Tributes have been flooding in for the Busby Babe, who never lost touch with his roots and still lived in Salford.
He had been in Hope Hospital, initially in intensive care for over a month, since being admitted on October 21 suffering from kidney problems and pneumonia.
During his stay in hospital he was regularly visited by family and friends, including two of his pals from the Association of Former Manchester United Players - David Sadler and Wilf McGuiness.
Mr Sadler, a member of the 1968 United European Cup-winning team, told M.E.N. Sport: "He was a Busby Babe who was one of life's survivors. He was a scallywag, I understand from his playing days. He lived life to the full. He was a likeable sort of guy who must have been quite a player to have got in that team, although of course I never saw him play.
"He was good company, and the kind of guy you would like to be with. He was a regular attendee of our association meetings."
Born in the working class Manchester suburb of Hulme on October 10, 1935, Scanlon was snapped up by United after leaving school and helped the Reds to two Youth Cup triumphs in 1953 and 1954.
Prior to the Munich Disaster of 1958 he shared an ongoing battle for the outside-left berth with pin-up boy David Pegg but still helped his club to league titles in 1956 and 1957.
Devastating
At the age of 22 he suffered a fractured skull and a severe kidney injury in the devastating plane crash at Munich Airport, in which 23 people died including eight of his team-mates, but incredibly in the very next season Scanlon featured in all 42 league matches, scoring 16 goals as the Reds finished runners-up in the league.
Scanlon's close friend during his Old Trafford career was wing-half McGuiness who went on to manage United.
"Albert's main asset was his pace," said McGuiness. "He really did have blistering speed and once he got a yard on his marker he was impossible to catch. During that period there was a very popular detective series on television featuring an American cop called Joe Friday who always talked out of the side of his mouth.
"That's how Albert talked and seeing that his middle name is Joseph you can understand why his nickname was `Joe Friday'. He may have talked slowly but mentally he was sharp. It was astonishing he played so many games after the Munich Disaster following the injuries he sustained.
"And he played very well in that season. Everybody talks about United getting to the FA Cup final that season, but what was even more incredible was that we finished runners-up.
"After his career had finished he settled down in Salford but I don't think life has been kind to him in recent years."
Scanlon played 115 times for his beloved Reds, notching up 34 goals until 1960, when he moved to Newcastle and then subsequently to Lincoln and Mansfield.
Scanlon has never relished talking about the tragedy, but in the M.E.N's 50th anniversary Munich Remembered supplement he said of the Babes: "I think they would have got a lot better.
"There was such a lot there, such a lot of youngsters. It probably was at the time one of the best club sides ever. It was not actually a team or two teams, it was one of the first clubs to have a squad."
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RIP Albert, a member of one of the greatest teams of all time. from a City fan
His lifestyle was a bit like Georges without all the press but all Busby babes were and still are Heros.
r.i.p mr scanlon- you rightly have your place in the clubs history,up there with the best of them- a brave ,brave man - thank you for all you did for the club.
RIP Albert.....Reunited with your Busby Babe team mates.
RIP Albert. A great player in your day and I was honoured to see you play. Such a pity some have to have a go at the club over a tragic piece of news. Thank you Peter Beagrie's beagle for showing humility respect and class.
I had the privilege of meeting and talking with him for the first time just a few years ago. He was a lovely, lovely man. RIP Albert.
The good lord is going to have some class wingers to choose from for his heavenly team. RIP Mr. Scanlon.
My dad used to play against Albert for Benchill Lads V Hulme Lads Club in the mid 50's. The first thing they used to ask on arrival was 'is Albert playing' and breathe a sigh of relief when he was on United duty with the colts.
Sad, sad news even more poignant at this time of year. RIP Albert, and sincere condolences to the Scanlon family.
I agree with Bill Wirral
Thank you Peter Beagrie`s beagle.
RIP you are now with your friends the Busby babes !
Had the privalage to see the busby babes, my memories of Albert Scanlon was of a decent, down to earth man, who stayed true to his roots. R.I.P. from all City fans
R.I.P. Albert you were a household name in the Manchester area & one of the boys...thanks to the City fans for their respecful comments....
Thank you MEN for removing the tasteless posting showed earlier and thank you to the City fans who have posted since showing their humility respect and class too. Deepest sympathies to Albert's family.
It is sad to hear about Albert passing away he was a great left winger who I had the privelage of watching,he had pace,great control and a great shot he and David Pegg constantly battled it out for the left wing slot where Sir Matt was a genius creating such competition as he did in most positions with United in the 50s.
The last time I came across Albert was at a charity cabaret for all ex Hulme people where he and his dear wife were guests the compare who used to work at Manchester City Social club and who's name escapes me and sung a lot of Frank Sinatra (The Rat Pack with Johnny Rich) songs introduced Albert and his wife to the people in the Hall (Carlton Club -Whalley Range) his first words were "Albert the Legend" Albert immediately reacted by answering "no I'm not a legend" he looked so embarrassed thats how modest Albert was and in truth despite what Albert thought himself he was a LEGEND playing in that United team.During my time as an HGV Driver I sometimes collected goods from Colgate Palmolive on Ordsall Lane in Salford just a stone throw away from Old Trafford where Albert was a security man on the enterance gate to the factory delivery/collection bays,he was always polite and if he didn't know a drivers first name it would be 'Mister' he rarely spoke about his time in football hardly swore if at all and was in essence a gentleman,Albert found out I was a City fan from a colleague of mine but it didn't prevent him being polite to me and infact someone told me Albert was a City fan himself but I'm not sure about that.
YES Albert will be a big loss to all the older United fans,his friends and moreso his family R.I.P. Albert Scanlon....
Very sad news, it puts football into its true perspective.
He survived a tragedy which robbed football of a great group of players (including a city legend in Frank Swift).
I'm too young too remember the Babes but my dad has sung their praises many times. He's adamant that the recent Utd teams are not a patch on them.
This is praise indeed from my Dad who is City through & through. He used to go and watch the Babes with my uncles in the days when Manchester FOOTBALL fans went to both grounds (no Sky). They used to try and convert him, no chance!
Condolences to all at MUFC and most importantly Albert's family.
RIP
R.I.P Albert. Even though I'm a blue, my mum (who is a red) says he was a great player and an unsung hero in that great side. My condolences to Albert's family at this sad time
This is for you Bill from the Wirral.Albert was a great footballer and a gentlemen as everyone else is saying.
What I said was that He and Harry Gregg were treated disgracefully by the hierachy at old Trafford after the Munich crash. Of course for any United fans to would acknowledge that would be indeed tastless.
Don't mix and try to change peoples words.
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Albert Scanlon.He was a Hulme boy from St Wilfreds
I also lived in Hulme and we would meet on Streford Road and have a chat
I once met him after Uniteds youth team had reached the F.A Cup final but had lost John Dohery to injury.I asked Albert who would replace him.Albert replied "Oh an Irish kid will be playing in the final"
The Irish kid was Liam Whelan.Albert was a good solid Manchester lad with no pretensions like all the Busby babes.R.I.P albert
Martin
RIP Albert, as a blue through and through somethings are more important than football and I would like to express my sincere condolonces to United fans, the club and more importantly Albert's family. Manchester's footballing family has lost one of it's own hopefully you will be at peace with the other babes.
Very sad news. Sincere condolances to his family. I was only a kid at the time of the Munich crash , but Albert made hs place in football history along with all his team mates.
The Captain of the Ship, (The Red Wreck is Sinking)
23/12/2009
Thank you Captain. I am not going to enter into an argument on this thread because Albert and his family deserve more than that and I know that you too think the same. So I except what you are saying and apologise for misinterpreting the words that you used.
And so today here I am and it is 1946 and I am standing in the playground of St. Wilfrid's Primary school in Rutland Street in Hulme. I am watching a classmate of mine, Albert, banging a worn out tennis ball, time after time, against the school wall, under the eagle eye of one Mr. Lundy, the sports master. A fine player and ambassador for Manchester Youth football and a fantastic winger for my beloved Manchester United. His life, like so many others dramatically changed on that day in February 1958. I remember Albert with great affection and send to his family my sincere condolences on this sad day.
Great footballer and as said on an earlier post, had it not been for David Pagg playing the same position, Albert would have played even more. Not too many got to play at the level that he did and with the lads that he played with. In that regard he was blessed.. Seemed like a really good person too..R.I.P.
A really Sad, Sad, day. I remember those days of the Busby Babes and that super youth team. My dad was a city fan but took me to watch, what he said was the best football anywhere. Rest In Peace Albert. My condolences to all your family and friends. Good Bye.