Belfast airport renamed after soccer star

Belfast City Airport has today been renamed in honour of footballing legend, George Best.

A special ceremony to unveil the new signage was held earlier today, which would have been George's 60th birthday.

It is understood that around 200 people, along with family and friends of the former Northern Ireland International attended the unveiling, which was given the blessing of the Best family who are said to be "absolutely delighted" by the gesture.

George`s instantly recognisable signature has been added to the front of the airport's name in a tribute which his sister, Barbara McNarra said: "means everything to us."

Mrs McNarra, who was speaking on behalf of the Best family said: "This is a very special day for us. We are delighted that the airport, situated close to the family home in East Belfast, will now act as a permanent memorial to honour George."

Mrs McNarra also thanked the owners of the airport for agreeing to the tribute.

The decision to rename the airport was given the go-ahead following a number of meetings with airport management and representatives of the former footballers family.

A spokesperson for the airport said that managers believed renaming it after Best was "a fitting and permanent tribute to his footballing brilliance".

A permanent memorial will also be erected inside the airport, and people will be able to make charity donations to the George Best Foundation

George Best died from multiple organ failure in a London Hospital in November 2005.

He was buried at Roselawn cemetery in Belfast in a plot next to his mother Ann after one of the biggest funerals ever seen in Northern Ireland.

Since his death, numerous discussions have taken place to come up with a fitting way to pay tribute to the soccer star, including proposals to erect a statue of the footballer in Belfast City Centre.

In March, budget airline Flybe named a plane in honour of the ex-Manchester United icon, launching a plane bearing an image of the footballer in his glory days.

The plane flies from Belfast to Manchester on a daily basis.

The renaming of Belfast City Airport follows a similar move by Liverpool Airport, which was renamed after the former Beatle, John Lennon.

It is estimated that around 2.2 million passengers will use the George Best airport each year.

(EF)