Early Days
George Best was born in East Belfast on 22nd May 1946. Even
from a young age his parents, Dickie and Anne, recognised George’s love
for football. His mother, reflecting on her son’s early life, passed the
comment “with George it was always the ball!”
He played for the local boys club in Cregagh. Even though his frame
was small it didn’t get in the way of displaying his enormous talent.
What did temporarily get in the way was George’s education. At 11 years
of age he won a scholarship to the local grammar school Grosvenor High
where, unfortunately for George, rugby was the only sport on the
curriculum. George was lost without his beloved football and began to
skip school. Inevitably he was caught out, with the result that both his
parents and the school decided that George would be better off going to
Lisnasharragh Secondary. Back with his old friends from primary school
and a ball once again at his feet George settled into his new school
straight away.
As a young teenager George’s exceptional talent came to the notice of
Glentoran – the local football team in East Belfast. But concerned
about his small frame they passed him by. Bob Bishop, the Manchester
United Scout in Belfast, did not. On seeing George play he knew he had
discovered something special and immediately sent a telegram to
Manchester United’s manager Matt Busby. The telegram simply read:
“I think I’ve found you a genius”
George was subsequently given a trial and signed up by chief scout Joe Armstrong in 1961.
Man Utd Years
In six magical seasons with United George scored 179 goals in 370 games – six in one game!
However initial homesickness nearly pulled the plug on his
flourishing career. Just 24 hours after arriving at Old Trafford George,
along with another young Northern Irish player Eric McMordie, decided
to flee back to their homes in Belfast. A telephone conversation between
George’s father and United’s manager Matt Busby sent him back to Old
Trafford within 2 weeks.
George turned professional in 1963 and made his Manchester United
debut against West Bromwich Albion on 14th September 1963. At the tender
age of 17 he ran his experienced Welsh opponent Graham Williams ragged.
It is said that, after the match, the hard man shook George’s hand and
delivered the line “Stand still son so I can have a look at your face.
I’ve been looking at your backside all day disappearing up the
touchline”.
Home sickness still plagued George and that Christmas he travelled
back to Belfast to spend time with his family. While in Belfast the club
made contact, wanting him to play for Saturday’s home game against
Burnley who had thrashed United on Boxing Day. The rather cheeky 17 year
old, with only one professional game under his belt, said that he would
play but only on the condition that they would fly him back to Belfast
immediately after the game. The club agreed. It was at that moment that
George knew he had made his mark. And it was in this match that the club
knew they had not made a mistake giving in to George’s demands. United
overturned their humiliating defeat and George scored his first goal.
As the newest ‘Busby Babe’ George soon became the driving force in
the United team and the catalyst that would overcome the terrible
memories of the Munich air crash in 1958 in which 8 of the Busby Babes
died.
Along with Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton, George formed probably the
greatest football trio of all time. The special mix helped United win
two first division championships and the coveted European Cup.
George had become the first show-business footballer, receiving more
than 1,000 fan mail letters a week. The shops, modelling assignments and
personal appearances aspect of George’s career was booming. However for
a modest lad from Belfast it was also overwhelming and it temporarily
took its toll on his football career.
But true to form George came back with a corker in the European cup,
scoring twice against Helsinki. A clash with the mighty Benfica in the
quarter finals saw United in one of their best performances – and George
in probably his best match! With just 12 minutes gone and against Matt
Busby’s instructions to “keep it tight”, George had scored twice – once
with a header, and the second a moment of pure magic as he beat 3
opponents before shooting past the goalkeeper. The final score was 5-1
and George returned home, sombrero on head, with the title ‘El Beatle’.
His official entry into super stardom was born.
George lit up United at home and abroad and in 1968 they had another
crack at the European Cup. Ironically their opponents were once again
Benfica. That night George Best made Matt Busby’s dream come true. With
time running out he took control of the game, receiving the ball with
his back to the goal, drifting past his marker, ghosting past the
goalkeeper and casually rolling the ball into the empty net. George was
voted European Player of the Year.
Sadly however George had reached his pinnacle with the team. He began
to drift and after Matt Busby retired each of the new managers failed
to control the wayward player. As Sir Matt Busby famously once said of
George:
“Let him alone. Don’t try to coach him, the boy is special”
Seeing United beaten by teams they used to hammer a few years ago was
painful and his love for football slowly diminished. He began to drink
more with the result that his training suffered and his appearances
became less. But they were still magical days with George returning from
suspension in 1970 to score 6 out of 8 goals against Northampton.
By the end of the 1974 season his days at Manchester United were over. He was only 26.
Northern Ireland Years
In 1963, at the age of 16, George made his debut for Northern Ireland playing for their under 18 youth team.
Just days before his 17th birthday he played his first full
international against England. The manager at the time was Norman
Kerrigan who, after seeing George with his scrawny frame and Beatle
haircut, remarked “He’s like something I’d clean my mouthpiece with.”
But George got stronger and quickly established a reputation for being one of the best trainers in the club.
In 1964, George, in a match against Wales, shared a room with
renowned goalkeeper Pat Jennings. In stature the pair couldn’t have been
more different but what they did have in common was the ability to make
the game look easy. They would on to share rooms during most
international games, giving Pat a unique insight into George’s
abilities.
Pat Jennings, referring to George in later years, said:
“He was the finest player I ever played with or against. I
treasure my memories of him even though on occasions he made me look
rather foolish”
In 13 years George only played 37 times for his own country, scoring 9
goals. But every time he put on the green jersey he electrified the
crowd with his performances. Never more so than the day he practically
defeated Scotland on his own on 21st October 1967 at Windsor Park .
As one of those mesmerised by the match, award winning sports journalist Malcolm Brodie wrote:
“Without doubt it was the finest individual performance by any player to grace Windsor Park”
To this day it is remembered as ‘The George Best International’.
George was the ultimate genius. Remember him for his goals, incomparable artistry and the joy he gave to millions.
Later Years
George once said of himself “I was born with a great gift, and sometimes that comes with a destructive streak”.
This destructive streak manifested itself early on in George’s
career. With his good looks, impeccable style and women falling at his
feet, his pop star lifestyle quickly overtook his career as a
footballer. But ultimately the alcohol and wild nights spent partying
would shorten his career and lead to severe health problems later on.
After leaving Manchester United in 1974 he turned out for a number of
clubs and enjoyed a productive period in the USA. Although not as fit
as he was in his prime his incredible skills were still undisputed.
In late 1976 he returned to England and along with Bobby Moore turned
out for Fulham, playing 42 games in two seasons and scoring eight
goals.
In 1979 he made a scoring debut for Hibernian. At the time the club
was lucky to attract 8,000 to the gates but on the day George made his
debut, over 20,000 fans turned up – just to say years later, “I was
there!”
The humour that followed George throughout his career continued at
Hibs. In a game against Rangers George was constantly abused by the
visiting fans who at one point threw a few beer cans in his direction.
When he went to take a corner, George simply picked a can up and seemed
to take a drink from it. The abuse stopped to be replaced by laughter at
both ends of the stadium.
His last game for Hibernian was a 2-0 win against Falkirk after which
he returned to the United States and the San Jose Earthquakes.
In 1983 George finally ended his football career with Bournemouth,
although he did go on to play in numerous charity and friendly matches.
In the 1990’s he established himself as a successful sports commentator with Sky Sports and a popular after dinner speaker.
In December 2001 he received an honourary doctorate from Queens
University and in April 2002, Freedom of the Borough of Castlereagh.
During this time George’s health took a turn for the worst, as years
of heavy drinking finally resulted in severe liver damage. A liver
transplant in 2002 gave new hope but its success was to be short lived.
Once again personal problems drove George back to the bottle and this
time he was unable to beat it.
On 1st October, 2005, George entered the Cromwell hospital in London
with flu-like symptoms. Over the next weeks, his condition deteriorated
and on 25th November, surrounded by his close family and friends, he
lost his battle for life.
In keeping with his wishes, George came home to Belfast for the very
last time and was buried beside his mother in Roselawn cemetery. One
hundred thousand people lined the streets and the grounds of Stormont to
say a fond farewell to their greatest local sporting hero and millions
more around the world watched as a legend was laid to rest.
In the years and months leading up to his death, George was
passionate about raising funds for liver research. Alcohol addiction was
something that he himself could not conquer but he was determined that
he would do all he could to prevent others from following the same path.
Through the Foundation, set up in his name, his wishes can now be
fulfilled. As George, reflecting on his own liver transplant and on
pledging his support to raise funds, said “This is one way to say thank
you to everybody.”
Greg Dyke, former BBC Director once said of George; Forget about the
rest of his life. He was the most wonderful player. He could do things
that no one else could do.
“He was a talent that comes once in a century”
fans throng the streets of Belfast ,Northern Ireland to celebrate the life an times of a son who brought joy to their faces through sports as they mourn him in death in 2005