, is always keen to shine a light on his one-time team-mate. “I remember Dennis very well,” Crerand recalled in an interview for Inside United magazine a few years ago. “He was a lovely lad and a good player. That he was black didn’t make any difference whatsoever to me, it really didn’t. I don’t remember us talking in the squad about him being the first black player for United, but it was a big issue in English football because, sadly, black players did get abused at matches. Dennis was such a nice guy and I remember when he died a few years ago; I saw his family at Old Trafford, where his ashes were scattered.”
Today, Walker should be viewed as a pioneer whose courage inspired future generations of black players, breaking down barriers in the not-always beautiful game. But in truth, his name isn’t well known. In fact, many believe the first black United player was Tony Whelan, a bustling striker who spent four seasons at Old Trafford without making a first-team appearance. And Whelan, who has maintained a long connection with the club through his work with the Academy, is desperate to correct this common misconception.
