Viv Busby: tributes paid to former Workington Reds No2

The former Fulham star was 74.

After an illustrious playing career, Busby’s time in coaching included a spell as academy director at Gretna.

He then went on to be assistant manager to Darren Edmondson at Workington from 2007 to 2011.

Edmondson described his former No2 as a great of the game and expressed his condolences to Busby’s loved ones.

“He was a brilliant bloke, a football bloke,” Edmondson told the News & Star.

“Things like that are often said but he purely was a football person and loved the game.

Viv Busby, second right, at Workington with then manager Darren Edmondson, right (Image: News & Star)

“I was fortunate that he made the move up to Gretna when Brooks Mileson employed him, and when that fell through, he took my humble invitation to have him as assistant manager at Reds.

“Wow. He was one of the true greats of football to have been at Reds, without getting the accolades he should have got.

“Away from the field, he was a fantastic bloke. He helped me immensely as a person, and from a football point of view.

“He would do anything for you, do anything to help you.

“It’s a sad day for football because he’s one of the true greats beyond Cumbria. His career as a player and a coach was brilliant.”

Viv Busby chats to young Gretna players during his time at the club in 2005 (Image: Stuart Walker)

Slough-born Busby started his career at Wycombe Wanderers and had spells at Luton Town and Newcastle United before joining Fulham in 1973.

The forward went on to become a much-admired figure at Craven Cottage, with Busby playing a key part in Fulham’s run to the FA Cup final in 1975 – a run which included a quarter-final victory over Carlisle United.

He scored 37 goals in 143 appearances for the Cottagers, where he played alongside George Best and Bobby Moore, before later playing for Norwich City, Stoke City, Tulsa Roughnecks, Blackburn Rovers and York City.

He went on to coach at York City and Sunderland and had a spell as Hartlepool United manager, as well as periods at Sheffield United and Everton.

During a stint as youth coach at Swindon Town, Busby had a battle against leukaemia, and later returned to York for another spell.

He then joined Gretna before switching to Workington, then emigrating to Spain in 2011.

“It’s a devastating time,” added Edmondson. “My heart goes out to his family – [his first wife] Ange and the girls, and [his second wife] Barbara.

“He’ll be very sadly missed.”