The Best Years Of My Life

Since George’s passing in late November 2005, I have been asked so many times by people who never ever had the privilege of seeing him play, whether or not all the stories that abound about his skill are true, or if they are just some exaggeration. It is so difficult explaining to them how brilliant George was. It is also nigh on impossible to convince young people today who only saw pictures of George in his later years, that not only was he a footballer extraordinaire, but also a man of such glamour that he would never have looked out of place on a Hollywood film set!

Football has always had it stars in the game, even long before George arrived in this world. However I think that it is true to say that George was the very first of the soccer ‘superstars’. The first time that I ever saw him though, you would have thought that he would never ever reach anything akin to that kind of status. In late 1962 I was a young trialist with Preston North End Football Club, and on a cold, miserable winter Saturday morning, I had been selected to play in goal for the North End ‘B’ team, against Manchester United. Home games for the North End juniors were played on pitches situated on the old pig farm at Fulwood, and the dressing rooms consisted of a couple of wooden huts that housed a couple of rooms for changing in, then along the corridor, a few rooms with ceramic baths inside – no shower facilities back then! Being a staunch United supporter, it was enough for me that I was turning out against United’s youngsters, and my nerves were on edge as I made my way from the dressing room and out onto that windswept pitch. The pitch had been rolled flat but was really only on nodding acquaintances with grass at that time of the year and after 5 minutes of play, it became a mud patch. In those days, there was little pre-match warm up and I took my place between the goalposts as our forwards fired in a number of the old leather footballs at me. As we lined up to kick off, I noticed this small, frail, waif of a boy, standing in the outside right position for United. He stood there waiting for the kick off, shivering in the chill wind, his hands gripping the white trim cuffs of his red shirt and it seemed as though he was in imminent danger of being blown away. For a boy of such frail build, it seemed that he had no right to be out there on that pitch, particularly as he faced some big lads in the North End defence who were not averse to being a little over physical. At that time I had no idea of this young boy’s name, but by the end of the match, after I had picked the ball out of the net six times, I made it my business to find out! Coming off the field I shook hands with United’s inside right, Barry Grayson, and asked him the name of the young boy who had just run our defenders ragged throughout that morning. It was to be the very first time that I had ever heard the name George Best.

Even today, I can still see him gliding over the surface of that mud heap that we played upon, the ball seemingly tied to his boot laces, and our big defenders struggling to get a tackle anywhere near to him. One or two tried to verbally intimidate him, but even at that tender age, he could look after himself and his temperament was unflappable. He had a huge appetite for the ball, and once he did have it, he hurt you. Little did I know that day that what I was witnessing and suffering, would also be witnessed and suffered by some of the best teams and defenders that the game of football has ever known!

My own aspirations to a career in League football came to an end at the close of that season when I was told that my trial period was unsuccessful; a huge disappointment for a young 18 years old boy. For young George Best though, the following season was his break through season into First Division football!

George made his debut against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford in September of 1963 some ten months or so after the game that I have mentioned. I was stood on the Stretford End that day and watched as he came out of the players tunnel and trotted towards what had now become the most vocal part of the ground. I had to smile as I listened to the fans stood around me, asking questions about this wee slip of a boy. Their fear was that he wasn’t physically strong enough to survive in the First Division. My own memories of that encounter at Fulwood were all too prevalent at that time, and I had no fears about him whatsoever! By half time those questioning fans had been given their answer! The rest is of course, history.

George did not arrive on this earth or at Old Trafford as the complete player. He made himself into the truly exceptional player that he was by working hard at his skills. He made himself into the two-footed player that he was by practicing to the point where he became uncertain as to which was his stronger foot - a lesson that I wish that some of today’s so called superstars would take heed of! It gave him all the options that he needed to beat an opponent on either side, and in and around the penalty box, where he was a deadly finisher with either of those feet. He just loved the feel of the ball, and once he had it, he didn’t give it away cheaply. George had that gift of exceptional speed off the mark, great stamina, wonderful balance, and the ability to stay on his feet and even ride the hardest of tackles. He had a huge great heart and appetite for the game, and he never ever shirked the challenge – in fact he relished it! He had an inherent self belief in his own ability and whatever that challenge, be it physical, mental or tactical, he met it head on. His control of the ball under the most violent of pressure was hypnotic and he was brave beyond belief.

He played the game in an era when forwards were not a protected species as they are today. The tackle from behind was very much a part of the game in his day. At that time, matches against teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Leeds, and Manchester City, meant that forwards had the likes of Peter Storey, Ron Harris, Tommy Smith, Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter, and also Mike Doyle lying in wait and queuing up for them. There were also more defenders of that stature in the game at that time but they are too many to mention. They were a daunting prospect to have to face! A prospect that I think had some of today’s over paid, over pampered, and over rated players had to face, would see them suddenly affected by loose bowel syndrome and a withdrawal from the match!

I have so many memories of games that George played for Manchester United, and most fans would say that his finest performance was against Benfica in the Stadium of Light in Lisbon in 1966, during the European Cup Quarter Final second leg game. Leading 3-2 from the first leg at Old Trafford, Sir Matt had told the players before they went out for the game; “Play it tight for the first 20 minutes or so.” By the 20th minute of that game, George, by his superlative performance, had put the game beyond the Portugese team and United were 3-0 ahead! Coming in at half time, Sir Matt was heard to remark; “I see that you never listened to me!” It was after this game that George bought the famous sombrero and the pictures of him wearing it were flashed around the world – it was the birth of “El Beatle” and the start of his being a ‘superstar’ celebrity.

As I pick the back pocket of my memory however, my own view is that the finest performance of his career came at Windsor Park in Belfast wearing the green shirt of his beloved Northern Ireland against Scotland in 1967. On a quagmire of a pitch he tormented one of the best full backs British football has ever seen, and gave him the chasing of his life. Not only him, but also the whole of the Scottish team as well. That full back was none other than Tommy Gemmell of Celtic who less than six months earlier had become one of the famous “Lisbon Lions” for his part in Celtic becoming the first British Club to lift the European Cup. Best’s performance that afternoon was mesmeric and he destroyed a very good Scottish team who just six months earlier, had beaten England, the then World Champions at Wembley. If my memory serves me right, Northern Ireland won that game against Scotland 1-0 with George laying on the winning goal for David Clements.

There was so much written about George Best during his time on this earth. So called journalists who should have known better were always so quick to denigrate a man who, to those that really knew him, was a lovely, warm hearted, loving, generous, genuine human being. Of course, that side of George’s personality didn’t sell newsprint or make the kind of headlines that the media wanted. The real truth is that when you really got to know George, he was still unspoiled by all the fame and glory.

One of the better known and more capable journalists of the day, tells a story of just how unaffected the young George Best was in finding himself the very first British footballer to be treated like a showbiz pop star. The Brown Bull used to be a pub at the bottom end of Chapel Street in Salford, and during the ‘60’s was a favourite haunt of the United players after a game. After a certain European Cup tie played at Old Trafford, players and journalists had gathered in the said pub. Nobody had given much thought to dinner but, by the time that the after-hours session was in full swing, hunger was becoming a problem. At least that is until George went around taking fish and chip orders for everyone in the bar, after which he disappeared. Apparently, he returned some half-an-hour later, not merely with all the orders accurately filled, but also with plates, knives and forks for everybody. The waiter that night seemed less like a superstar than the appealing young boy who had worked small miracles with a tennis ball on the streets of the Cregagh housing estate in East Belfast. I could never envisage any of today’s highly paid players doing anything like this, be it for journalist or fan alike. Unlike George and his contemporaries, they have become far too distant and unapproachable.

George did have his problems in life, there is no denying that. He was a sick man and we all knew it. But as in the challenges he met on the football field, he also met the challenges of life head on – he didn’t hide, nor did he ever seek sympathy. There is no doubt that great sportsmen are immensely vulnerable when their gifts and the drama that they create begin to fade. They feel the rest of their lives may loom like a dreary anti climax. George was a very loving person. He loved his family, loved his wives and his son Calum, loved his country, loved people, loved the game of football and Manchester United, and had a huge love and zest for life. That he left this world too early is an understatement of huge proportions. The wonderful memories that he left us with are a legacy to the time when we were seeing the world’s most popular game played by a boy who was better than most that have ever played it throughout its long history. I just wish that today’s generation could have watched George play at least one game in the Premiership. On pitches that resemble a snooker table, with a ball so light, and forwards being protected as they are, I salivate at the thought of a young George running with the ball at today’s defences! I look back with great fondness on that Saturday morning late in 1962 at Fulwood, when I first saw him clutching the cuffs of his shirt whilst he awaited the kick off. I also feel privileged that I was around to watch him from the terraces throughout his career. The pleasure watching George play the game of football brought to countless millions of my generation can not be measured. The nostalgia floods back whenever I think of him, and the wondrous quality of nostalgia is that it is unchallengeable. Without doubt, the years in which I watched George Best play the game of football were the Best years of my life!

 

Funnily enough, at that time George wasn't the only jewel in United's crown - Barry Grayson was another, and also, at centre forward that day was a certain cheeky chappy by the name of Barry Fry! But the thing was, time proved that neither Grayson, nor Fry, had George's temprament to really make it. Both of them were so gifted as youngsters and Fry was a lethal centre forward - he scored four times that morning. But they had this thing in that being at United does affect a lot of youngsters - some of them get this inferiority complex, and don't believe in themselves as they should.

 

Not on that particular day. As a youngster, believe it or not, George was very, very shy. I met him on numerous occasions later in life and always found him to be charming, affable, humorous, and a very, very nice person. No airs or graces, no pretentiousness at all.

 

He didn't actually score them, in fact if I recall rightly, he didn't score at all that day, but he was instrumental in setting up most of them!

 

I hope that you still have those autographs - treasured memories. George enjoyed his time in the United States and always spoke very fondly of it. Have you read any of his books describing his time here?

 

Lawman imho - but as that team came together in 1963, they became a joy to watch. The goalkeeping position alternated a little between David gaskell and Harry Gregg and then in 1964 they bought Pat Dunne who played 1 season in a Championship winning team and then disappeared!

Tony Dunne had cemented his place at full back and Shay Brennan displaced Noel Cantwell later in the 1964-65 season.

Paddy had really settled in and when he was on song it was just terrific to see him splitting defences apart. Foulkes was rock solid at centre half and imho, was the best centre half around at that time. Nobby had emerged and replaced Maurice Setters. Then we had such a wonderful forward line - Connelly had been bought from Burnley, Bobby was at inside forward, David Herd was leading the line and Denis was firing and George had emerged.

It was an exciting time. The Stretford End had made its mark vocally, and we played such a great style of football whilst respecting that there were some very good teams competing with us - Leeds, Liverpool, Everton, etc. But Denis was "King".

 

It's amazing how many times I get into conversations with people about "today's game is much quicker than it ever was." I have to accept that it is marginally quicker, but that isn't down to "players are much fitter these days". Yes, again, I will admit that sports science has made huge leaps, and that's all well and good. But the thing that makes the game a little quicker today is the fact that the surfaces that today's top teams play on, are in pristine condition all the year around and are only utilised for first team matches. The ball moves zips about on those surfaces, and plus it has a coating that doesn't allow any moisture to absorb into the leather. It's why the ball deviates so much. Those players in the 60's etc were fit believe me - ask any full back who had to try and hang onto George's shirt tail! The kit was a lot different as well and sometime, in the winter months it was like trying to play in lead boots - the shirts and socks were pure cotton and again, absorbed moisture.

Paddy had a fabulous football brain and an eye for an opening. He could thread a ball through a needle! I see him often when I am over in UK and it's always great to spend time with him. He never stops about United and the game and even now as he approaches 70 years of age, he has that boyish enthuisism.

When you look back into the middle 60's we had three different players who won the European Player of the Year for three years in succession - don't think any other club has achieved that.

Wonderful times, wonderful memories.

 

Paddy is a character I can tell you! Just don't get him started on politics and the unions! When he was playing, he was as as hard as nails I can assure you, and took it upon himself to be Bestie's "minder." I saw him when i was over for the West ham game a few weeks ago and we had a laugh together. It's more than likely that united will be over here next summer so hopefull we'll see him on this side of the pond again.

As to your question about passing the ball - for the damage that he did to teams, I'd have to rate him number 1. So many of United's scoring moves back in the 60's emanated from his passing and seeing the opening.

Had a good time on my last visit and Norman Whiteside was guest at my dinner. Couple of pics for you.

This is Norman, Claire (who makes a lot of the flags that adorn the Stretford End and myself.

 

Myself and Alex Stepney


Wilf McGuinness, myself, John White, and Alan Keegan (stadium announcer at Old Trafford)

 

Not at all. It's something that has developed over the course of the years. I was a ST holder at United for so many years, and it's just evolved that through various means - business/social and my love of Manchester United, that it brought me into contact with a lot of people who either played for United, or worked for them.

I used to see a lot of ex-players on match days etc and also got invited to many dinners where players were present. One of my firmest friends was an old journalist, Don Evans who used to be the chief football writer for a number of national newspapers. I went to a lot of functions with him and consequently met a lot of nice people.

When I emmigrated over here to the USA, I began to correspond with a lot of United fans world wide. So in 2003, we decided to get together once a year in Manchester, and attend Old Trafford for the last home game of the season. But on the Friday evening before the match we all sit down to Dinner together, and enjoy the presence of a guest who "sings for his supper". It started off with an attendance of just 28, but has since grown to this years total of 88! You could say that it is the highlight of my calendar.

Next year I shall be over in February to take part in some of the 50th Anniversary of Munich services and functions, and then again for the last home game which we think will either be on the 2nd or 9th of May. Our guest next year is Dennis Irwin.