A DUDLEY filmmaker hoping to immortalize the memory of footballing legend Duncan Edwards has cancelled a fundraising bid to make a film about his life.

Marcus Distant has spent the last year conducting in depth research about the Manchester United and England player’s life, which was tragically cut short in the Munich Air disaster in 1958.

But after receiving what he describes as hurtful comments and donators cancelling their pledges, the project has been scrapped.

Posting on the Duncan Edwards - The Boy Who Had It All Facebook page, the writer and director said: “Sorry to inform all of our backers but I have decided to cancel the short film campaign for a few reasons; 1. A backer cancelled a £300 pledge today; 2. I’ve received some really hurtful and negative comments over the last few days saying the film is a waste of our time and the name of Duncan and his legacy should just be laid to rest; 3. More hurtful comments football teams are now spending up to £80,000,000 on a player and we are [begging] on the internet to make a film about a player who played for the biggest [team] in the world; and 4. I’m completely exhausted and need of a good rest. This campaign has been one of the most difficult things I’ve done.

“We had five days left to achieve our goal but with the hurtful comments the past few days I no longer felt my job as a writer/director and campaigns manager on this project was appreciated.

“Thank you to everyone who commented on our journey with uplifting comments and kind words. My only hope is I live to see a tribute to Duncan Edwards in feature film format, and also to all the other Busby Babes alive and gone, because these pioneers of the beautiful game deserve their names engraved in the history books for eternity, and I believe cinematic visuals is one of the strongest forms of story telling.”

The £5,000 budget would have paid for professional production, the hire of equipment, props and costume, location costs, travel and catering, and actors’ fees.