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Geoff Bent

{{Short description|English footballer (1932–1958)}}

{{similar names|Jeffrey Bent (disambiguation){{!}}Jeffrey Bent}}

{{Featured article}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Geoff Bent

| image = Geoff Bent.jpg

| alt = Black and white portrait of Bent

| caption = Bent in 1957

| full_name = Geoffrey Bent

| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|9|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Salford, Lancashire, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1958|2|6|1932|9|27|df=y}}

| death_place = Munich, West Germany

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}

| position = Left back{{Hugman|1425|access-date=5 August 2023}}

| youthyears1 = 1948–1951

| youthclubs1 = Manchester United

| years1 = 1951–1958

| clubs1 = Manchester United

| caps1 = 12

| goals1 = 0

}}

Geoffrey Bent (27 September 1932 – 6 February 1958) was an English footballer who played as a left back for Manchester United from 1948 until 1958. He was one of the Busby Babes, the young team formed under manager Matt Busby in the mid-1950s. Bent only made twelve first-team appearances for Manchester United, who already had an international-quality left back in Roger Byrne. Modern writers speculate that at most other teams Bent would have been a regular starter, and he was the subject of interest from fellow First Division clubs, but Busby refused to let him leave. He was one of eight Manchester United players who died in the Munich air disaster, when their aircraft crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport after a European Cup match in Belgrade.

{{TOClimit|3}}

Early life

Geoffrey Bent was born on 27 September 1932 at Irlams o' th' Height in Salford, Lancashire.{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=66}} He was the only child of Clifford Bent, a surfaceman at Sandhole Colliery, and his wife Clara (née Dunning).{{sfn|Connor|2020|p=94}}{{sfn|Crick|2017}} He grew up in a matriarchal working-class family; his father was the sole money earner, but his mother ran the household and had more influence on her son.{{sfn|Connor|2007|p=113}} The family lived in a small house in Jackson's Buildings, Salford, at the back of a shop; the only entrance was from a side alley, and the house had no indoor toilet. Bent received his education in Swinton; he first attended St John's Junior School, and then was awarded a scholarship to Tootal Road Grammar School. He was a member of both the Boy Scouts and the Boys' Brigade, and a keen swimmer. In 1946, aged 13, Bent saved another child from drowning in the Manchester and Salford Junction Canal, and was awarded a medal by his local Humane Society.{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 822–849}}

Although Bent was encouraged to play rugby league by both his father, who supported the local Swinton club, and one of his teachers, he was only ever interested in playing association football.{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 836–863}} Bent began as a forward, playing at inside left, but later moved into the defence, first as a half back and then left back. He played for Barton Villa in local league football, and in the 1946–47 season, he captained the Salford Schoolboys team to victory in the English Schools Trophy, beating a Leicester team in the final.{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 849–863}}{{sfn|Connor|2007|pp=113–114}} His performances for Salford drew the attention of several prominent clubs. Bent's mother did not want him to leave home, and she swayed him to sign a contract with Manchester United.{{sfn|Manchester United website}} At the time, players were not allowed to sign a professional contract with a team until the age of 17, so like many of his teammates, Bent also took on an apprenticeship as a joiner,{{sfn|Morrin|2007|loc=loc. PT27}} a trade he continued during the summer breaks between football seasons.{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 913–926}} After signing for Manchester United, a teenage Bent met Marion Mallandaine, initially when he had been dating her younger sister, Betty.{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 849–874}} His relationship with Betty did not last very long, and he married Marion on 27 June 1953 in Pendlebury,{{sfn|Crick|2017}} and the couple later moved into one of the football club's houses on King's Road, not far from the club's home ground of Old Trafford.{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 862–874}}

Manchester United career

Bent initially joined Manchester United as a trialist in August 1948, then as an amateur alongside his apprenticeship in May 1949.{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=66}}{{efn|Despite top-level English football having long been a professional sport primarily played by the working-class, the game was still overseen by predominantly middle-class administrators with traditional values,{{sfn|Porter|2000|p=8}} and amateur and professional status remained in the game until the 1970s. Officially, amateurs could only receive appropriate "expenses" for playing, but could top-up their income with other jobs outside football, such as Bent's joinery apprenticeship.{{sfn|Cox|Russell|Vamplew|2002|pp=19–20}}}} Over the following few years, he played for United's youth and reserve teams, where he excelled. Manchester United had a nucleus of young, upcoming players, so these teams were often very strong; Bent appeared alongside players such as Bobby Charlton, Wilf McGuinness, David Pegg and Duncan Edwards.{{sfn|Connor|2007|pp=38–39}} In April 1951, aged 18, Bent signed a professional contract with the club.{{sfn|Manchester Evening News, 10 December 1954}}

Bent had been expected to replace John Aston Sr. at left back in the Manchester United first team;{{sfn|Connor|2007|p=114}} Aston was one of the older players in the team and injuries led to his retirement at the end of the 1953–54 season.{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=62}} Bent's teammate Roger Byrne, who had deputised for Aston to make his Manchester United debut in 1951, had made it clear early in the 1952–53 season that he wanted to play at left back, requesting a transfer when the Manchester United manager Matt Busby played him on the left wing instead. Busby relented, and Byrne returned to left back. Byrne became Manchester United captain in February 1954,{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=70}} and it was clear that Bent would not be preferred for the position.{{sfn|Connor|2007|p=114}}

Bent made his first-team debut for Manchester United in December 1954 against Burnley,{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=70}} in place of Byrne, who had a neck injury.{{sfn|Manchester Evening News, 10 December 1954}} He appeared once more that season, when Byrne was on international duty for England in April.{{sfn|Jackson, 2 April 1955}} Bent's appearances were again sporadic in the 1955–56 season, deputising for either Byrne or Bill Foulkes; he played three times in October,{{sfn|Trickett, 1 October 1955}}{{sfn|Thornton, 4 October 1955}}{{sfn|Jackson, 21 October 1955}} and then once in April.{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=132}} Modern commentators suggest that at almost any other First Division club, Bent would have been a regular member of the first team,{{sfn|Connor|2007|p=114}}{{sfn|Hall|2009|p=61}} and he twice requested a transfer. On both occasions, Busby turned down the request, explaining that he was too valuable for the club to lose.{{sfn|Connor|2007|p=114}} His wife, Marion, believed that several other First Division teams were interested in Bent, including Wolverhampton Wanderers, who along with Manchester United were one of the most successful English clubs of the 1950s.{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 901–912}} In 1956–57, Bent played six times, each time standing in for either Byrne or Foulkes.{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=132}}

Despite his infrequent first-team appearances, Bent was well thought of, both within the club, as evidenced by Busby's refusal to sell him, and beyond.{{sfn|Jackson, 24 October 1955}}{{sfn|Joy, 31 August 1957}} In an article published in the Manchester Evening News in 1955, Byrne described the positive effect that having strong reserve players such as Bent, who he called a "valuable prospect", had on the team, specifying that; "I for one have really got to strive to keep my position".{{sfn|Byrne, 1 November 1955}} Foulkes later echoed claims that Bent would have been a first-team regular for most other clubs, and went on to describe him as being "quiet and more studious" than many of his teammates. Wilf McGuinness rated Bent as good enough to play at senior level for England. {{sfn|Foulkes, 5 February 1968}} In his history of the victims of the Munich air disaster, Jeff Connor describes Bent as "tall, well built and a strong tackler",{{sfn|Connor|2007|p=114}} and his biography in The Official Manchester United Illustrated Encyclopedia calls him a "good tackler and accurate passer".{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=70}}

Munich air disaster

File:Geoff Bent headstone.JPG

{{further|Munich air disaster}}

Bent did not play any first-team games during the 1957–58 season,{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=132}} having been on the sidelines for several months with a broken foot, the second such injury he had suffered during his time with the club. He was on crutches when visiting hospital in September 1957 for the birth of his daughter, Karen.{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 799–809}}

By February 1958, Bent was fully recovered, and had returned to action for the reserve team.{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 810–821}} He was not initially included in the travelling party for the second leg of the European Cup quarter-final against Red Star Belgrade.{{sfn|Manchester United website}} Bent did not enjoy flying, suffering from nose bleeds and requiring ear drops when he did so,{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 810–821}} and Ronnie Cope was going to travel with the team as a reserve for the experience of a European away fixture.{{sfn|Manchester United website}}{{efn|Substitutes were not yet part of the game, so travelling players not included in the starting team would not feature.{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=132}}}} In the days leading up to the trip, Byrne complained of an injury niggle, and so Busby called up Bent for the trip in case Byrne could not play.{{sfn|Connor|2007|p=216}} Bent complained to his wife about the trip, saying: "I don't know why they're taking me, because I'm sure Roger will be fit."{{sfn|Roberts|2012|loc=loc. 810–821}} Ultimately, Bent was proved right; Byrne recovered and played through the match which United drew 3–3. As they had won the first leg 2–1, United won the two-legged tie and progressed to the semi-finals.{{sfn|Somerscales et al.|1998|p=133}}

Snow had been falling for most of the game in Belgrade, but the weather was better for the team's flight home the next morning, 6 February. As the aircraft approached Munich-Riem Airport, the snow worsened once more. The plane landed safely, and the players disembarked while the plane was refuelled. A short time later, with the passengers back on board, the plane made two aborted attempts to take off, each time suffering from apparent engine problems. The passengers were asked to disembark again while the pilots discussed the issue with the ground crew, and fifteen minutes later they were ready to try again. On the third attempt, the plane reached {{convert|117|knots}}, the plane's takeoff decision speed, the speed above which take off can no longer safely be aborted, but then hit slush on the runway, and dropped speed. The plane failed to take off, and crashed off the end of the runway, through the barrier fencing, and across a road.{{sfn|Connor|2007|pp=91–94}} Different parts of the plane hit a tree, a house and a wooden hut which exploded. Bent was one of 21 people who died at the scene —a death toll which included eight journalists and seven Manchester United players. Two more died from their injuries over the following few weeks, taking the total number of fatalities to twenty-three.{{sfn|BBC 2014}} Bent's funeral and interment were held on 13 February at St John's Church in Pendlebury.{{sfn|Manchester Evening News, 10 February 1958}}

Legacy

Although he was not a regular starter, Bent was considered to be one of the Busby Babes, the young team formed at Manchester United under manager Matt Busby in the 1950s which won the First Division in both the 1955–56 and 1956–57 seasons.{{sfn|Crick|2017}}{{sfn|Connor|2007|p=59}} Bent's name, along with the others who died in Munich, appears on a memorial plaque at Old Trafford,{{sfn|Connor|2007|p=5}} and there is also a memorial stone in Munich, near the site of the crash.{{sfn|Ganley|2023}} The neglected state of his grave has been a regular press story; in 1988 the Manchester Evening News ran a story, in which Bent's widow said she could not afford to maintain the grave.{{sfn|Mulchrone, 4 February 1988}} Similar stories appeared in 2005 and 2015; in each instance Manchester United said they would look to provide regular maintenance.{{sfn|Manchester Evening News, 22 June 2005}}{{sfn|Keeling, 2 September 2015}}

Career statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{cite web |url=https://www.enfa.co.uk/ |title=Player Details: Geoff Bent |website=English National Football Archive |access-date=5 August 2023 |url-access=subscription}}

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|FA Cup

!colspan="2"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="3"|Manchester United

|1954–55

|First Division

|2

000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—20
1955–56

|First Division

|4

000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—40
1956–57

|First Division

|6

000000060
colspan="3"|Career total

!12||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||12||0

Notes, citations and sources

=Notes=

{{notelist}}

=Citations=

{{reflist}}

=Sources=

==Books==

  • {{cite book |last=Connor |first=Jeff |title=The Lost Babes |publisher=HarperSport |location=London |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-00-720808-1}}
  • {{cite book |last=Connor |first=Jeff |title=Busby's Last Crusade. From Munich to Wembley: A Pictorial History |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Birlinn |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-909715-89-9}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Richard |last2=Russell |first2=Dave |last3=Vamplew |first3=Wray |url={{Google books|JKbb02bg6zYC|plainurl=yes}} |title=Encyclopedia of British Football |publisher=Frank Cass |location=London; Portland, Oregon |year=2002 |isbn=9780714652498 |via=Google Books}}
  • {{cite book |last=Hall |first=David |url={{Google books|TKMZDRwBYp8C|plainurl=yes}} |title=Manchester's Finest, How the Munich Air Disaster Broke the Heart of a Great City |location=London |publisher=Transworld Publishers |year=2009 |isbn=9781407033433 |via=Google Books}}
  • {{cite book |last=Morrin |first=Stephen |url={{Google books|-HibBQAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes}} |title=The Munich Air Disaster – The True Story Behind the Fatal 1958 Crash |location=Dublin |publisher=Gill Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7146-5249-8 |via=Google Books}}
  • {{cite book |last=Porter |first=Dilwyn |chapter=Amateur Football in England, 1948–63: The Pegasus Phenomenon |pages=1–30 |editor1-last=Smith |editor1-first=Adrian |editor2-last=Dilwyn |editor2-first=Dilwyn |url={{Google books|m2Xeoz9oZqwC|plainurl=yes}} |title=Amateurs and Professionals in Post-War British Sport |publisher=Frank Cass |location=London; Portland, Oregon |year=2000 |isbn=0-7146-5086-2 |via=Google Books}}
  • {{cite book |last=Roberts |first=John |year=2012 |title=The Team That Wouldn't Die: The Story of the Busby Babes |location=London |publisher=Aurum Press |isbn=978-1-84513-858-5 |type=Kindle ebook}}
  • {{cite book |editor1-first=Jillian |editor1-last=Somerscales |editor2-first=Deborah |editor2-last=Murrell |editor3-first=Louise |editor3-last=Pritchard |title=The Official Manchester United Illustrated Encyclopedia |location=London |publisher=Manchester United Books |year=1998 |isbn=0-233-99155-7 |ref={{sfnref|Somerscales et al.|1998}}}}

==Newspapers==

  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122072464/geoff-bent-debut/ |title=United pick new boy: Revie back |work=Manchester Evening News |date=10 December 1954 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Manchester Evening News, 10 December 1954}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122096729/obituary-for-geoffrey-bent/ |title=Deaths; Bent |work=Manchester Evening News |date=10 February 1958 |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Manchester Evening News, 10 February 1958}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122073303/bent-second-appearance/ |last=Jackson |first=Tom |title=A 'bonus' bid by United |work=Manchester Evening News |date=2 April 1955 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Jackson, 2 April 1955}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122074162/manchester-evening-news/ |last=Trickett |first=John |title=Taylor soon stems the Luton tide |work=Manchester Evening News |date=1 October 1955 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Trickett, 1 October 1955}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122074371/manchester-evening-news/ |last=Thornton |first=Eric |title=United test Charlton under Bury lights |work=Manchester Evening News |date=4 October 1955 |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Thornton, 4 October 1955}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122074475/manchester-evening-news/ |last=Jackson |first=Tom |title=Edwards, Viollet back in United side |work=Manchester Evening News |date=21 October 1955 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Jackson, 21 October 1955}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122187753/manchester-evening-news/ |last=Jackson |first=Tom |title=Wood fit again: Berry doubt |work=Manchester Evening News |date=24 October 1955 |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Jackson, 24 October 1955}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122157723/byrne-youngsters/ |last=Byrne |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Byrne |title=United the tops—but no first team man sure of a place |work=Manchester Evening News |date=1 November 1955 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Byrne, 1 November 1955}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122187769/reserve-talent/ |last=Joy |first=Bernard |title=Why players miss 'golden' chances |work=London Evening Standard |date=31 August 1957 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Joy, 31 August 1957}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122158106/foulkes-munich-memories/ |last=Foulkes |first=Bill |author-link=Bill Foulkes |title=My pals who died at Munich |work=Reading Evening Post |date=5 February 1968 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Foulkes, 5 February 1968}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122188084/manchester-evening-news/ |last=Mulchrone |first=Patrick |title=Shame of a Babe's memory |work=Manchester Evening News |date=4 February 1988 |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnref|Mulchrone, 4 February 1988}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/forgotten-grave-of-a-busby-babe-1117636 |title=Forgotten grave of a Busby Babe |work=Manchester Evening News |date=22 June 2005 |ref={{sfnref|Manchester Evening News, 22 June 2005}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/criminals-clean-up-neglected-grave-9976966 |last=Keeling |first=Neal |title=Criminals clean up neglected grave of Busby Babe Geoff Bent killed in Munich Air Disaster |work=Manchester Evening News |date=2 September 2015 |ref={{sfnref|Keeling, 2 September 2015}}}}

==Online==

  • {{cite odnb |id=70631 |title=Busby Babes |last=Crick |first=Michael |year=2017}}
  • {{cite web |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/the-story-behind-man-utd-fan-group-the-manchester-munich-memorial-foundation |title=The Story of the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation |last=Ganley |first=Joe |publisher=Manchester United |date=8 February 2023 |access-date=3 April 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403082059/https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/the-story-behind-man-utd-fan-group-the-manchester-munich-memorial-foundation |archive-date=3 April 2023 |url-status=live}}
  • {{cite web |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/history/munich-remembered/the-men-we-lost/geoff-bent |title=Geoff Bent |publisher=Manchester United |access-date=1 April 2023 |ref={{sfnref|Manchester United website}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401104743/https://www.manutd.com/en/history/munich-remembered/the-men-we-lost/geoff-bent |archive-date=1 April 2023 |url-status=live}}
  • {{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2008/01/17/060208_munich_timeline_feature.shtml |title=The Munich air disaster: a timeline |publisher=BBC |date=24 September 2014 |access-date=1 April 2023 |ref={{sfnref|BBC 2014}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523064413/https://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2008/01/17/060208_munich_timeline_feature.shtml |archive-date=23 May 2023 |url-status=live}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/forgotten-grave-of-a-busby-babe-1117636 Forgotten Grave of a Busby Babe]

{{Munich air disaster}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bent, Geoff}}

Category:1932 births

Category:1958 deaths

Category:Footballers from Salford

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Men's association football fullbacks

Category:Manchester United F.C. players

Category:English Football League players

Category:Footballers killed in the Munich air disaster

Category:20th-century English sportsmen