Geoff Bent
- Birth Date:
- 27.09.1932
- Death date:
- 06.02.1958
- Extra names:
- Geoff Bent
- Categories:
- Football player, Victim of Catastrophe
- Cemetery:
- Set cemetery
Geoffrey "Geoff" Bent (27 September 1932 – 6 February 1958) was an English footballer and one of the eight Manchester United players who lost their lives in the Munich air disaster.
Bent was born at Irlams o' th' Height, near Salford, Lancashire in September 1932. He was the only child of miner Clifford Bent and his wife Clara.
He joined United as an apprentice on leaving school in the summer of 1948. After several seasons playing in the reserve and youth sides, he became a professional in 1951 and over the decade made 12 league appearances as full-back cover for Roger Byrne on the left and Bill Foulkes on the right. He made his first senior appearance in the 1954-55 season.
He did not play any first-team games during the 1957–58 season, having been on the sidelines for several months with a broken foot, and only travelled to Belgrade as cover for Roger Byrne - who had not been expected to play in the match due to injury, but still did.
He married Marion Mallandaine at Bolton in 1953and their daughter Karen was born in 1957.
He died in the Munich air disaster on 6 February 1958 and was buried in St. John's Churchyard in Bolton Road (A666), Pendlebury (just over the Salford/Swinton & Pendlebury boundary at Irlams o' th' Height).
He was survived by both of his parents as well as his wife and five-month-old daughter.
His widow Marion contributed to a 1998 ITV documentary, Munich: End of a Dream, which marked the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.
Source: wikipedia.org
No places
06.02.1958 | Munich air disaster
The Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958 when British European Airways flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport, West Germany. On the plane was the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the "Busby Babes", along with supporters and journalists.[1] 20 of the 44 on the aircraft died. The injured, some unconscious, were taken to the Rechts der Isar Hospital in Munich where three more died, resulting in 23 fatalities with 21 survivors.