Manchester's heartfelt tribute to adopted son

Published on Sunday 4 December 2005 01:27

MANCHESTER, George Best's adopted home, also witnessed emotional scenes yesterday as the soccer great was laid to rest.

Manchester United fans, Manchester City fans and Christmas shoppers watched a live screening of the Stormont funeral on a giant screen in Exchange Square.

Braving the rain and sheltering under umbrellas the people stood silently, their thoughts with their hero. An adopted son of the city, Best arrived in Manchester as a shy Belfast teenager but soon became a footballing legend.

Yesterday some shed tears, some clutched their Manchester United shirts, while others simply applauded after every reading from Best's friends and family.

A framed photo of the footballer was placed beneath the huge BBC screen, one couple sheltered under a Manchester United umbrella and another man proudly wore a T-shirt saying: "George Best: Legend".

Christine Richardson, 43, from Old Trafford, wept as she watched Calum Best speak at the funeral. "Manchester is in mourning, Northern Ireland is in mourning, but it's George's family who my heart really goes out to today. He was a great man, this city worshipped him and he will never be forgotten."

Manchester United fan David Jones, 23, said he had come to the screening because he wanted to be part of the "historic" occasion.

He said: "I'm only 23 so I never got to see George play, but he will always be a legend for Man United fans of any age.

"I know there will be a lot of people from Manchester who have flown over to Belfast this weekend but those of us who couldn't make it are remembering him here, in our own way."

Round the corner from Exchange Square, Manchester Cathedral opened the Regimental Chapel to enable visitors to remember Best.

A steady stream of people queued up to sign a book of condolence, which was moved to the cathedral from Manchester United's Old Trafford ground on Friday. One message, signed simply "Maggie" read: "Ireland lost a son, football lost a legend and I lost my sweetheart."

Behind the book, two photos of Best in his Manchester United shirt were surrounded by a club scarf, wreaths and candles lit by members of the public.