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03/04/2002
Castlereagh honours famous son George Best
Northern Ireland’s most famous footballer, George Best, has received the Freedom of the Borough from Castlereagh Council.
The Manchester United legend was born in east Belfast, and growing up he played football in the fields outside the Best family home in Cregagh.
The Castlereagh Council decided that as a reward to one of Northern Ireland’s most famous sons they would give him Freedom of the Borough.
A plaque, in his honour, was also unveiled at the Best family home in Castlereagh on Wednesday afternoon.
Recently suffering liver failure George Best is perhaps now as well known for his life long battle with alcohol as much as his football prowess. Yet many people believe that George at his peak was one of the best footballer players the world has ever seen.
Making his debut for Manchester United at the age of 17 in 1963, by 1968 he had been named English and European Footballer of the Year as he helped United become the first English club to lift the European Cup.
He quit Manchester at the age of 26 and, after a short comeback to Old Trafford, spent a decade playing for lower league English clubs and in America before finally retiring in 1983.
(AMcE)
The Manchester United legend was born in east Belfast, and growing up he played football in the fields outside the Best family home in Cregagh.
The Castlereagh Council decided that as a reward to one of Northern Ireland’s most famous sons they would give him Freedom of the Borough.
A plaque, in his honour, was also unveiled at the Best family home in Castlereagh on Wednesday afternoon.
Recently suffering liver failure George Best is perhaps now as well known for his life long battle with alcohol as much as his football prowess. Yet many people believe that George at his peak was one of the best footballer players the world has ever seen.
Making his debut for Manchester United at the age of 17 in 1963, by 1968 he had been named English and European Footballer of the Year as he helped United become the first English club to lift the European Cup.
He quit Manchester at the age of 26 and, after a short comeback to Old Trafford, spent a decade playing for lower league English clubs and in America before finally retiring in 1983.
(AMcE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A rather cloudy start with patchy mainly light rain, but becoming brighter through the day as the rain turns more showery, the best of any sunnier spells in the south. Maximum temperature 16 °C.Tonight:A few bright spells at first and any showers gradually dying out. Low cloud and mist or drizzle over northern coastal parts will spread south to most areas overnight. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
