George Best : a celebration : untold true stories of our most legendary footballer

Intro -- Title Page -- Dedication -- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- Contents -- FOREWORD -- INTRODUCTION -- FIRST HALF -- GEORGE'S FIRST TASTE OF SILVERWARE -- HERE'S TO YOU, MRS FULLAWAY! -- THREE PROS AND THE BEST -- IT JUST WASN'T TO BE FOR A YOUNG GEORDIE LAD! -- FRANKIE GOES BACK TO THE 1960S -- SWINGING MANCHESTER -- I WAS BESTIE'S BALLBOY! -- THREE TEENAGERS AND A TURNSTILE -- TWO PATHS THAT CROSSED -- BESTIE BREAKS THE MOULD -- WHY A ROSETTE? -- 1968 -- THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A PAIR OF FOOTBALL BOOTS -- FOUR FAB MUSICIANS AND A FAB FOOTBALLER -- GEORGE STEPS ONTO THE PROPERTY LADDER FROM ONE BELFAST BOY TO ANOTHER -- NEVER ABOVE HIS STATION -- CAROLINA'S SUMMER OF '69 -- THE BALLS, THE BELLBOY AND THE PHOTOGRAPH -- HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE ABOUT THE WELSHMAN AND THE IRISHMAN? -- CHOPPER'S MEMORIES -- SIX GREAT GOALS -- A VILLA FAN REMEMBERS... -- HIDDEN TREASURE -- FROM WEST BROM TO WOLVES -- BERNARD'S LITTLE TREASURES -- NORTHERN IRELAND'S GENIUS -- ABSOLUTELY 'FAB 208' -- GEORGE'S PUZZLE -- SECOND HALF -- SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT... -- FROM TYPHOO TEA TO WORCESTER COLLEGE XI -- THE GREATEST PLAYER NEVER TO PLAY IN THE WORLD CUP -- MORE THAN JUST A GAME OF TWO HALVES THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR! -- MARY'S STORY ... MEMORIES OF MR 'G' -- GEORGE'S SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNEY -- SIMPLY THE BEST FOR STOCKPORT AND CORK CELTIC -- EXIT UNITED -- ENTER THE UNITED STATES -- SCOTLAND WELCOMES BACK YESTERDAY'S HERO -- SAN JOSE REMEMBERS GEORGE -- WHEN A HERO COMES ALONG -- GEORGE'S HUMOUR TRAVELS ACROSS THE POND -- DREAMS CAN BECOME REALITY -- DOWN BUT NOT OUT! -- THE BEST IN SWINDON -- THE CHERRY ON AFC BOURNEMOUTH'S CAKE -- EXTRA TIME -- TOBERMORE UNITED -- WHO ARE THEY? -- A BRUSH WITH THE LAW -- WEMBLEY STADIUM IS ENHANCED BY THE BEST THE JOURNEY TOWARDS THAT SPECIAL MOMENT -- A LAUGH-OUT-LOUD MOMENT -- THE T-SHIRT FROM TENERIFE! -- TOMORROW'S FISH AND CHIP PAPER -- 1994 WORLD CUP FEVER IN MAGALUF -- GEORGE AND RODNEY -- GEORGE'S OWN STORIES -- THE 'BEST OF TIMES' FOR A LIFELONG SUPPORTER -- IT'S A GIFT -- THONGS FOR THE MEMORIES, GEORGE -- AND RYAN GIGGS'S FOOTBALL SHORTS! -- BLESSED IN MILTON KEYNES -- MEDAL OF HONOUR -- A BRIEF ENCOUNTER -- GEORGE'S LAST REQUEST -- PARKINSON'S BEST MATE! -- ANGELO THANKS GEORGE FOR THE MEMORIES -- MIKE'S STORY... -- THE DAY I FIRST MET GEORGE -- GEORGE BEST BY MARTIN KNIGHT BELFAST BOY IN A LIFE LESS ORDINARY -- GEORGE BEST (1946-2005) -- MORE THAN A MERE GENIUS? -- NIGEL'S FOOTBALL CARDS -- LAUREN'S DEBUT AND GEORGE'S FAREWELL -- 'SHINE THROUGH THE GLOOM... AND EARTH'S VAIN SHADOWS FLEE' -- LIMITED EDITION IMMORTALISES THE BEST -- JOHN REMEMBERS GEORDIE -- BEST, BECKHAM AND THE AMERICAN DREAM -- TIME FOR REFLECTION -- WHY GEORGE BEST -- A CELEBRATION? -- PICTURE CREDITS -- Copyright George Best Was One Of The Greatest Footballers Ever To Have Walked The Earth - An Absolute Legend. His Ability As An All-round Player Was, And Still Is, Unsurpassed. He Was Highly Skilful, A Tough Tackler And Great In The Air. As Well As Being An Exceptionally Gifted Sportsman, George Also Had A Unique Gift When It Came To People. His Open And Friendly Nature Meant That Others Were Naturally Drawn To Him And He Always Had Time To Get To Know Anyone And Everyone.perhaps Because Of This, George Best Reached So Many People. As Well As The Legions Of Football Fans Who Watched, Awestruck, As He Played, He Also Touched The Hearts Of Everyone With Whom He Came In Contact On A Day-to-day Basis; From Club Managers To The Groundsmen At Old Trafford, Bestie Had Time For Them All; It Seems That Almost Everyone Has A Story To Tell About Him!bernie Smith Is An Avid Collector Of Everything To Do With The Late, Great Man And Maureen Hunt Worked In The Newspaper Industry For Over Twenty Years. From Banknotes To Team Photographs, To Signed Shirts And Even Underwear, There Is Not Much Out There Relating To George That They Don't Know About Or Possess! While Gathering Memorabilia They Discovered That Almost Every Keepsake, Souvenir Or Trophy Has A Humorous, Heart-warming Or Poignant Story Attached To It. Piecing Together These Gems Of History, They Have Complied A Fitting Tribute To A Genuine Icon.take, For Example, The Incredible Journey Of The Pair Of Limited Edition 'george Best' Boots That Ended Up On A Stall At Brick Lane Market In London To Eventually Become The Treasured Possession Of A Man Who Idolised Him; Or The Boy Whose House Backed Onto The United Training Ground And Who Would Jump Over The Fence To Stand At The Back Of The Nets To Watch The Best Magic And Act As A Ball Boy When Necessary; Or Even A Gold Thong, Signed By George Himself, That Was Bought At Auction And Left In A Drawer...until Now!packed With Anecdotes And Rare Photographs, This Delightful Book Will Be A Welcome Addition To Any Best Fan's Collection And Is A Wonderful Way To Commemorate The Man Who Was Who Both Hero And Friend To So Many People.'the Genius Of George Best On The Football Field Is Well Documented, As Is The Celebrity Lifestyle Which Such Genius Often Attracts. This Book Gives An Insight Into The Much Less Well Known Human Side Of His Life And The Many Unsung Acts Of Kindness Which Were So Typical And Which Endeared Him To Everyone Who Was Fortunate Enough To Know Or Meet Him. I Count Myself Privileged To Be Amongst That Number' - Doug Ellis, President Emeritus - Aston Villa Football Club'george Best Was A Fine Fellow To Share Company With Off The Football Field. It Doesn't Surprise Me That The Stories In This Book Celebrate The Real Side Of George. George Had A Snooker Table In His House And He Loved To Play The Game. He Was One Of The Nicest People You Would Ever Wish To Meet, With A Great Sense Of Humour' - Dennis Taylor, 1985 Embassy World Snooker Champion And Fellow Belfast Boy'besite Can Only Be Described In One Word - Fantastic! - Ron 'chopper' Harris George Best was one of the greatest footballers ever to have walked the Earth - an absolute legend. His ability as an all-round player was, and still is, unsurpassed. He was highly skilled, a tough tackler and great in the air. As well as being an exceptionally gifted sportsman, George also had a unique gift when it came to people. His open and friendly nature meant that other were naturally drawn to him and he always had time to get to know people. As well as the legions of football fans who watched, awestruck as he played, he also touched the hearts of everyone whom he came into contact with: from club managers to the grounds man at Old Trafford, Bestie had time for them all. Maureen Hunt and Bernie Smth are two avid collectors of George Best memorabilia and there is not much about the great man that they don't know or possess. They have come to realsie that every collectable, keepsake and souvenir has a humourous, heart-warming or poignant story surrounding it, an dpiecing these gems of history together they have compiled a fitting tribute to a genuine icon. Packed with anecdotes and rare photographys, this delightful book will be a welcome addition to any Best fan's collection and is a wonderful way to commemorate the man who was both hero an and friend to so many.--Provided by the publisher George Best was one of the greatest soccer players ever to have walked the Earth. His ability as an all-round player was and remains unsurpassed, and he drew legions of fans to each of his games. Along with being an exceptionally gifted sportsman, George also had a unique gift with people. From club managers to the grounds man at Old Trafford, Bestie had time for them all. Packed with anecdotes and rare photographs, this delightful biography commemorates the life and astounding career of the man who was both hero and friend to so many. George Best was one of the greatest footballers - an absolute legend. He was highly skilful, a tough tackler and great in the air. As well as being a gifted sportsman, George also had a unique skill when it came to people. Containing anecdotes and rare photographs, this book commemorates the man who was both a hero and a friend to so many people.