57 today Thursday, May 22, 2003 Happy birthday, George Best! Born in Belfast on 22nd May 1946, George Best grew up on the Cregagh estate and played football for both Cregagh Boys Club and Lisnasharragh Intermediate School. He joined Manchester United's ground staff in August 1961 after being spotted by Bob Bishop, one of United's top scouts. Despite a spell of homesickness he signed as an amateur and joined the Manchester Ship Canal Company as a clerk. He turned professional on his 17th birthday in May 1963. Best's League debut was against West Bromwich Albion on 14th September 1963 and he scored his first goal in only his second appearance in a 5-1 victory over Burnley on 28th December 1963. He won his first Northern Ireland cap in a 3-2 victory over Wales, after only 15 League matches. He won a F.A. Youth Cup winners' plaque in 1964, scoring one of United's goals in their 5-2 aggregate victory over Swindon Town. In 1965 he won a Championship medal adding a second in 1967. Best gave United an extra-time lead in the European Champions Cup Final in 1968, United eventually defeating Benfica 4-1. He was already well known to Benfica having been instrumental in inflicting their first ever home defeat in European competition back in 1965 at the quarter-final stage of the European Champions Cup. United had won 5-1 with Best scoring two goals and being christened 'El Beatle'. It was the start of a spectacular rise to superstardom for George Best. He also scored 28 League goals in 41 matches in 1967-68 season as United finished as runners-up in the League. These 28 goals made him United's top scorer that season, a position he held for the following four seasons as well. His performances in 1967-68 season won him both the Footballer of the Year and the European Player of the Year trophies. George Best made 361 League appearances for Manchester United scoring 136 goals. He also holds the record for the most goals by a United player in a single match (not including wartime), six versus Northampton Town, F.A. Cup fifth round on 8th February 1970. United won the match 8-2. He won a total of 37 Northern Ireland caps, 32 of which whilst at United. In November 1972 the 'troubles' in Northern Ireland forced him to withdraw from a Northern Ireland versus Spain match after he received IRA death threats. Together with Mike Summerbee of Manchester City, George Best opened a number of fashion boutiques in Manchester in 1966 and 1967. He also opened a travel agency and a couple of nightclubs, Slack Alice's and Oscar's. Unfortunately these business enterprises were not commercial successes. George Best's United career deteriorated during the 1970s. A rift developed between the club and player as off-field problems and the pressures of superstardom took their toll. During the late 1960's Best had been receiving 10,000 fan-mail letters every week, and employed 3 full-time staff to answer the letters. Best walked out on the club on a number of occasions, notably in 1972 when he announced his retirement and ran off to Marbella, Spain. He returned to Manchester United in September 1973 but finally broke both Tommy Docherty's and Manchester United's patience when he failed to turn up for training in January 1974. His final League match for United had been in a disappointing 0-3 defeat against Queens Park Rangers on New Year's Day 1974. Since leaving Old Trafford his clubs have been almost too numerous to mention but have included amongst others, Dunstable Town (1974), Stockport County (1975), Cork Celtic (1975), Fulham (1976-77), Hibernian (1979-80), Bournemouth (1983) and Brisbane Lions of Australia (1983). He has also played in the short lived North American Soccer League for L.A. Aztecs (1976-78), Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1978-79) and San Jose Earthquakes (1980-81). He has also made numerous guest appearances for teams in friendly, charity and testimonial matches. On 3rd October 1981, George Best was called up to play for Northern Ireland against Scotland at the age of 35. George Best, at his peak, was probably the most natural and greatest talent the British Isles have ever produced. He had speed, balance, vision, superb close control and the ability to create chances and score from seemingly impossible situations. The Brazilian legend, Pele, remarked that George Best was 'The best player in the world'. Since retiring from playing Best has continued to attract headlines about his private life. Since the 1970's tabloid newspapers have fallen over each other to get 'exclusive' stories on Best's drinking, gambling and womanising. Well publicised alcohol problems led to a spell on an alcohol rehabilitation course, but tax problems have also haunted him in recent years. Despite the problems he has also carved out successful careers in after-dinner speaking, radio and television commentating and football coaching.
Oh, lighten up. If he was a former Liverpool player, you'd say the same thing, or at least laugh is someone else did.
Maybe if Bestie wasn't my childhood hero, I wouldn't be so sensitive about it. Of course, some people don't think poking fun at somebody who's life was almost ruined by alcohol is ever funny -while other's find it hilarious. I'm obviously biased regarding Bestie in any case.