FC United honour for legend Best

Source: M.E.N.

mike keegan
28/ 4/2007

GEORGE Best will be honoured by fans of breakaway club FC United today.

The legendary player's sister, Barbara McNarry, will be at Gigg Lane in Bury to pick up a cheque for £3,000, raised by fans of the club for a charity set up in her brother's memory.

Speaking to the M.E.N. just over a year after the memorial service for the United legend, Barbara revealed she was `desperate' to keep George's Manchester connections alive.

"He loved this place," she said. "He was a man who mixed with queens, kings, presidents and prime minister but he was always more at home in a Manchester pub playing cribbage with the ordinary man from the street"

She said Best's heart was always at Old Trafford: "Belfast was his home. But he never got Manchester out of his system. He lived in London for a long time but was always coming back here. I think he thought Mancunians were very similar characters to those from his home. And he loved United - they were always his team."

Barbara, 55, added that she was `always' thinking about her brother. "It's hard not to," she said. "We drive past an airport that's named after him every day.

"I find the whole thing astonishing - we have George Best Airport and £5 notes with his face on them in Northern Ireland. He was that popular and I don't think he ever realised it."

The money raised by FC United fans will go to the George Best Foundation, set up by his family last year.

The current total stands at £400,000 and will be spent on research into liver disease and alcoholism and on encouraging youngsters to play football.

FC United was set up two years ago by supporters disillusioned with the Glazer takeover. The cheque will be handed over as FC are crowned North West Counties Division One champions - the club's second league title in two seasons.

Manager Karl Marginson said: "It promises to be a great day. Last year's celebrations, when we had more than 6,000 here, will live long in the memory and I'm sure today will be equally special."

A spokeman from the club said: "The response from supporters has been magnificent. It just goes to show what George meant to us all."