Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "George Best" - New World

From New World Encyclopedia
Line 22: Line 22:
 
   nationalcaps(goals) = {{0}}37 {{0}}{{0}}(9) |
 
   nationalcaps(goals) = {{0}}37 {{0}}{{0}}(9) |
 
}}
 
}}
'''George Best''' ([[22 May]] [[1946]] – [[25 November]] [[2005]]) was a football (known as soccer in the USA)  player from [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]], regarded by many as the one of the greatest footballers of all time, whose brilliant career was cut short due to excessive use of alcohol. He is mainly remembered for his days with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. When fit, he was an automatic choice for the national team of [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]], but was never able to display his special talent on the world stage because of his national team's lack of success during the peak of his career. He consequently never played at the World Cup. Best had a rare combination of pace, blistering acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring prowess and the ineffable ability to run through entire defences. His dribbling skills were legendary and his good looks attracted female fans to attend games, who often screamed when Best touched the ball. Best also had a tendancy to play with his shirt not tucked into his shorts, which was emulated by many youngsters at the time. He was also one of the first players to be widely commercially marketed. He endorsed specially designed football boots (cleats).   
+
'''George Best''' ([[22 May]] [[1946]] – [[25 November]] [[2005]]) was a football (known as soccer in the USA)  player from [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]], regarded by many as the one of the greatest footballers of all time, whose brilliant career was cut short due to excessive use of alcohol. He is mainly remembered for his days with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. He also played for national team of Northern Ireland. Best had a rare combination of pace, blistering acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring prowess and the ineffable ability to run through entire defences. His dribbling skills were legendary and his good looks attracted female fans to attend games, who often screamed when Best touched the ball. Best also had a tendancy to play with his shirt not tucked into his shorts, which was emulated by many youngsters at the time. He was also one of the first players to be widely commercially marketed. He endorsed specially designed football boots (cleats).   
  
 
==A star in European Competition ==
 
==A star in European Competition ==
Line 57: Line 57:
 
===International matches===
 
===International matches===
  
  is there more info easily available on his int'l career?
+
  is there more info easily available on his int'l career? Dan I added more.
  
He was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland, scoring nine goals. He played mainly as a winger and was known for his dribbling skills and passing.
+
When fit, Best he was an automatic choice for the national team of [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]], but was never able to display his special talent on the world stage because of his national team's lack of success during the peak of his career. He consequently never played at the World Cup.He was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland, scoring nine goals. He played mainly as a winger and was known for his dribbling skills and passing.
  
 
On 15 May 1971, Best scored the cheekiest and arguably the most famous 'goal' of his career at Windsor Park in Belfast against Gordon Banks. The English goalkeeper was about to kick the ball downfield and dropped the ball towards his left foot. However, Best had anticipated the move and, with his right boot, knocked the ball up in the air behind Banks. The famous duo both scrambled towards the net but Best outpaced Banks and headed the ball into the empty goal, to the delight of the home supporters. His effort was disallowed for ungentlemanly conduct by a referee whose back had been turned away from the incident, but even this untimely and incorrect intervention did not spare Banks the embarrassment of having been outwitted.
 
On 15 May 1971, Best scored the cheekiest and arguably the most famous 'goal' of his career at Windsor Park in Belfast against Gordon Banks. The English goalkeeper was about to kick the ball downfield and dropped the ball towards his left foot. However, Best had anticipated the move and, with his right boot, knocked the ball up in the air behind Banks. The famous duo both scrambled towards the net but Best outpaced Banks and headed the ball into the empty goal, to the delight of the home supporters. His effort was disallowed for ungentlemanly conduct by a referee whose back had been turned away from the incident, but even this untimely and incorrect intervention did not spare Banks the embarrassment of having been outwitted.

Revision as of 18:27, 2 March 2007


George Best
George Best DVD biography.
Personal information
Full name George Best
Date of birth May 22, 1946
Place of birth  Belfast, Northern Ireland
Date of death  November 25 2005 (aged 59)
Nickname The Belfast Boy
The Fifth Beatle
Position Winger
Youth clubs
1963 Manchester United
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1963-1974
1975
1975-1976
1976+1977+1978
1976-1977
1979+1980
1979-1980
1979-1980+1981
1983
1983
Manchester United
Stockport County
Cork Celtic
Los Angeles Aztecs
Fulham
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Hibernian
San Jose Earthquakes
Bournemouth
Brisbane Lions
361 (138)
003 00(2)
003 00(0)
061 0(29)
047 0(10)
033 00(7)
022 00(3)
086 0(34)
005 00(0)
004 00(0) 
National team
1964-1978 Northern Ireland 037 00(9)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a football (known as soccer in the USA) player from Belfast, Northern Ireland, regarded by many as the one of the greatest footballers of all time, whose brilliant career was cut short due to excessive use of alcohol. He is mainly remembered for his days with Manchester United. He also played for national team of Northern Ireland. Best had a rare combination of pace, blistering acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring prowess and the ineffable ability to run through entire defences. His dribbling skills were legendary and his good looks attracted female fans to attend games, who often screamed when Best touched the ball. Best also had a tendancy to play with his shirt not tucked into his shorts, which was emulated by many youngsters at the time. He was also one of the first players to be widely commercially marketed. He endorsed specially designed football boots (cleats).

A star in European Competition

He played for United as a winger on the left flank between 1963 and 1974, helping Manchester win the Football League First Division in 1965 and 1967, and the European Cup in 1968. He was named European Footballer of the Year and Football Writers' Association Player of the Year in 1968. In speaking to Man Utd TV after Best's death in late 2005, Sir Bobby Charlton described Best's impact on the 1960s as "sensational". In his native Northern Ireland he is usually considered the finest player to ever take the field, summed up by the local saying: "Pelé good; Maradona better; George Best."[1]

Best's lovable, cheeky and impish image won him many fans, during his career and after, though his drunkenness and allegations of domestic violence meant that not everyone was so well disposed towards him. None the less, news of Best's death led to tears on the streets of Belfast, before and during a funeral for which some 100,000 people turned out on a rainy day.

Hugh McIlvaney, a British sports writer for the The Sunday Times (London), perhapes described Best succinctly: "On the field, he was the incarnation of the game's most romantic possibilities. He appeared to regard gravity as an impertinent con trick unworthy of being taken seriously, gracefully riding tackles that looked capable of derailing a locomotive."

Football career

John ... i went ahead and changed this... change titles if you want ... Dan

Early years

File:BestCregaghEstateMural.jpg
The Cregagh Estate honored George Best by unveiling a mural on his 60th birth anniversary.

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 have found a genius". His local club Glentoran had previously rejected him for being "too small and light".[1] Best was subsequently given a trial and signed up by chief scout Joe Armstrong. But the shy and home-sick youngster fled back to Ulster within 24 hours. He was finally persuaded to return and settled in at the club where he was befriended by United star Dennis Law.

Mancheter United

Best turned professional and made his debut for Manchester United against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford. In his first game, he played on the left wing and faced Albion defender and Welsh national team player, Graham Williams, who he "numegged" and totally out-played. He became world famous at the age of twenty when he scored two goals in a European Cup match against Benfica in 1966 and headlines in the Portuguese press proclaimed him "El Beatle", notably because of his longish hair and long sideburns. He scored in United's European Cup final win against the same club in 1968.

He made 466 appearances for Manchester United in all competitions, scoring 178 goals. Best was United's top scorer for six consecutive seasons. During this run he also topped the first division scoring charts in 1967-68 with 28 goals, remarkable for a player who was not an out-and-out striker.

By the early seventies, Best's excessive use of alcohol was taking its toll. He missed training sessions and was fodder for the British tabloids. In 1974, the 27-year-old Best was sacked by United for excessive drinking and persistent failure to attend training sessions and matches. His last competitive game for the club was on 1 January 1974 against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

Later career

His 'second team' after Manchester United is often considered to be Fulham F.C. (though he did play 9 more games at San Jose Earthquakes (NASL team) in the twilight of his career). Best had made a return to England after 'retiring' to the USA and still had his amazing skills, though he had lost his pace slightly. Best scored some amazing goals for The Cottagers and is particularly remember for tackling his 'old drinking mate' Rodney Marsh in a FA Cup game against Hereford United (despite both being on the same team!). Best stated later in life, that he enjoyed his time most while at Fulham despite not winning any honours. He and Marsh later became an after-dinner act, telling jokes and stories about their playing days.

File:Bestfiver.jpg
The Best Five Pound Note.

Over the next decade, Best drifted between several football clubs including spells in America, Scotland and Australia. He played for three clubs in America: Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and San Jose Earthquakes; he also played for the Detroit Express on an European tour. Best revelled in the anonymity America 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 was named as the NASL's best midfielder in his second [2].

In his third season in the States, Best began a slow decline, scoring 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. At San Jose Earthquakes, the club was owned by Milan Mandaric with whom George developed a close relationship over the years. Throughout 2004 George was often seen with Milan at the club he ran, Portsmouth FC. In 1983 George finally retired from the game, at the age of 37. His last games as a professional were with third division A.F.C. Bournemouth.

International matches

is there more info easily available on his int'l career? Dan I added more.

When fit, Best he was an automatic choice for the national team of Northern Ireland, but was never able to display his special talent on the world stage because of his national team's lack of success during the peak of his career. He consequently never played at the World Cup.He was capped 37 times for Northern Ireland, scoring nine goals. He played mainly as a winger and was known for his dribbling skills and passing.

On 15 May 1971, Best scored the cheekiest and arguably the most famous 'goal' of his career at Windsor Park in Belfast against Gordon Banks. The English goalkeeper was about to kick the ball downfield and dropped the ball towards his left foot. However, Best had anticipated the move and, with his right boot, knocked the ball up in the air behind Banks. The famous duo both scrambled towards the net but Best outpaced Banks and headed the ball into the empty goal, to the delight of the home supporters. His effort was disallowed for ungentlemanly conduct by a referee whose back had been turned away from the incident, but even this untimely and incorrect intervention did not spare Banks the embarrassment of having been outwitted.

Other notable moments

File:Geroge-Best2.jpg
Best's skill on the football pitch were truly legendary.

Best once scored six goals in a Cup game against Northampton Town in 1970. He is reported to have said after the game: "I felt so embarrassed I played the last 20 minutes at left-back."

Best was considered briefly by manager Billy Bingham for the 1982 World Cup. However, at 36 and with his footballing days largely behind him it was understandable that he was not selected in the Northern Ireland squad, thereby denying him the one chance of playing in front of a global audience. In view of his home country's relative lack of success, he was an advocate of an all-Ireland team.

Diego Maradona has frequently named Best as his all-time favourite player [3] and Pelé named him as one of the 125 best living footballers in his 2004 FIFA 100 list.

In 1988, a testimonial match was held for Best at Windsor Park, Belfast. Amongst the crowd were Sir Matt Busby and Bob Bishop, the scout who discovered Best, while those playing included Argentine star Ossie Ardiles, Pat Jennings and Liam Brady. Best scored twice, one goal from outside the box, the other from the penalty spot.

In 1998, Best became a football pundit on Sky Sports. In November 2004 he agreed to join English Premier League club Portsmouth F.C. as a youth coach, citing his desire to get involved in football again.

Outside of Football

Family

The eldest child of Dickie and Anne, Best was brother to Carol, Barbara, Julie, Grace and Ian.

Best was married twice:

  1. (1978-1986) Angela MacDonald-James, with whom he had a son, Calum Best. His father worked in the dockyards and his mother was an alcoholic.
  2. (1995-2004) Alex Pursey

According to the Daily Mirror, Best had two daughters by other women.[4]

Convictions

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.

On 2 February 2004, Best was convicted of another drunk driving offence and banned from driving for 20 months.

Alcoholism

Best developed a drinking problem while still a player, and it contributed to his early retirement from top-level football. It was the "Swinging Sixties" and he loved the night-life and visiting the night-clubs around Manchester, and also in London. He was imprisoned in 1984 for drunk driving and assaulting a policeman and was unable to give up alcohol for any length of time. In September 1990, Best appeared on an edition of primetime BBC chat show Wogan in which he swore and was clearly drunk. He later apologized and said this was one of the worst episodes of his alcoholism. The condition of his liver deteriorated to the point where a transplant became necessary. In 2002, he had a liver organ transplant. A year later he was the focus of much criticism when, despite his transplant, he openly drank white wine and was accused of being selfish and having no regard for other people's feelings. Also 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 physically abused her during their relationship. The immuno-suppressive drugs given to prevent rejection of his new liver caused him to develop a serious kidney infection, which his doctors were unable to redress. In 2005, the infection caused him to fall into a coma. His final days were watched over by his father and other family members, and also by former football colleagues such as United's Denis Law. He died at the age of 59 and is buried in East Belfast.

Illness and death

Gates of Belfast City Hall soon after Best's death.
Graffiti honoring 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 Petersfield, Hampshire. On 3 October 2005 Best was admitted to intensive care at the private Cromwell Hospital in London, suffering from kidney problems caused by the side-effects of immuno-suppressive drugs used to prevent his body from rejecting his transplanted liver. On 27 October, newspapers stated that Best was close to death and had sent farewell messages 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". Of the many tributes left to George near his hospital bed, one was a signed football which read: "From the second best player in the world". It was signed by Pelé, the man many people consider to be the greatest player ever to play the game.

In the early hours of 25 November 2005 Best's treatment was stopped; he eventually died, after a battle that lasted longer than doctors had expected, at 13:06 GMT from a lung infection and multiple organ failure. [5] [6]. His father, four sisters, brother, son Calum and his agent and friend , Phil Hughes, were all at his bedside, as was his former United team-mate Denis Law.

The FA Premier League announced that a minute's silence would be observed before all Premiership games to be held over the weekend of his death, however, this tradition was ignored at many grounds, in favour of a minute's applause in his honor. 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 debut for Manchester United in 1963. The match was preceded by tributes from former team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton, and Best's son Callum and former team-mates, surviving members from the West Bromwich Albion team which he played against in his debut, 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 to all fans before the match for free. Fittingly, the first goal that evening was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing the number 7 shirt Best wore so many times for United. All the way through the match, chants and songs about Best were sang long and hard, including many West Bromwich fans who paid their respects to a great footballer. Many football supporters travelled to pay tribute to Best outside Manchester United's stadium Old Trafford, Windsor Park in Belfast and at Belfast City Hall and outside his father's home where they left signed shirts, scarves, flowers and messages. The city of Belfast subsequently announced that those mementos left by fans are to be collected and given to children's charities. George's father Dickie condemned the theft of some football memorabilia left by fans at the Best home in the Cregagh estate. [7]

Funeral

His body left the family home at Cregagh Road, East Belfast, shortly after 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2005. The cortège then travelled the short distance to Parliament Building of Northern Ireland, the 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, and live on BBC One, Ulster Television, Radio Telefís Éireann, ITV News, BBC News 24, Sky News, Sky Sports News, EuroNews and MUTV. Afterwards, Best was buried beside his mother Annie Elizabeth Kelly in a private ceremony at the hill-top Roselawn Cemetery, overlooking east Belfast.

Celebrity

File:TWPGeorgeBest.jpg
George Best on the cover of The Wedding Present's 1987 album he lent his name to.

Best promoted Cookstown Sausages in commercials on Ulster Television, and print advertisements in the local press.

While at Manchester United, Best's talent and showmanship made him a crowd and media favourite. He was dubbed "the fifth Beatle" for his long hair and looks, but his celebrity lifestyle led to problems with gambling, womanizing and alcoholism. Best often told the story of a bellboy who entered his hotel room with breakfast in the late 1970s. Seeing Best in bed with Mary Stavin, the current Miss World, a bottle of champagne and several thousand pounds of cash won from a night's gambling, the youth exclaimed, "George, where did it all go wrong?"

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 a star striker from crosstown club Manchester City F.C.. He also opened "Bestie's Beach Club" (now called "The Underground" after the London subway system) in Hermosa Beach, California U.S.A. and lived in the city throughout the 1970's, 80'sand 90's. He was able to achieve some "treasured anonymity" there.

The British pop group The Fall, fronted by Mark E. Smith, mentioned Best in their 1983 football-themed single, "Kicker Conspiracy," with the line: "In the Blues Club/ George Best does rule," in reference to Best's popularity even amongst Manchester City (the "Blues") fans. Smith has said that even though he is a City fan, he often went with mates to watch United just so he could see Best play.[8]

Best was spotted in the crowd when the Rolling Stones performed for Top of the Pops in 1965. In 1984, Best made a fitness video with Mary Stavin called Shape Up And Dance.

The Indie music group The Wedding Present's 1987 debut album was titled George Best and featured him on the cover.

The Belfast punk band Runnin' Riot have a song titled "Alcoholic Heroes" written about George Best.

George was the subject of many books and wrote his life story a number of times. "The Good, The Bad and The Bubbly" co-written with Ross Benson was the first to touch on his alcoholism but it was "Blessed" and "Scoring At Half Time" written with Roy Collins and Martin Knight respectively shortly before his death where he revealed most about himself.

A picture of George is seen on the front cover of the 1994 album Definitely Maybe by the British band Oasis. This is mainly due to the fact that then rhythm guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs is a big Manchester United fan.

Quotations

Wikiquote-logo-en.png
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
  • "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered."
  • "I used to go missing a lot...Miss Canada, Miss United Kingdom, Miss World..."
  • (On David Beckham) "He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that he's alright."
  • "If I had been born ugly, you would never have heard of Pelé" [9]
  • "In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol. It was the worst 20 minutes of my life."
  • "Pelé called me the greatest footballer in the world. That is the ultimate salute to my life."
  • "I've stopped drinking, but only while I'm asleep."
  • "I once said Gazza's IQ was less than his shirt number and he asked me: "What's an IQ?""
  • (On Éric Cantona) "I'd give all the Champagne I've ever drunk to be playing alongside him in a big European match at Old Trafford."
  • (On the blood transfusion after his liver transplant) "I was in for 10 hours and had 40 pints - beating my previous record by 20 minutes."
  • "I went from El Beatle to El Vino in three short years."
  • "I might have been good, but Colin Bell was better."
  • (Joking in a discussion on Sky Sports News) "All seater stadiums? The fans WON'T STAND for it!"
  • (On Wayne Rooney) If he thinks he's got pressure now, things are going to get 10 times worse.
  • (On what many consider his greatest goal, for San Jose Earthquakes against Fort Lauderdale strikers) I set off. I beat one player, then another. By the end I had beaten five of them in the space of 10 yards. I didn't know how I did it and still don't ...When I see it on television, it still dazzles me.
  • (On his decline) It had nothing to do with women and booze, car crashes or court cases. It was purely football. Losing wasn't in my vocabulary. When the wonderful players I had been brought up with " Charlton, Law, Crerand, Stiles " went into decline, United made no real attempt to buy the best replacements. I was left struggling among fellas who should not have been allowed through the door. It sickened me that we ended up being just about the worst team in the First Division.

Honors

  • Football League Championship winners medal, 1965 & 1967
  • UEFA European Cup winners medal, 1968
  • European Footballer of the Year, 1968
  • Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, 1968
  • Holds the record for the most goals by a Manchester United player in a single match, six against Northampton Town F.C., FA Cup fifth round on February 8 1970. United won the match 8-2.
  • Freeman of Castlereagh Borough Council, 2002
  • Inaugural Inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame, 2002
  • Honorary Doctorate from the Queen's University of Belfast, 2001
  • Professional Footballers Association Special Merit Award, for his services to football, 2006

Memorials

The new airport signage

Belfast City Airport has been renamed[10] George Best Belfast City Airport[11] as a tribute to the East Belfast footballing legend. 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. After Best's funeral, his family contacted the airport, indicating that they felt that this would be the most appropriate memorial. Their spokesperson commented:

"We are delighted that airport management have decided to rename the airport in honor of George. Belfast City Airport is synonymous with East Belfast and with thousands of people using the airport on a daily basis George's memory will never be forgotten. This is a highly visible and lasting memorial to George that we hope will please many people in Northern Ireland."

Not everyone in Northern Ireland considered the renaming of the airport to be appropriate. Whilst his prowess as a footballer is almost universally acknowledged, many people - in Northern Ireland and beyond - believe that his drunken antics, caused by his alcoholism, and his treatment of women meant that such posthumous recognition was undeserved. Also, the fact that an airport was renamed after Best was felt by some to be too great an honor, as he had only contributed to the world of football and not society as a whole.

In March 2006, Flybe, the airport's biggest operator, named a Dash-8 plane G-JECL The George Best. The specially branded Q400 aircraft was used to carry Best's family across to the Manchester memorial service for Best. [12]

On the 60th birthday anniversary, 22 May 2006, at special gala dinner held in George's honor at Belfast City Hall, an auction was held to raise funds for the George Best Foundation. One of the items featured was the 'Genius' egg from the world famous jewellers Fabergé [13]. The new piece designed by Sarah Fabergé, the great granddaughter of Carl Fabergé, the world famous designer of the first Fabergé Eggs and Royal Court Jeweller for the Russian Royal family, has been commissioned by George Best Carryduff MUSC. All profits from the sale of the eggs will be donated to the George Best Foundation [14].

For the first anniversary of his death, Ulster Bank issued one million commemorative five pound notes. [2]The notes were sold out in three days.

Trivia

  • For the 1987 album by The Wedding Present, see George Best (album).
  • "Best is portrayed in "A dedicated follower of fashion", by The Kinks
  • The song "Belfast Boy" by Don Fardon honors Best
  • The May 2000 issue of the classic car magazine, Practical Classics ran an article featuring the Jensen Interceptor. A quote was that "Fuel consumption is firmly in the George Best league of fluid swallowing capabilities", referencing Best's drinking habits.
  • One of George Best favorite songs was Bob Dylan's 'Positively Fourth Street'.

Appearances and goals for each club

  • Pre -1963 - Cregagh Rangers Boys Club
  • 1963-1974 - Manchester United: 466 games, 178 goals, (Football League First Division 361/137, FA Cup 46/21, Football League Cup 25/9, International club football 34/11)
  • 1974 - Jewish Guild of Johannesburg: 5 games
  • 1975 - Dunstable Town (friendlies)
  • 1975 - Stockport County : 3 games, 2 goals
  • 1976 - Cork Celtic: 3 games, 0 goals
  • 1976 - Los Angeles Aztecs: 24 games, 15 goals (NASL)
  • 1976-1977 - Fulham: 47 games, 10 goals
  • 1977-1978 - Los Angeles Aztecs: 37 games, 14 goals (NASL)
  • 1978-1979 - Fort Lauderdale Strikers: 33 games, 7 goals (NASL)
  • 1979-1980 - Hibernian: 22 games, 3 goals
  • 1980-1981 - San Jose Earthquakes (NASL team): 56 games, 21 goals (NASL)
  • 1983 - Bournemouth: 5 games, 0 goals
  • 1983 - Brisbane Lions: 4 games, 0 goals
  • 1984 - Tobermore United: 1 game, 0 goals

International: 1964-1978 - Northern Ireland national team: 37 games, 9 goals

See also

  • UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll
  • BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Grosvenor Grammar School

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

External links

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.

  1. BBC
  2. "Bank note honor for George Best", BBC Online, 26 October 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-26.