Friends pay tribute to Best at memorial

THE legend that is George Best drew one more capacity crowd at Manchester Cathedral as the great and the good of football mingled with ordinary fans to pay tribute to the Manchester United and Northern Ireland star.

A congregation of over 1,000, including Best's father Dickie, old team-mates Denis Law and Paddy Crerand, Sir Alex Ferguson and the current United squad, plus for the last hour son Callum, made their way through the snow and sat through an uplifting 75-minute service which was also well received by the hundreds who gathered to watch on a big screen in nearby Exchange Square.

Led by actor James Nesbitt, a succession of Best's close friends recalled their own memories of the man with the magical feet, who died in November, aged 59.

Just as at his funeral back home in Belfast, Best's memory brought a mix of tears and laughter.

Both former business colleague Malcolm Wagner and fellow 1968 European Cup winner David Sadler choked at the end.

But Wilf McGuinness managed to lift any lingering sadness with a forceful accolade which did not avoid the flaws in Best's character.

"George was known for selling dummies, well he certainly sold me a few when I was his manager. It was a hair-raising experience that's for sure," chortled McGuinness.

Beforehand, Ferguson had spoken of the legacy Best left behind for the current generation, in particular the great courage he had shown throughout his footballing career.

"The legacy George leaves is for young players with talent to have the courage to express it and never let anyone put you down."

Yet to many, it was the personal problems which made Best such an alluring figure.

Reliability was not one of Best's many attributes, so Callum's absence from the start of proceedings was something of which his dad would no doubt approve.

"It is my father's memorial and I will be late if I want to," declared Callum, having spent the best part of 30 minutes signing autographs and posing for photographs with supporters.

Law's tearful presence outside the Cromwell Hospital remains one of the most haunting memories of the closing chapter in Best's battle for life.

But this time, the Scot was in control as he remembered his old team-mate.

"It was very sad, but also very joyful," he said. "The most amazing thing is that I didn't cry.

"Everyone spoke from the heart and overall it was a very fitting tribute."