Dennis Viollet was one of the most prolific goal-scorers in Old Trafford history.  Viollet came through the junior ranks at Manchester United. His first game for the club came against arch-rivals Newcastle United in 1953.   

Viollet was slim, perhaps even frail of appearance, but with lightning pace and top quality control he could slice through the best defenses.  His appearance was deceptive and any defense that underestimated him soon paid the consequences.  He also had the distribution and all around ability to succeed in deep-lying positions.  His only discernible flaw was a lack of aerial ability, however when playing alongside the likes of Tommy Taylor this was not a problem.  One of the original Busby Babes that conquered England in 1956 and 57, together with Taylor he formed a lethal combination. The England manager only selected half of the super United double-act in Tommy Taylor, but if England fans were denied the chance of his great talents, United supporters faced no such deprivation in those glorious pre-Munich days.  

Dennis was a survivor of the Munich air disaster. On February 6^th 1958, seven United players were killed after their plane crashed shortly after take off in Munich.  The footballing world was reeling from the loss of some of its most talented young players.  The average age of the players was 24 and they included Roger Byrne - the captain - Mark Jones, Eddie Colman, Tommy Taylor, Liam Whelan, David Pegg and Geoff Bent.  Dennis escaped with injuries that were expected to be career threatening. 

The following season in 1959/60 he really did demonstrate his quality, scoring in 32 goals in 36 League matches, more strikes in one season campaign than any United player.  Anyone who doubted that Dennis was an outstanding performer in his own right was soon answered with proof after Tommy was killed and Dennis made that goal-scoring record.  

Dennis scored 178 goals in 291 games for United.  By 1962 Busby was creating a new United team and Viollet was surprisingly transferred to Stoke in January 1962.  Later he went to Irish League Linfield, before completing his football career in the United States NASL where he later became a coach.  In the 1980's, Viollet moved to Florida as an assistant coach, and then coach, of the Jacksonville Teamen of the NASL and ASL.  In 1990, Viollet took the reins of the Jacksonville University Dolphins, where he stayed through 1995.  He then took the USISL Richmond Kickers to the 1995 American Double (USISL Premier League and US Open Cup titles).  He stayed with Richmond for 2 seasons, and then served as coach of the A-League Jacksonville Cyclones before his passing.

On  March 6^th 1999, Dennis Viollet died of cancer at the age of 65, in his adopted home of Jacksonville, Florida.  Viollet was inducted into the first class of the USL Hall of Fame in 2002. The annual University of North Florida/Jacksonville University soccer match has been contested for the Viollet Cup since 2001.  Bobby Charlton said of him "I'm delighted his record has still not been broken, it’s the perfect way to remember him".  

Sir Stanley Matthews-

Dennis’s Teammate

Dennis with the Richmond Media after the League Final