Soccer legend George Best with his 1968 European Footballer of the Year Award. His funeral took place 20 years ago - on 3 December 2005.placeholder image
Soccer legend George Best with his 1968 European Footballer of the Year Award. His funeral took place 20 years ago - on 3 December 2005.
A leading Northern Ireland football fan has recalled the moment twenty years ago when the hearse of one of his heroes - George Best - passed by in east Belfast.
A legend at Manchester United, the east Belfast man was a key player as they won the European Cup for the first time in 1968.
He is also considered one of the greatest players never to feature at a World Cup, where he played for Northern Ireland.
On 3 December 2005 he was laid to rest after an emotional funeral service at Stormont in Belfast.
The George Best funeral procession leaves the Parliament Buildings in Stormont, Belfast, making its way to the Roselawn Cemetery in 2005.placeholder image
The George Best funeral procession leaves the Parliament Buildings in Stormont, Belfast, making its way to the Roselawn Cemetery in 2005.
The police said up to 100,000 were on the streets and at Stormont for the funeral.
Some of the biggest names in football attended, including Best's lifelong friend Denis Law and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Aged 59, Best, was buried beside his mother, Ann, at Roselawn Cemetery.
Chairman of the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters' Clubs, Gary McAllister, has very poignant memories of the day.
A view from the balcony of Parliament Buildings in Stormont, Belfast of George Best's funeral cortege making its way towards the buildings, Saturday December 3, 2005. Photo: Cathal McNaughton/PA Pool.placeholder image
A view from the balcony of Parliament Buildings in Stormont, Belfast of George Best's funeral cortege making its way towards the buildings, Saturday December 3, 2005. Photo: Cathal McNaughton/PA Pool.
"I remember very well - it was quite a cold day," he told the News Letter.
He travelled to the funeral with a bus of Northern Ireland supporters from the Shankill Road.
"The bus was full, and everyone was handed a red rose," he said.
They had to park ten minutes walk away from Stormont and arrived several hours early for the best spot.
Thanks to outdoor speakers, they were able to follow the full funeral service.
"Then eventually, when the service ended, the cortege passed and there were a number of cars and limousines following behind the coffin.
"People were throwing roses, not just the people who were with us, but quite a lot of people in the crowd had flowers, and threw them towards the hearse and the cars as they passed.”
He was especially struck by Best’s former wife Angie Best, expressing her thanks as she passed in the car behind the hearse.
“The most vivid thing was seeing Angie Best in the car behind, with her hands prayer-like.
"She was just thanking all the people who were there, just sort of gesturing with her hands.
"And I just remember it was a really vivid moment from the day.”
"People were there for quite a long time, but they didn't mind because it was a very important occasion for us all to be there.
"The crowd was really quiet, because people were respectful and mindful of the event that we were there for.
"It's very difficult to believe that that was 20 years ago.
“We all grew up knowing about George Best and his talents, and for his life to come near the end of a relatively young age, I think there was a lot of sadness around it.
“As a Northern Ireland football supporter, we all lost something - we lost our greatest icon in terms of his football ability - someone who put our country on the map for the very best of reasons."
"Regardless of how long the game of football exists, George Best will always be mentioned as one of the greatest footballers to have ever taken the field.
"And certainly for us in Northern Ireland and for anyone connected with Manchester United he will always remain an iconic figure.”