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The George Best Rhapsody
(Written by Jason Grant & Johnny Cesar
Performed by The 253 Boys).
Another bright new day,
boy kicking a ball down Burren Way
Who was this boy, just watch him run and play
Time to cross the sea and make a brand new start
The family wave goodbye and tears from a mother's loving heart.
(Chorus)
He played with feet of gold
Just like a wizard from days of old
Go Georgie Go and score that goal
For the glory of United heart & soul.
A new dawn arrived at Old Trafford in 63
Playing the game he loved for all to see
A football king in red better than all the rest
To the Stretford End, the Messiah they called Best.
The crowning glory came in 68 down Wembley way
European champions in the greatest game he ever played
Up the 39 Steps, 100,000 fans sang his name
Holding the Cup up high, heroes are born not made.
Back in Belfast now time to come back home
The greatest footballer the world has ever known
Forever Georgie Boy the eternal number eleven
Playing the beautiful game up above in heaven.
© Copyright 2006 The 253 Boys
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Born: 22 May 1946 - Died: 25 November 2005
The day
of the funeral began with private blessing at family home in the Cregagh
estate in East Belfast. Funeral procession headed to Parliament Buildings, Stormont, for public
service at 1100 GMT. Big screens relayed service to crowds outside. Best, 59,
was buried beside his mother Ann at Roselawn Cemetery.
Despite the rain and chill, tens of thousands of applauding people turned out to
line the route to Parliament Buildings where the service was held. I was
privileged to be a part of it and saw the cortege leave the Estate where he was
born and bred. As the cars passed by Angie Best opened the window and waved to
the crowd in appreciation.
At Stormont, the crowd threw flowers and
football shirts onto the hearse.
Some of the biggest names in football attended,
including Best's lifelong friend Denis Law and Manchester United manager Sir
Alex Ferguson. At Stormont, the crowd threw flowers and football shirts onto the
hearse. Speaking after the funeral, George's son Calum said it had been a sad,
but also an amazing and unbelievable day. A private blessing was earlier held at
the family home in Cregagh. Before a minute's silence at Stormont, a lone piper
played a lament and the coffin was then carried into Parliament Buildings.
Members of the Cregagh Boys' Football Club
formed a guard of honour. Three hundred invited guests attended the special
service in the Great Hall, which was led by TV presenter and United supporter
Eamonn Holmes. Over 30,000 people watched as the service was relayed via large
television screens outside. The service featured school choirs, readings and
performances from Belfast singers Brian Kennedy and Peter Corry. Best's former
wives Angie and Alex, along with his last partner, Ros Hollidge, attended.
One other notable member of the congregation was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scorer of
the gaol that won a second European Cup in 1999. Former Northern Ireland manager Billy Bingham, international team-mates Derek Dougan, Peter McPartland, Harry Gregg, Gerry Armstrong and Denis Law were the
first to carry the coffin to the base of the Stormont steps. Best's brother Ian,
agent Phil Hughes, Dr Akeel Alisa, who treated Best, and his brothers-in-law
Norman McNarry and Alan McPherson, were also pallbearers. Three hundred invited
guests attended the special service in the Great Hall, which was led by TV
presenter and Manchester United supporter Eamonn Holmes. At the request of the
Best family, 10 members of the crowd were chosen at random to attend the
ceremony.
Representatives of the government, sporting organisations, political parties and
police were among the mourners. They included England manager Sven-Goran
Eriksson, Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, Secretary of State Peter Hain, former
snooker champions Denis Taylor and Alex Higgins and NI footballing great Martin
O'Neill. During the service, Calum Best, holding back tears, thanked everyone
for the sympathies they had sent and read a poem he had been sent by a woman in
Belfast, which he said had struck a chord with him. George's sister, Barbara,
said to many her brother had been a superstar and a superhero, and to her he had
been "my super-brother, my hero". The surgeon who carried out his liver
transplant, Professor Roger Williams, told those gathered in the Great Hall,
George had "wanted to kick the alcohol". Denis Law lightened the
proceedings with some amusing stories of his friendship with George and Calum
moved everyone with his own reading which included two uplifting poems, one of
which, was by a local woman. This was bigger than anything seen in the sporting
world before as George was genuine
and genuinely loved by millions around the world!
Biography:
Birthplace: Belfast 22nd May 1946 - Position:
Winger/Forward - Squad Number: 7 - Debut:
14/09/1963 - Appearances: 466 -
Goals: 178 - Internationals: 37
- Goals: 9 - Honours:
Ist Division: 2 - European Cup: 1
George
Best is perhaps the most talented footballer ever to walk on the face of the
planet. Best was the complete
player. Pele, Cruyff, Maradona - all were superb but Best had a bit
of each in
his game and more. He could beat opponents with skill and dazzling tricks,
swerving through defences like a skier on a slalom course, or go past them with
a burst of devastating speed. He could shoot brilliantly with either foot and
out-jump much taller opponents to win the ball in the air. George Best had the
confidence and arrogance to try absolutely anything - he knew he was a genius
and was not afraid to show it. Best was also strong enough to take the knocks
and abuse from the less talented players who would try to hack him out of the
game. In an age where players did not receive protection from referees and the
so called "hard-men" played the game, Best took it all on the chin and triumphed
regardless. When he tried one trick too many and lost the ball he would fight
twice as hard to get it back. Playing as a winger and sometimes striker, he
would inspire his team and bring a crowd, home or away, to its feet. The man
from Belfast was born with a wonderful gift, however with this gift came the
penalty of a wild destructive streak that would always cast a shadow on his
career. George was perhaps the most important member of the great United team
which won the League Championship twice in the 1960's as well as the European
Cup in 1968 - where he scored a superb solo goal in the final. He later
claimed
that having beaten round the Benfica keeper he wanted to take the ball up to the
line stop it, lie down on the ground and head the ball over the line. Only a
truly special sort of player would even have considered such an outrageous act
in a game of such importance. After five years of playing breathtaking football,
in 1968 he finally and deservedly won both the
English and European Footballer
of the Year awards. He was also the club's top scorer that year with 28 goals,
and for the following four seasons. In 1970 he scored six goals in an 8-2 win
over Northampton in the FA Cup, the most goals ever scored in a single match by
any United player. Best's goals captured on television, such as the dazzling
runs against Sheffield United, Chelsea, West Ham and the delicate lob against
Spurs have become all-time classics. And who knows what other gems he scored in
an age before blanket television coverage, great goals that now live on only in
the memories of those lucky to have been there at the time. What might he
have achieved if only he hadn't been dazzled by the bright lights and high
living in an age
when he was the first soccer superstar! Unfortunately he
finally succumbed to a severe infection of his new liver and died at
approximately 1pm on the 25 November 2005. There have been many commemorations
at matches all over the country, the best of which was at Old Trafford on 30
November 2005 before a Carling Cup match against West Brom. United won 3-1 and
it was poignant that the latest player to wear the No7 Cristiano Ronaldo scored
the first goal. The 48,940 crowd were also stars as they held up posters with
George's image as they held a minute's silence. On May 22nd
2006 Belfast City airport was renamed George Best Belfast City Airport. British Midland also unveiled a picture of George on one of their planes
which flies out of the City Airport.