It doesn’t feel possible that it’s three years since George Best died on the 25th November, 2005.
His funeral was one of the most attended ever, in Northern Ireland, despite a lashing down of hard rain all day. Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of Belfast to say goodbye to their favourite son and millions more watched on television throughout the world.
I’m sure he would be proud to now find the international airport named after him – The George Best Belfast City Airport, which was given its new name on what would have been his 60th birthday, on 22nd May 2006.
In March 2006, airline Flybe, named a Dash 8 (Q400) plane The George Best. The aircraft was later used to carry Best’s family across to the Manchester memorial service for Manchester’s favourite son.
On the first anniversary of his death, Ulster Bank issued one million commemorative five pound notes. The notes sold out in five days. I have one and no; I won’t sell it.
At Old Trafford they still sing his name; true praise that he’ll never be forgotten, but was he the best player in the world, ever? He was obviously the best by a mile in England, during the late sixties, but he was not lucky enough to play on the world stage as his national team didn’t reach the world cup finals for him to show Pele, Maradona, Platini, Puskas, Beckenbauer, Zico, let alone Moore, Hurst and Peters - what he could do?
The Northern Ireland national football stadium is still waiting for the statue of the great man which may finally be ready in 2009.
I was lucky to see George Best allow England to gloat at Wembley on the occasion of Bobby Charlton’s 100th cap, until George reminded us he was there as well by taking on the entire England defence, including Bobby Moore and Gordon Banks; and scored a terrific goal.
Was Best the Best? Pele says so and that’s good enough for me.
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