The Salford secret that turns schoolkids into football stars

In front of 35,000 fans at Old Trafford a 14-year-old boy walked out to captain Salford in the national schools football final second leg against Leicester. The year was 1947 and the lad was Geoff Bent.

Consent had been required from Geoff's parents and two doctors for him to play as he was carrying an injury. The first leg at Filbert Street had finished 0-0. Salford won the second game 2-0 in extra time.

Although the ground was still officially closed because of bomb damage caused by the Luftwaffe, Stretford Police gave special permission for its use.

It was the first time the city lifted the school's trophy. The players were treated like local celebrities - people asked for their autographs and they were introduced to audiences at cinemas around the city. According to a history of the Salford Schools FA they had numerous invitations to take the trophy to hospitals and schools.

The players were allowed to keep their final jerseys. Goalkeeper Arthur Evans was chosen to represent England against Ireland in 1947 and again in 48.

The year after the final Geoff Bent signed for Manchester United. A decade later, tragically, on February 6th 1958, aged 25 he was killed in the Munich Air Disaster. Another, younger former Salford Schools team star died alongside him - Eddie Colman, aged 22.

In 1989 the veterans of the 1947 team, poignantly missing their captain, were reunited on the pitch at Old Trafford. The occasion was a Salford Schools team, which included Ryan Giggs, facing St Helens in the national final, which they lost 2-1.

It would be 2000 before a Salford team won the trophy for the second time.

But now three Salford Schools teams have each won a trophy in one weekend at the national FA finals. The feat proves what