Best comes home to Belfast for last time

MORE than 40 years after he set off as a teenager to seek fame and fortune with Manchester United, George Best returned home yesterday.

His coffin was taken back to his father’s home in the Cregagh area of east Belfast. A policeman saluted as the hearse pulled up outside the terraced house in Burren Way at exactly 1.15pm.

Moments later his coffin, draped in a Manchester United flag, was wheeled into the house where the blinds in all the windows were closed.

Best’s father Dickie and son Calum, together with all of Best’s brothers and sisters, had driven from RAF Aldergrove in a small convoy escorted by police motorbike outriders.

Both ends of the 200-yard long street were sealed by police but neighbours from his street gathered opposite the Best house and stood silently in pouring rain as the coffin was taken inside.

Dickie Best stood in the front garden with his grandson Calum for several minutes, showing him the shrine of wreaths, flowers, football shirts and scarves which has built up in the week since the football legend died. Just moments before the cortege arrived at the house, police allowed a teenager through the cordon to place one more wreath outside the house.

Several hundred fans stood at the end of the street paying their respects to their footballing hero, but most adhered to the request from the Best family to stay away.

The coffin bearing Best’s body will remain in his father’s house overnight before a private service in the house, followed by a public service of celebration of his life at Stormont.

The day will begin with a private blessing at the family home. The funeral procession will then drive to the Parliament Buildings at Stormont for a public service at 11am, which will be relayed to crowds outside on big screens.

This will be followed by a private burial at Roselawn Cemetery, in the same plot as his mother Ann.

His two former wives, Angie and Alex, will be among 300 people in Stormont’s Parliament Buildings for today’s ceremony.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, England manager Sven Goran Eriksson and Best’s Manchester United team mate Denis Law will be among the mourners. Several other United greats and former colleagues on the Northern Ireland squad will also attend. Sports Minister John O’Donoghue will represent the Irish Government.

Despite rumours sweeping the North yesterday, Pelé’s agent said yesterday that the soccer legend will not attend the funeral.

Massive crowds are expected to line the route as the coffin is taken from the house to Stormont, where crowds within the grounds are to be limited to 30,000 for safety reasons.