Geoff Bent

Geoffrey "Geoff" Bent (27 September 1932 – 6 February 1958) was an English footballer who played as a full-back. He was one of the eight Manchester United players who lost their lives in the Munich air disaster.

Bent was born at Irlams o' th' Height in Pendleton, 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.

Headstone in St John's churchyard

He married Marion Mallandaine at Bolton in 1953 and their daughter Karen was born in September 1957.

He died in the Munich air disaster on 6 February 1958 and was buried in St. John's Churchyard on Bolton Road, 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.