Best's trophies up for sale

Football legend George Best’s player of the year trophies were going up for auction today.

The European footballer and English footballer of the year mementoes were expected to fetch between €211,000 and €281,000 each.

Best said he will “shed a tear” when the awards are sold.

When he announced the sale in August, the former Manchester United hero said he wanted to use the proceeds to buy a Greek holiday home.

He is hoping that showbiz friends buy the two 1968 trophies so he will still be able to see them. He has had replicas made.

The sale was being held at at Bonhams in Chester, Cheshire.

When he handed the trophies over at the London branch of the auctioneer, the 57-year-old said: “I feel sheer pride when I look at them and I will shed a tear when they go, of course.

“It will be very emotional for me.

“When I collected them from the bank and touched them for the last time there was a lump in my throat.

“But I have thought about this for a long time and finally decided the time is right.”