Sir Alexander Matthew Busby, widely known as Matt Busby, was born on 26 May 1909 in the mining village of Orbiston, Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He grew up in humble surroundings, living in a two-roomed pitman's cottage with his family. His father, Alexander, was a miner who tragically lost his life during World War I, leaving Matt's mother, Helen "Nellie," to raise him and his three sisters alone. Despite these hardships, Busby developed an early passion for football, inspired by local legends like Alex James and Hughie Gallacher. Raised as a devout Catholic, Busby's faith remained a cornerstone of his life, earning him papal recognition later in life.

Busby's dreams of becoming a professional footballer almost ended when his mother applied to emigrate to the United States in the late 1920s. However, the lengthy processing time allowed him to pursue his football ambitions. While working full-time as a collier, he played part-time for Stirlingshire Junior side Denny Hibs, which eventually led to his discovery by Manchester City.