The Munich Air Disaster in February 1958 decimated the Manchester United Football Club killing 23 people of whom, were eight first team players including two Salford lads, Eddie Colman aged 21 and Geoff Bent aged 25. Salford was and still is a mainly Manchester United stronghold and this tragedy made the connection even stronger and one story speaks volumes about the love felt in Salford for the team and the boys who died so young. The regulars of The Rose & Crown pub on Broad Street, Pendleton had a whip round and purchased a magnificent solid silver trophy and called it the Geoff Bent and Eddie Colman Memorial Cup. This trophy was played for each year with Salford schoolboy teams competing in a knock out competition with the inaugural winners being Broughton Secondary Modern in 1959 and this competition for the trophy carried on until 1997 when the winners were Joseph Eastham school. With the closure of so many schools and amalgamations, Salford Schoolboys Football Association took the decision to present the trophy to the Manchester United Museum for both display and safe keeping and a new trophy was played for. However, Lol Duffy the Secretary of the City of Salford Schools Football Association and John Peters the Chairmen were surprised to hear from Manchester United telling them that there was now, no room for the trophy at the club this after being there for some 20 years and more. They are now looking into both the history of the trophy and memories of boys who have competed for this cup and any photographs etc. A final conundrum is where to display the trophy, sadly their clubhouse in Broughton isn't a safe venue and has been sadly vandalised several times, The Football Museum in Manchester has been mentioned but personally I think it should stay in Salford with it's obvious strong Salford connections. Perhaps the Civic Center in Swinton? Salford Museum would most likely accept it but there is no guarantee of it being on permanent display...surely it has to stay in Salford in a location that is both safe and in public view. Please if you have any memories of this trophy or suggestions where you think it should be displayed please contact me at newsdesk@salford.media and I will pass onto Lol and John.
