Fans pay their respects to genius Best
Football fans across the country today fell silent to honour the genius of the late George Best.
The legendary Manchester United winger finally lost his battle for life yesterday at the age of 59.
And, as a mark of the high esteem in which the former Northern Ireland star was held by fans of all clubs, the tributes were well respected.
Supporters of United’s great rivals Manchester City and Liverpool, who met at Eastlands today, joined the silent tributes in the Premiership, with the announcement of George Best’s name bringing warm applause from both sets of fans before the tribute.
And there was a minute of applause at Molineux before the televised lunchtime game in the Championship, between Wolves – who Best supported as a boy – and Southampton.
Best was also honoured at games north of the border, where he played for Hibernian, with Celtic also holding a minute’s applause ahead of the Bank of Scotland Premier League game against Dunfermline.
Best’s prodigious talent drew the affection and awe of millions of fans and tributes to him have poured in from across the football world.
Books of condolence will be opened at the city hall in Belfast and at Manchester United, Best’s most famous club, for supporters to honour the player.
In the wake of his death, fans made a pilgrimage to Old Trafford to leave flowers, shirts and scarves, while friends said he should be remembered for inspiring an entire generation of players in the 1960s and 1970s.
The man hailed by many as the most talented British player of all time will be buried in his native Belfast beside his mother Ann. His funeral is expected to be held on Friday but final arrangements have not yet been made.
Best, who was a long-term alcoholic, died after suffering multiple organ failure yesterday at the Cromwell Hospital in west London.
