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Geoffrey BentEnglish footballer, full back
Date of Birth: 27.09.1932
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Jeff Bent
Jeff Bent was an English footballer who played as a full-back. He was one of the eight Manchester United players who were killed in the Munich Air Disaster on February 6, 1958.
Early Life and Career
Jeff Bent was born in Salford, Lancashire. He joined Manchester United in the summer of 1948 after leaving school. He played for the club's youth and reserve teams for several seasons before signing a professional contract with United in 1951. Bent was a talented defender, but he faced strong competition for a place in the first team. He made only 12 appearances for United in league matches, often deputizing for Roger Byrne at left-back or Bill Foulkes at right-back in the event of injuries.
Munich Air Disaster
In the 1957/58 season, Bent did not make any appearances for the first team. He only traveled to Belgrade as a replacement for Roger Byrne, whose participation in the European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade was in doubt due to an injury. However, Byrne ended up playing in the game. On February 6, 1958, the plane carrying the Manchester United players crashed on its third attempt to take off from Munich-Riem Airport. Bent was among the 23 people who were killed in the tragedy.
Legacy
Jeff Bent was buried at St. John's Cemetery on Bolton Road (A666), Pendlebury (just over the Salford/Swinton boundary into Pendlebury). Four months after Bent's death, his widow gave birth to a baby girl, who was named Karen. Jeff's widow, Marion, is still alive and took part in the 1998 documentary film "Munich: End of a Dream," which was made to mark the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.
