George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish professional footballer who played as a winger for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. In 1968 he won the European Cup with United, and was named the European Footballer of the Year and Football Writers' Association Player of the Year. He is described by the national team's governing body, the Irish Football Association, as the "greatest player to ever pull on the green shirt of Northern Ireland".[1]
Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Best began his club career in England with Manchester United, who had spotted his talent at the age of 15. He went on to see success with United scoring 179 goals from 470 appearances over 11 years. His playing style combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders.[2] Best unexpectedly quit United relatively early in 1974 at age 27, but returned to football for a number of clubs around the world in short spells, until finally retiring in 1983, age 37. In international football, he was an automatic choice when fit, being capped 37 times and scoring nine goals from 1964 to 1977, although the team's performance never allowed his talent to be displayed in the finals of a European Championship or World Cup.
Such was Best's talent and charisma that he became one of the first celebrity footballers, but his subsequent extravagant lifestyle led to various problems, most notably alcoholism which he suffered from for the rest of his adult life. These problems affected him on and off the field throughout his career, at times causing controversy.[3] He often said of his career that "I spent 90% of my money on women, drink and fast cars. The rest I wasted".[4] After football he spent some time as a pundit, but his financial and health problems continued into his retirement.[3] He died in 2005 age 59, due to complications from the immunosuppressant drugs he needed to take after being controversially granted an NHS liver transplant in 2002.[5][6] Best was married twice, to two former models, Angie Best and then Alex Best. His son Calum Best was born in 1981 from his first marriage.
Prior to his death, Best was voted 16th in the IFFHS World Player of the Century election in 1999 and was one of the inaugural 22 inductees into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002; in 2004 he was also voted 19th in the public UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll and named by Pelé as one of the 125 best living footballers in the world.[7] After his death, on what would have been his 60th birthday, Belfast City Airport was renamed the George Best Belfast City Airport as a "fitting and permanent tribute to his footballing brilliance." According to the BBC, Best was remembered by mourners at his public funeral held in Belfast as "the beautiful boy" [with a] "beautiful game".[8]
George Best was the first child of Dickie Best (1919–2008) and Anne Best (née Withers) (1922–1978), and grew up in Cregagh, Belfast. He was brought up in the Free Presbyterian faith.[9] Dickie Best was a member of the Orange Order and the young George Best carried the strings of the banner in his local Cregagh lodge. In his autobiography, Best mentioned how important the order was to his family.[10] Best had four sisters, Carol, Barbara, Julie and Grace, and a brother, Ian. Best's father Dickie died on 16 April 2008, at the age of 88, in the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, Northern Ireland. He had been admitted to hospital four weeks earlier.[11] Best's mother Anne died from alcoholism-related heart disease[12] in 1978, aged 55.
In 1957, at the age of 11, the academically gifted Best passed the 11 plus and went to Grosvenor High School, but he soon played truant as the school specialised in rugby. Best then moved to Lisnasharragh Secondary School, reuniting him with friends from primary school and allowing him to focus on football.
At the age of 15, Best was discovered in Belfast by Manchester United scout Bob Bishop, whose telegram to United manager Matt Busby read: "I think I've found you a genius."[13][14] His local club Glentoran had previously rejected him for being "too small and light".[15] Best was subsequently given a trial and signed up by chief scout Joe Armstrong. His first time moving to the club, Best quickly became homesick and stayed for only two days before going back home to Northern Ireland.[16]
Best made his Manchester United debut, aged 17, on 14 September 1963 against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford in a 1–0 victory. He was too young to contend for a first-team place for much of the first half of the season. His second appearance came on 28 December against Burnley. This First Division match saw Best's first goal for United in a 5–1 win. Matt Busby used Best much more after the New Year and by the end of the season, Best had made 26 appearances, scoring six goals. Manchester United finished second, four points behind Liverpool.
In his second season, Best and Manchester United claimed the league title.
Best hit the headlines at the age of twenty when he scored two goals in a European Cup quarter-final match against Benfica in 1966. The Portuguese media dubbed him "O Quinto Beatle", "the fifth Beatle" in English. His talent and showmanship made him a crowd and media favourite. Known for his long hair, good looks and extravagant celebrity lifestyle, Best appeared on Top of the Pops in 1965.[17] Other nicknames included the "Belfast Boy" and he was often referred to as Georgie, or Geordie in his native Belfast.[18]
The 1966–67 season was again successful, as Manchester United claimed the league title by four points. The following season, Best became a European Cup winner after scoring in the final against Benfica. United won 4–1 and Best was later crowned European Footballer of the Year and Football Writers' Association Player of the Year. After this, his steady decline began.
Best opened two nightclubs in Manchester, in the late 1960s, Oscar's and the other called Slack Alice's (which later became 42nd Street Nightclub). He also owned fashion boutiques, in partnership with Mike Summerbee of Manchester City. He developed problems with gambling, womanising and alcoholism.
Best played at United when shirt numbers were assigned to positions, in the traditional English way, and not the player. When Best played at right wing, as he famously did during the later stages of the 1966 and 1968 European Cups, he donned the number 7. As a left winger, where he played exclusively in his debut season and nearly all of the 1971–72, he wore the number 11. Best wore the number 8 shirt at inside right on occasion throughout the 1960s, but for more than half of his matches during 1970–71. He was playing at inside left (wearing the number 10) in 1972 when he famously walked out on United the first time but was back in the number 11 for the autumn of 1973 before leaving for good. Best even wore the number 9 jersey once for United, with Bobby Charlton injured, on 22 March 1969 at Old Trafford, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.[19]
In 1974, aged 27, Best quit United for good. His last competitive game for the club was on 1 January 1974 against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, which United lost 3-0.[20]
In total Best made 470 appearances for Manchester United in all competitions from 1963 to 1974, and scored 179 goals (including six in one game against fourth division Northampton Town — an extraordinary feat that in 2002 the British public voted #26 in the list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments).[21]The last of his goals for United was in a 3-2 home league defeat to Coventry City on 15 December 1973.[22]He was the club's top scorer for six consecutive seasons, and was the First Division's top scorer in the 1967–68 season. Over the next decade he went into an increasingly rapid decline, drifting between several clubs, including spells in South Africa, Ireland, United States, Scotland, and Australia.
Playing only five competitive matches for Jewish Guild in South Africa, Best endured criticism for missing several training sessions. During his short time there, he was the main draw attracting thousands of spectators to the matches.[23]
Best had a brief spell at Cork Celtic in December 1975. He played only three league games, against Drogheda United, Bohemians and Shelbourne, but despite attracting big crowds he failed to score or impress. Being on a rolling contract with Cork his failure to show for a game saw him being dropped and subsequently leaving the club.[24]
Best had a brief resurgence in form with Fulham in 1976–77, showing that, although he had lost some of his pace, he retained his skills. His time with the Cottagers is particularly remembered for a second division match against Hereford United on 25 September 1976 in which he tackled his own teammate, and old drinking mate, Rodney Marsh. Best stated later in life that he enjoyed his time most while at Fulham, despite not winning any honours.
Best played for three clubs in the United States: Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and later San Jose Earthquakes; he also played for the Detroit Express on a European tour. Best revelled in the anonymity the United States afforded him after England and was a success on the field, too, scoring 15 goals in 24 games in his first season with the Aztecs and named as the NASL's best midfielder in his second.[25] He and manager Ken Adam opened "Bestie's Beach Club" (now called "The Underground" after the London subway system) in Hermosa Beach, California in the 1970s, and continued to operate it until the 1990s.
Best caused a stir when he returned to the UK to play for the Scottish club Hibernian.[26] Hibs, who were suffering a decline in fortunes and were heading for relegation from the Premier Division,[26] signed Best on a "pay per play" basis after the club chairman, Tom Hart, received a tip-off from an Edinburgh Evening News reporter that he was available.[26][27] Even though Best failed to save Hibs from relegation, gates increased dramatically, as Hibs' attendance quadrupled for his first match at Easter Road.[26] One infamous incident saw Best initially sacked by Hibs after he went on a massive drinking session with the French rugby team, who were in Edinburgh to play Scotland.[27] He was brought back a week later.
Best returned to the USA to play for San Jose Earthquakes in what was officially described as a "loan", though he only managed a handful of appearances for Hibs in the First Division in the following season.[27] He returned one last time to Easter Road in 1984, for Jackie McNamara's testimonial match against Newcastle.[26] In his third season in the States, Best scored only once in 12 appearances. His moves to Fort Lauderdale and San Jose were also unhappy, as his off-field demons began to take control of his life again. After failing to agree terms with Bolton Wanderers in 1981, he was invited as a guest player and played three matches for two Hong Kong First Division teams (Sea Bee and Rangers) in 1982.[28]
In late 1982, Bournemouth manager Don Megson signed the 36-year-old Best for the Football League Third Division side, and he remained there until the end of the season, when he finally retired from football at the age of 37. The following season Malcolm Allison apparently persuaded him to sign for Middlesbrough but he never made a League appearance for them.[citation needed]
Best played in a friendly for Newry Town against Shamrock Rovers in August 1983 [29] before ending his professional career exactly 20 years after joining Manchester United with a brief four-match stint playing for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian National Soccer League during the 1983 season.[30]
He also was a guest player for an exhibition match between Dee Why Football Club and Manly Warringah held on 27 July 1983. Dee Why won the match 2-1, with Best having scored the winning goal. www.dyfc.com.au [31][32]
On 8 August 1988, a testimonial match was held for Best at Windsor Park. Among the crowd were Sir Matt Busby and Bob Bishop, the scout who discovered Best, while those playing included Ossie Ardiles, Pat Jennings and Liam Brady. Best scored twice, one goal from outside the box, the other from the penalty spot.
He was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland, scoring nine goals. Of his nine international goals four were scored against Cyprus and one each against Albania, England, Scotland, Switzerland and Turkey.
On 15 May 1971, Best scored possibly the most famous "goal" of his career at Windsor Park in Belfast against England.[33] As Gordon Banks, the English goalkeeper, released the ball in the air in order to kick the ball downfield, Best managed to kick the ball first, which sent the ball high over their heads and heading towards the open goal.[33] Best outpaced Banks and headed the ball into the empty goal, but the goal was disallowed by referee Alistair Mackenzie.[33]
Best continued to be selected for Northern Ireland throughout the 1970s, despite his fluctuating form and off pitch problems. There were still glimpses of his genius; in 1976, Northern Ireland were drawn against the Netherlands in Rotterdam as one of their 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. The Netherlands, who were runners-up in the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, and their star player, Johan Cruyff, were at their peak at the time. Five minutes into the game Best received the ball wide on the left. Instead of heading towards goal he turned directly infield, weaved his way past at least three Dutchmen and found his way to Cruyff who was wide right. Best took the ball to his opponent, dipped a shoulder twice and slipped it between Cruyff's feet – nutmegging arguably the best player in the world at that time.[34]
Best was considered briefly by manager Billy Bingham for the 1982 World Cup, but at the age of 36 and his football skills dulled by age and drink, he was not selected in the Northern Ireland squad.
Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.
- Manchester United
1Includes other competitive competitions, including Charity Shield and the Intercontinental Cup.
[35]
| Northern Ireland national team |
| Year |
Apps |
Goals |
| 1964 |
6 |
2 |
| 1965 |
6 |
1 |
| 1966 |
1 |
0 |
| 1967 |
1 |
0 |
| 1968 |
1 |
1 |
| 1969 |
4 |
0 |
| 1970 |
4 |
1 |
| 1971 |
6 |
4 |
| 1972 |
2 |
0 |
| 1973 |
1 |
0 |
| 1974 |
0 |
0 |
| 1975 |
0 |
0 |
| 1976 |
2 |
0 |
| 1977 |
3 |
0 |
| Total |
37 |
9 |
In the late 1980s, Best narrated Streaker, a documentary on the streaking phenomenon, discussing the careers of people such as Erica Roe and Sheila Nicholls.
In 1998, Best became a football pundit on the Sky Sports live show Soccer Saturday. His last appearance on the show was in 2004.
In November 2004, 58-year-old Best agreed to join Premier League club Portsmouth as a youth coach, citing his desire to get involved in football again.
Best was married twice, first to Angela MacDonald-Janes. They married on 24 January 1978 at Candlelight Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, having met in the States when Best was playing for the Los Angeles Aztecs. Their son Calum was born in 1981 but they separated the following year and divorced in 1986.[36]
He married Alex Pursey in 1995 in Kensington and Chelsea, London.[37] They divorced in 2004; they had no children. He is reported to have had two daughters by other women.[38] His niece by marriage is actress Samantha Janus, who is the daughter of Angie MacDonald-Janes' brother.[39]
In 2004, his second wife Alex Best appeared as a contestant on the reality television programme I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and alleged that Best was violent towards her during their marriage.[40][citation needed] This issue was, in fact, covered in Best's authorised 1998 biography "Bestie" in which Alex claimed that Best punched her in the face on more than one occasion,[41] something which Best never denied. Earlier in the book it is revealed that George struck another of his girlfriends, Mary, at least once and was arrested and charged with assault on a waitress, Stevie Sloniecka, in November 1972, when he fractured her nose in Reuben's nightclub, Manchester.[41] He was successfully defended when the case reached court in January 1973 by barrister George Carman QC, a close drinking companion of Best, as acknowledged in his book, Scoring at Half Time.
Frank Evans, a former business partner of Best, claimed in his 2009 book, The Last British Bullfighter, that Carman offered a Manchester gangster "pots of cash" in 1973 to break Best's legs when he discovered that Best had been having an affair with his second wife, Celia. Carman's offer was rejected with the following warning by the gangster: "I don't sort out domestic disputes and I'm not going to harm George [Best]. So you can take your money and go somewhere else. But I'll tell you this – if any harm comes to George I'll know who did it and I'll come after you."[42]
Best suffered from alcoholism for most of his adult life, leading to numerous controversies and, eventually, his death.[6]
In 1981, while playing in the United States, Best stole money from the handbag of a woman he did not know in order to fund a drinking session. "We were sitting in a bar on the beach, and when she got up to go to the toilet I leaned over and took all the money she had in her bag."[41]
In 1984, Best received a three-month prison sentence for drunk driving, assaulting a police officer and failing to answer bail. He spent Christmas of 1984 behind bars and turned out as a player for Ford Open Prison.
In September 1990, Best appeared on an edition of primetime BBC chat show Wogan in which he was heavily drunk and swore, at one point saying to the host, "Terry, I like screwing".[43] He later apologised and said this was one of the worst episodes of his alcoholism.
Best was diagnosed with severe liver damage in March 2000.[5] In August 2002, he had a successful liver transplant at King's College Hospital in London.[5] The transplant was performed at public expense on the NHS, a decision which was controversial due to Best's alcoholism.[44] The controversy was reignited in 2003 when he was spotted openly drinking white wine spritzers.[6]
On 2 February 2004, Best was convicted of another drunk driving offence and banned from driving for 20 months.
In his book The Doc's Devils: Manchester United 1972-1977, author Sean Egan wrote that Best’s “excruciating shyness” was something “surprisingly few posited as a cause of his alcoholism.”
Graffiti honouring Best like this one in the
New Lodge area appeared all over Belfast after his death.
Best continued to drink, and was sometimes seen at his local pub in Surbiton, Greater London. On 3 October 2005 Best was admitted to intensive care at the private Cromwell Hospital in London, suffering from a kidney infection caused by the side effects of immuno-suppressive drugs used to prevent his body from rejecting his transplanted liver.[5] On 27 October, newspapers stated that Best was close to death and had sent a farewell message to his loved ones. Best's condition improved at first, but deteriorated again in November. On 20 November the British tabloid News of the World published a picture of Best at his own request, showing him in his hospital bed, along with what was reported to be his final message: "Don't die like me".
Best's "farewell" message was seen as a way of warning others not to risk suffering a similar fate as a result of alcoholism.
In the early hours of 25 November 2005 treatment was stopped; he eventually died, aged 59, after a battle that lasted longer than doctors had expected, at 13:06 GMT that day as a result of a lung infection and multiple organ failure.[5][45]
The FA Premier League announced that a minute's silence would be observed before all Premier League games to be held over the weekend of his death; this was ignored at many grounds, in favour of a minute's applause in his honour. The first match at Old Trafford after Best's death was a League Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion, the club against which he made his début for Manchester United in 1963. The match, which United won, was preceded by tributes from former team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton. Best's son Calum and former team-mates, surviving members from the West Bromwich Albion team which he played against in his début, all joined the current United squad on the pitch for a minute's silence, during which fans held aloft pictures of Best, which were given out before the match.
Best Family Grave, Roselawn Crematorium and Cemetery, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 331615
His body left the family home at Cregagh Road, East Belfast, shortly after 10 a.m. UTC on Saturday, 3 December 2005. The cortege then travelled the short distance to Stormont. The route was lined with around 100,000 mourners. There was an 11 a.m. service in the Grand Hall relayed to around 25,000 mourners inside the grounds of Stormont. As the cortege left Stormont, the Gilnahirk pipe band played. The Funeral was live on several TV stations including BBC One. Afterward, Best was buried beside his mother Annie Elizabeth Kelly in a private ceremony at the hill-top Roselawn Cemetery, overlooking east Belfast.
Belfast City Airport was renamed George Best Belfast City Airport as a tribute to Best.[46] The official new name and signage was unveiled to a gathering of the Best family and friends at the airport on 22 May 2006 which would have been his 60th birthday.
Public opinion in Northern Ireland about the renaming of the airport was divided, with one poll showing 52% in favour and 48% against.[47] Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) deputy leader and East Belfast Member of Parliament Peter Robinson, in whose constituency Belfast City airport is situated, stated that his preference was a sports stadium be named after Best.[48] The move generated negative comments beyond Northern Ireland.[49]
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 Best.[50]
In June 2006, Sarah Fabergé, great-granddaughter of Russian Imperial Jeweller Carl Fabergé was commissioned to create the George Best Egg, in tribute. A strictly limited edition of 68 eggs were produced, with all profits from the sale of the eggs going to the George Best Foundation. The first egg from the collection is now on permanent public display at the George Best Airport.
For the first anniversary of his death, Ulster Bank issued one million commemorative five pound notes.[51] The notes sold out in five days.[52] The notes sold on the online auction site eBay for up to £30.[53]
Current plans for a new national stadium for Northern Ireland near Lisburn include a proposed statue of Best as one of several celebrating sporting heroes from the country. These statues would surround the main sporting arena and Best would be joined by rugby player Willie John McBride, Gaelic Football player Cormac McAnallen, Olympic gold medalist Mary Peters, Grand National winner Richard Dunwoody, Grand Prix driver Eddie Irvine, Motor cycle World champion Joey Dunlop and snooker world champion Alex Higgins.
In December 2006 the George Best Memorial Trust launched a fund-raising drive to raise £200,000 in subscriptions to pay for a life-size bronze sculpture of George Best. By 2008 the money had still not been raised until a local developer, Doug Elliott, announced on 29 January 2008, that he would put up the rest of the money and would manage delivery of the project.[54]
George Best's autobiographies include:
- Bestie (co-written with Joe Lovejoy),
- The Good, The Bad and The Bubbly (with Ross Benson)
- Blessed: The Autobiography (with Roy Collins)
- George Best: A Celebration (Bernie Smith and Maureen Hunt)
- Scoring at Half Time (with Martin Knight).
- Hard Tackles and Dirty Baths
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, while at the peak of his career, Best advertised Cookstown Sausages on TV with the phrase "the Best family sausages". In 2007 a memorial plaque was placed outside the pork factory in the County Tyrone town.[55]
In the year 1970, German avantgarde film director Hellmuth Costard made a film entitled "Fußball wie noch nie", translated into English as "Football like never before". The film shows only Best, filmed from 8 cameras, during a regular Manchester United match. The film was screened in the year 1971 by German public broadcast ARD.
Best had a cameo as himself in the 1971 British comedy film Percy.
In 1972 he made a TV series 'The Best in Football' coaching soccer to children.
In 1984 Best made a fitness album with Mary Stavin called Shape Up and Dance.
A warts-and-all biopic simply entitled Best was released in the year 2000. The Mary McGuckian directed film starred John Lynch as George Best, Ian Bannen as Matt Busby, Roger Daltrey as Rodney Marsh, Linus Roache as Denis Law, and Jerome Flynn as Bobby Charlton. The film also featured Patsy Kensit and Sophie Dahl as Best's love interests. Best was released in UK cinemas on 12 May 2000, and was subsequently released on Region 2 PAL DVD on 27 January in the year 2003 by Mosaic Movies.
Indie rock band The Wedding Present named their first album after him. He is featured on the cover wearing his red Manchester United kit.
Best has been mentioned in numerous other songs, television shows and internet articles. It has been reported that George was the inspiration for Dedicated Follower of Fashion, by The Kinks, and most recently inspired the song Where Did It All Go Wrong Mr Best? on the 2008 album Bingo by Rinaldi Sings.
Leading the way in popular culture through the 1960s and early 1970s, as well as recognised worldwide, it is no surprise that the legacy left by George Best has ensured that items connected with him are now highly collectable. In January 2010, a previously unknown collection of Best memorabilia and photographs was discovered in a house in Worsley, Greater Manchester.[56]
In 2007, GQ named him as one of the 50 most stylish men of the past 50 years.[57]
- ^ http://www.irishfa.com/international/squad-profiles/profile/341/legends-of-the-game/george-best/]
- ^ John Roberts, "George Best was reliable only when there was a football at his feet", The Independent, 26 November 2005
- ^ a b Gordon Burn, "The Long Goodbye", The Guardian, 25 November 2005
- ^ May, John (25 November 2005). "The best and worst of a legend". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4312792.stm.
- ^ a b c d e "Football legend George Best dies". BBC News. 25 November 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4380332.stm. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ a b c Do alcoholics deserve liver transplants?
- ^ IFFHS' Century Elections
- ^ "A city mourns for the Belfast boy", BBC News Northern Ireland, 3 December 2005
- ^ Andrews, David L (2004). Newcastle United: a thematic study. Abingdon, Oxfordshire: Routledge. pp. 135. ISBN 0-415-33333-4. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ueYTmo5apM4C&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq=george+best+%22free+presbyterian%22&source=bl&ots=lo1rgavCBI&sig=pIakR6GNF3jl8jX5oHdbs4L1-XY&hl=en&ei=Me1dTtveCMHKhAfMn9X8Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CFAQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=george%20best%20%22free%20presbyterian%22&f=false.
- ^ George Best collarette in exhibition-GrandOrangeLodge.co.uk
- ^ George Best's Father, Dickie, Dies Aged 88, Sky News, 16 April 2008
- ^ George Best drama: an intrusive film that failed to tell the whole story
- ^ "George Best". Talk Football. http://www.talkfootball.co.uk/guides/football_legends_george_best.html. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
- ^ Stephen McGinty, "Best coming to the end of his life", The Scotsman, 25 November 2005
- ^ Anne Cadwallader, "Best too small and light for local club as teen", Tiscali News, 25 November 2005
- ^ "George Best Interview from 1972". Barnjournalen. 1972. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLbPmolooK8. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ^ The Rolling Stones – The Last Time (video clip)
- ^ Jim White, "Too many knew only the tabloid Best", Daily Telegraph, 28 November 2005
- ^ Players match by match – George Best
- ^ [1]
- ^ 100 Greatest sporting moments – results Channel 4
- ^ [2]
- ^ Raath, Peter (November 2007). "Our Blood Is Also Red-ish". Sports Illustrated (South Africa) (Touchline Media) (119): 107.
- ^ "Best's run with Cork among many regrets". The Irish Times. http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer/2005/1125/cork.htm.
- ^ Sean O'Conor, "Best's American Years", Yanks Abroad, 26 November 2005
- ^ a b c d e Wilson, Mike (9 March 2003). "Caught in Time: George Best joins Hibs, 1979". The Sunday Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1117695.ece. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ a b c Baker, Thomas (25 November 2005). "Best's time at Hibs a heady cocktail of scandal and skill". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). http://news.scotsman.com/georgebest/Bests-time-at-Hibs-a.2681526.jp. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ "George Best in Hong Kong" (video clip)
- ^ Irishtimes.com
- ^ SoccerData
- ^ Nathan Radford (6 October 2011). "Dee Why Football Club : History". Dee Why Football Club. http://dyfc.com.au/about/history. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ John Ashdown (30 July 2008). "The professionals who played for pub teams". The Guaridan (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jul/30/1. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ a b c George Best: Goals, girls... where did it all go wrong?, Daily Mirror.
- ^ "Belfast boy in a life less ordinary". The Guardian (London). 20 November 2005. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2005/nov/20/sport.comment4.
- ^ National-football-teams.com
- ^ [3]
- ^ Marriages England and Wales 1984–2005
- ^ "Best's two secret kids", Daily Mirror
- ^ Heartbroken Samantha Janus's tears for estranged father from the Daily Mail
- ^ Wingett, Fiona.Alex 'disgusted' at Best family snub, Mail on Sunday, 11 December 2005
- ^ a b c Lovejoy, Joe (1998), "Bestie", Pan, pg 356
- ^ "How QC tried to break Best's legs", Daily Express, 25 August 2009
- ^ Video clip on YouTube; Stephen McGinty, "Parky was a 'nut', says Meg Ryan", The Scotsman, 5 April 2006
- ^ The Scotsman: Criticism grows of Best liver decision, 14 July 2003
- ^ "George Best very close to death", BBC News
- ^ "Belfast City Airport to be renamed in honour of George Best", 21 March 2006, Belfast City Airport website; "Best family proud of airport name", 22 May 2006, BBC News
- ^ Deric Henderson, "'George Best Airport' splits city", The Scotsman, 22 March 2006; "Best family hits out at Belfast Airport renaming opposition", belfast-airport.info, 22 March 2006
- ^ "Ex-Mayor in Belfast City Airport Best tribute call", uk-airport-news.info, 27 November 2005
- ^ Simon Jenkins, "To become George Best airport is a humiliation worthy of North Korea", The Guardian, 14 July 2006
- ^ "Flybe pays tribute to George Best!", 15 March 2006, Flybe website
- ^ "Bank note honour for George Best". BBC Online. 26 October 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6086902.stm. Retrieved 26 October 2006.
- ^ "Last of Bestie fivers sells out". BBC Online. 1 December 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6199180.stm. Retrieved 9 June 2007.
- ^ "Best note prompts auction fever". BBC Online. 1 December 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6142840.stm. Retrieved 9 June 2007.
- ^ Victoria O'Hara (29 January 2008). "Best memorial plan rescued by fan". The Belfast Telegraph: p. 3.
- ^ "Tribute to Best's sausage adverts". BBC. 8 February 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6340651.stm. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- ^ "Best memorabilia found in house". BBC News. 26 January 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8481310.stm. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ "GQ: The 50 Most Stylish Men"
Northampton 
