Belfast grieves for its ‘pure genius’ working-class hero

IAN HOUGHTON witnessed the grief of customers queuing at his fish and chip van on the Belfast housing estate where the soccer legend grew up.

The people of the Cregagh, who saw Best as a folk hero, were numb.

Pride burned in the eyes of others on the estate, a mile from Belfast’s shipyards and where Best’s father Dickie still lives.