Dutton swapped badminton racquet for a pair of boots

FOR Edwin C. Dutton, it must have been a timely swap – from racquets to boots.

The late Edwin is best remembered for being the captain who led the then Malayan football team to the third Asian Games in Tokyo in 1958.

Besides that, he also led the team to victory in the 1960 Merdeka Tournament.

Incidentally, Edwin would not have made such an impact in football had he continued to entertain thoughts of emulating his uncle A. S. Samuel, who was the winner of the inaugural Malayan Badminton Open Championship in 1937, now know as the Malaysian Open.

Until the age of 18, Dutton was toying with the idea of taking up badminton, until Selangor footballing legend A.L. Henry convinced him to swap his racquet for a pair of football boots.

Edwin, who went on to coach the Armed Forces and Selangor football teams, even enjoyed a coaching stint for six weeks in England. He had finished second to Chia Boon Leong in a nationwide poll to select the Most Popular Footballer organised by Fraser and Neave in 1954.

Arranged by the Central Council of the Physical Recreation in collaboration with Football Association, Edwin – who went to England together with Singapore’s Boon Leong – had the privilege of meeting Tommy Lawton and trained with Arsenal. — Football Association of Malaysia

Name: Edwin C. DuttonNickname: DuttD.O.B: March 30,1928Sport: FootballPosition: DefenderCareer highlights1950-1962: Represented Federation of Malaya1953-1962: Captain of the Federation of Malaya team1948,1956,1959,1961,1962: Malaya Cup champions1958,1959,1960: Merdeka Cup winners