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George Best (Manchester United)
'When
the football was great and I was playing well, I couldn't
wait to get up in the morning and that was the foundation
of my life.' George Best in Blessed.
RIP
George, 25 November, 2005.
George
Best - Manchester United
George Best will qualify as perhaps the
most famous person in the entire 70-71 album on which
this site is originally based. Everyone who follows
football learns the George Best stories from both on and
off the pitch, and without the natural talent he would
never have made the grade as one of football's most
glamorous names.
He was a
member of the Manchester United side that robbed Leeds of
the Championship in 1965, and the Championship side of
1967 that subsequently won the European Cup in 1968 - the
first English side to ever do so, and he was named
European Footballer of the Year at the same time.
Unfortunately, as a Northern Ireland international, he
remains probably the greatest player never to play in the
World Cup Finals.
Everyone
knows what happened next, Man U went down hill, and
George's career slipped with it. There were high profile
relationships, brushes with the law, naughty words in
front of Terry Wogan, but it had little to do with
football. Throughout his late and post-football career,
George continued to be very media friendly. When George
was 50, the UK's national television devoted an evening
to him. So the myth continued to grow out of the legend.
Sadly
though, George never overcame alcoholism, and after a
much publicised liver transplant, began to drink
again. Before he reached 60 he died after a long
illness. No footballer before him has received as
much attention as he did, even in death. His last
public photograph was on the News of the World
front page the weekend before he died. He wanted
people to see it, to warn them of the terrible
effects alcohol can have on a person's life.
Now he is
in peace we can concentrate on remembering George as one
of the greatest footballers ever to play the game. He is
often called the football 's first modern celebrity, and
that may be why some people know his name, but let
history record that he was a footballer first and the
first among footballers.
The Net is
very poorly served for such great legends as George,
consequently many people have found their way to this
site. Not surprisingly it is receiving unprecedented
levels of traffic and never before has this site received
so many emails. Thank you for all these wonderful
tributes to George. The footballing World is without
doubt being united in the moment of sadness felt for this
great man. I would invite you to pass on your respects in
the site's Guestbook. For contributions via email please see Tributes.
The
BBC broke the news in the following way at BBC NEWS UK Football
legend George Best dies
Former
football star George Best has died in hospital at
the age of 59.
Son Calum,
24, who had kept an all-night vigil at Best's
bedside, said: "Not only have I lost my Dad but
we've all lost a wonderful man."
Best died
in intensive care at 1255 GMT on Friday following
"a long and very valiant fight", said a
statement from west London's Cromwell Hospital.
The
ex-Manchester United and Northern Ireland star had
multiple organ failure following weeks of ill health.
Best's
father Dickie, 87, was among family members at the
bedside overnight.
His sister
Barbara McNarry said outside the hospital: "To
the thousands upon thousands of people who have sent
cards and emails, we have taken great comfort from
them, especially during the long hours."
A statement
from Best's second wife, Alex, said: "George was
the love of my life. He was a unique and talented
person who made a lot of people very happy."
Tributes
Prime
Minister Tony Blair led tributes, calling Best
"probably the most naturally gifted footballer
of his generation, one of the greatest footballers
the UK has ever produced".
"Anyone
who has seen him as a football fan will never forget
it," Mr Blair said from the Commonwealth Head of
Governments meeting in Malta.
Republic of
Ireland Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said:
"George should be remembered as the very best at
what he did. He was quite simply a football
genius."
Best's
former Manchester United team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton
said: "He made an immense contribution to the
game, and enriched the lives of everyone that saw him
play.
"Football
has lost one of its greats, and I have lost a dear
friend. He was a marvellous person."
The
statement from the club said: "For the goals,
the audacious dribbles and all the wonderful
memories, Manchester United and its legions of fans
worldwide will always be grateful."
Deterioration
Best had
been in hospital since entering with flu-like
symptoms on 1 October, later suffering a kidney
infection.
His
condition deteriorated sharply last Friday with the
development of a lung infection that led to internal
bleeding.
Best, a
recovering alcoholic, was particularly susceptible to
infection because of medicines he needed after a 2002
liver transplant.
The
Belfast-born former footballer and television pundit
had been prescribed medication to suppress the immune
system and prevent his body rejecting the new liver.
At the time
of his hospital admission in October, Best's agent
Phil Hughes said his client had been "off the
drink" before being admitted to the hospital.
Heyday
Best is
widely regarded as one of the greatest players to
have graced the British and world game.
His heyday
occurred during the 1960s, and he brought a pop star
image to the game for the first time.
But the
accompanying champagne and playboy lifestyle
degenerated into alcoholism, bankruptcy, a prison
sentence for drink-driving and, eventually, his
controversial liver transplant.
He helped
Manchester United win the First Division title in
1965 and 1967 and the European Cup in 1968. His role
in the team's success was recognised by his becoming
the European Footballer of the Year in 1968.
Best made
466 appearances for the Old Trafford club, scoring a
total of 178 goals.
He also won
37 caps - scoring nine goals - for Northern Ireland.
Johnny Haynes (Durban City)
It was only in April of
this year that I was able to confirm that Johnny Haynes
was a Bob 70-71 Player, as he had a famous retirement in
the 1969-70 season. In fact, he went on to further great
achievements in South Africa with Durban City, winning
his first Championship medal with the club. Sadly, he has
died following a car crash, and his enduring importance
to football was underlined by the fact that his death
made the national news 35 years after he stepped out of
English football.
Johnny was of course a
god at Fulham, the only English club he played for, and
still holds their League appearances record (see Club records). He was an England
regular until the 1962 World Cup, when a car crash ended
his England career after 56 matches - 22 as England
captain. But the national news interest is that Johnny
was the first ever player to earn a 100 pound a week
wage!
See BBC SPORT Football Legendary
Haynes dies after crash reports:
Fulham and England
midfield legend Johnny Haynes has died aged 71,
following a car crash on Monday.
He was taken to
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but died of his injuries on
Tuesday evening (18 October, 2005).
His wife, who was
also in the car, was treated for chest injuries, and
the driver of the other vehicle, a 48-year-old man,
escaped uninjured.
Haynes spent his
whole domestic career at Fulham, and was the first
player to earn more than £100 per week.
The club announced
that there will be a minute's silence for the man
known as "The Maestro" before Saturday's
home fixture with Liverpool.
"It is with
great regret that the club informs its fans of this
very sad news," said a statement from Fulham.
"He was
idolised by Fulham supporters and remained at the
Cottage throughout his career, despite offers from
bigger clubs.
"The thoughts
and sympathies of everyone associated with the club
are with his family at this time."
Haynes, who joined
Fulham as a 17-year-old, was the first player to
represent England at every level, and he won 56 caps
at senior level.
Born in 1934 in
Kentish Town North London, he made 594 league
appearances for Fulham before leaving in 1970 to move
to South Africa, where he played for Durban City.
He had a spell as
player-manager after Bobby Robson was sacked in 1968,
and is most famous for being the first footballer to
earn £100 per week when the maximum wage was
abolished in 1961.
During his career
with the Cottagers he turned down moves to Tottenham
and AC Milan.
Haynes made his
England debut in October 1954, scoring one goal in a
2-0 win over Northern Ireland in Belfast.
He went to the 1954
World Cup as a reserve and also the 1958 and 1962
tournaments.
Haynes became
captain of his country in 1960, and a year later he
captained England to the Home International trophy,
after a 9-3 drubbing of Scotland at Wembley.
Haynes himself was
credited with a masterful display in that famous
match, including scoring two of the goals.
Alan Mullery,
another former Fulham and England great, added:
"He was the only reason I went to Fulham as a
young boy of 15 leaving school. He was my hero, the
captain of England and Fulham.
"The word great
rolls off the tongue quite easily these days but he
really was. He was the best passer of a ball I have
ever seen - I don't know anyone who could pass a ball
as accurately.
"Anyone who saw
him will know what a great player he was. It's a very
sad day. He will never go from my memory."
And Fulham
Supporters Trust spokesman Tom Greatrex said:
"His dedication, skill, professionalism, grace
and charm - both in his playing days and in
retirement - serve as a poignant reminder to many of
today's footballers about what true greatness really
means."
Sky Sports 2005-6
One of the worst parts
of the new season for me is the arrival of the new Sky
Sports (formerly Rothmans) Football Yearbook, reading the
obituary column, and finding out about Bob 70-71 Players
that have died over the past year. Sadly this year is no
exception.
Eric Probert (Burnley)
I was especially
sad to hear that Eric Probert had
died in September 2004. Eric was from South Kirkby,
Yorkshire, near to where I work, and was number 42 in
the World of Soccer Stars album that this site was
originally based on.
Eric was one of my
particular heroes as I was growing up, if for an
unusual reason.
He was part of the
Burnley team that reached the final of a major
football tournament created and played out by my
friends and I...using tiddlewinks. Naturally, Burnley
lost out to a very strong Leeds Revie side - not
least because we were all Leeds fans.
If anyone has a
full obituary I can use on the site, I would very
much like to include it here.
In the meantime,
this obituary appeared in Sky Sports Football
Yearbook.
As a
youngster, Eric Probert on England Youth honours and
made his debut in top flight football for Burnley as
a 16 year old. A hard tackling midfield player...he
went on to make over 200 senior appearances, also
palying for Notts County and Darlington.
The following is
further obituraries as they appear in Sky Sports Football
Yearbook, please email the site if you have a more
complete obituary I could include.
Ronnie Bird (Cardiff City)
After
failing to make the grade with Birmingham City,
Ronnie Bird did well in spells with Bradford Park
Avenue and Bury before moving on to join Cardiff
City. A skillful left winger with a cannonball shot,
he scored 24 goals in just over 100 appearances for
the bluebirds before concluding his senior career at
Crewe.
Peter Firmini (Brother to Eddie Firmini - Crystal Palace)
One of
several South Africans to play for Charlton Athletic
during the 1950s. Peter Firmini who was a right back
who made 31 appearances for the Addicks. He later
returned to South Africa where he played for the
Highlands Park and Wanderers clubs.
Noel Cantwell (Coventry City manager)
I was very sorry to hear that
one of the managers in the 1970-71 FKS World of Soccer
Stars Album has died. Noel Cantwell was one of the true
greats of football, as reflected by the following
reports...
At Yahoo! Groups
sixtiesandseventiessoccer Deadpigs2 writes
Noel managed to keep
the club (Coventry City) in the top flight during
their first season with the elite - after taking over
in difficult circumstances from the legendary Jimmy
Hill who unexpectedly walked out to take up a TV role
... He is also the only City manager to have taken
the club into Europe ... (YES! we have played in
Europe ... beating Bayern Munich 2-1 at home - sadly
they stuffed us 6-1 in the 1st leg ! )
BBC SPORT Football Cantwell dies after
cancer battle writes:
Former Manchester
United captain Noel Cantwell has died at the age of
73 after a battle against cancer.
Cantwell was signed
for United by Sir Matt Busby in November 1960 from
West Ham for £29,500 and spent six years at Old
Trafford.
The full-back was
captain of the United side that won the 1963 FA Cup
and was skipper of the Republic of Ireland.
Cantwell managed
Coventry and Peterborough and also represented
Ireland at cricket.
Manchester United
will hold a minute's silence before Saturday's game
with Manchester City as a mark of respect.
Cantwell played for
Western Rovers and Cork Athletic before West Ham
brought him to England as an 18-year-old in 1952.
Cantwell won a
second division championship medal in 1958 and made
almost 250 appearances for the Hammers before leaving
for Old Trafford.
He was club captain
at United when they won the 1967 league title,
although he made just four appearances that season.
Cantwell took over
as manager of Coventry in October 1967 and presided
over 200 games in charge before leaving in March
1972.
He also had two
spells as Peterborough manager - the first from 1972
until 1977 and the second from 1986 until 1988.
The Cork-born
defender also coached New England and Jacksonville in
the North American Soccer League and was chairman of
the Professional Footballers' Association.
Cantwell played
cricket for Ireland, his one match coming in 1956 and
comprising two innings for 48 runs with a highest
score of 31 and two overs for 13 runs.
Manchester United Former Reds skipper
Cantwell dies reports
FORMER Manchester
United and Republic of Ireland captain Noel Cantwell
has died aged 73.
He had been
suffering from ill health for several years.
The Cork-born
full-back, who guided United to the FA Cup in 1963,
was a double international representing his country
at both football and cricket.
He cost United
£29,500 when he joined from West Ham in November
1960.
Cantwell, signed by
legendary United boss Sir Matt Busby in the aftermath
of the Munich air disaster, made 144 appearances for
United and scored eight goals.
He was capped 36
times by his country, scoring 14 goals and narrowly
missing out on leading the Republic to the 1966 World
Cup finals in England.
He had joined West
Ham as an 18-year-old in 1952 and made 248
appearances, scoring 11 goals, for them - helping the
Hammers win the Second Division title in 1958.
Cantwell stayed at
Old Trafford for seven years, playing alongside the
likes of Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best, but
played only four games as they won the 1967 League
championship in his final season.
After ending his
playing career, he moved into management with
Coventry - resigning his post as chairman of the
Professional Footballers’ Association to take
over at Highfield Road - and Peterborough before
coaching in north America.
He then became a
publican and settled in Peterborough.
Last November he
told RTE Radio: “In 1963 we won the Cup and I
happened to be captain. It was a great day.
“Leicester were
favourites to win it. But we always played in flashes
and we always thought that Wembley would suit us.
“I think I had
only taken over the captaincy early in that season.
The turmoil at the club was reflected in how many
times the captain changed. But that was a very
special day at Wembley.”
Cantwell was highly
regarded at Old Trafford and was at one stage tipped
to take over from Busby as manager.
“I remember
Matt telling me he wanted me to be coach at Old
Trafford. I was very excited. But it never
materialised.”
NOEL CANTWELL DIES - West Ham United FC -
The Official Website,
which writes:
FORMER West Ham
United and Republic of Ireland left-back Noel
Cantwell sadly died early today, Thursday 8th
September, after a long battle against cancer aged
73.
A skilled and attack-minded defender, Noel was born
in Cork on 28th February, 1932 and joined the Hammers
from Cork United in 1952.
Alongside John Bond, he formed one of the strongest
full-back partnerships in West Ham United’s
history and played a major role in the team that won
promotion to the old First Division in 1957-58.
Noel made 263 senior appearances, many as captain,
and scored 11 goals for the Hammers before his
transfer to Manchester United for £29,500 in
September 1960 (a record for a full-back at the
time).
He went on to even greater triumphs with Manchester
United, including skippering their 1963 FA
Cup-winning team.
He won 17 caps for the Republic of Ireland before
retiring from playing. He was then manager of
Coventry City and Peterborough United, where he lived
for many years.
Noel leaves a wife, Margaret and daughter, and will
be greatly missed by his former team-mates and
colleagues in the game he graced so elegantly.
Thanks once again to David
Szabo who informed me of the above link.
Peterborough Today News
TRIBUTE: Death of a
Posh legend THE football world was in mourning today
as legendary Posh manager Noel Cantwell died at the
age of 73 following a battle with cancer. Football
League Managers Association chief executive John
Barnwell – a former assistant to Noel at London
Road – led the tributes to a man revered as
"The Messiah" by Posh supporters.
Noel transformed Posh from also-rans to champions in
just 18 months, after arriving at the club for the
first time in 1972.
Mr Barnwell said: "It's been common knowledge
that Noel has been ill for a long time, but I spoke
to him just a week ago when he was typically cheerful
and optimistic about the future.
"That summed Noel up. Nothing got him down and
he was always looking on the bright side of life. My
first job as a coach in football was at Peterborough,
and I only took the post because of Noel.
"He invited me down to watch a cup game and I
didn't fancy the job at all because there were only
about 1,000 people at the match. But Noel had a
wonderfully persuasive manner about him and we
enjoyed a dream working relationship.
"It was a terrific time for me at Peterborough.
They were the best and most productive times of my
football career and that was mainly down to Noel.
"He was also one of the most senior members of
the League Managers Association, and one of the most
respected. We send our sincere condolences to his
family."
Noel was appointed Posh manager in October 1972 when
Posh were bottom of the entire Football League.
Within 18 months they had won the Fourth Division
title and Noel's place in London Road folklore was
secure.
He left the club to manage in the United States in
1977, but returned for a second spell as Posh boss in
1986. He is the second longest-serving manager in the
club's history after Barry Fry.
Noel enjoyed an outstanding playing career at West
Ham and Manchester United, lifting the FA Cup as
captain of the latter in 1963. He also won 36
international caps for Eire.
Posh Director of Football, Barry Fry said: "Noel
was a legend, a truly great man who will be missed by
us all. I knew him when I was a player at Manchester
United, and he used to look out for me.
"He was loved by all the young players because
of his modest personality and easy-going manner. He
was my guest at my Testimonial against Manchester
United in the summer, and he appeared to be in great
form.
"Obviously his success at Posh speaks for
itself. He was just a great man and a great
manager."
The most successful manager in Posh history, Chris
Turner, who played under Noel in both Peterborough
and America, added: "It's a sad day for the city
because Noel was a true legend. He played a big part
in my life, and I don't think I would have amounted
to much in football without his guidance. We were
rubbish when Noel arrived, and he turned us into
champions."
Posh will be holding a minute's silence in honour of
Noel ahead of Saturday's League Two clash with
Grimsby at London Road.
Yahoo Sports - Former United Skipper
Cantwell Dies
Former United
Skipper Cantwell Dies Thu 08 Sep, 2:09 PM
Legendary Manchester
United goalkeeper Harry Gregg has 'lost a great
friend' in the Red Devils' 1963 FA Cup-winning
captain Noel Cantwell, who has died aged 73.
Gregg remained close
friends with Cantwell after their respective playing
careers had finished and chatted to the Cork-born
defender only last week.
Even though he knew
Cantwell was gravely ill, Gregg said his old
team-mate retained his usual spark and the former
Northern Ireland international was stunned to learn
of his passing early.
"I knew Noel as
a person and as a friend and the memories of that
mean more to me than anything we did on a football
field," said Gregg.
"We used to
have a joke about things because we both had
treatment for cancer around the same time. In some
ways, the illness brought us even closer together.
"We go back
such a long way, right to the days when we both came
over from Ireland and I just feel terribly sorry for
his family. I have lost a great friend."
Cantwell made 144
appearances in a seven-year stint at Old Trafford
after Sir Matt Busby snapped him up from West Ham in
1960 as he continued the rebuilding process following
the Munich air disaster.
After skippering
United to their 1963 Wembley triumph over Leicester,
he remained club captain throughout their 1966-67
title-winning campaign, although he made just four
appearances that season.
In between, he won
36 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring on an
incredible 14 occasions, and narrowly missed out on
leading his country to the 1966 World Cup Finals in
England.
"Noel Cantwell
was one of the great characters not only of football
but of Irish sport in general," said Football
Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney.
"He was a great
inspiration to those who played alongside him whether
for club or country."
Cantwell
subsequently moved into the manager's hot seat at
Coventry, then had two spells in charge of
Peterborough, where he eventually returned to become
a licensee.
He also played
cricket for Ireland, scoring 48 runs in two innings.
Cantwell moved into
management at Coventry following the Sky Blues'
promotion to the top flight in 1967, and led them
into Europe for the first time after finishing sixth
in 1970 season.
He succeeded Jimmy
Hill at Highfield Road, and the TV pundit told the
club's website www.ccfc.co.uk: "It's tempting to
remember Noel for his special talent as a player and
as a manager. There's no doubt that those who worked
with him and for him would be happy to do that.
"However, away
from football, he was a delightful person;
considerate, helpful, likeable and full of fun.
"We will
remember his friendship and the service he gave to
our football club, as well as the pleasure he gave to
those fortunate enough to have known him."
RTÉ.ie Sport - Noel Cantwell dies aged
73 concludes
FAI chief executive
John Delaney said: "Noel Cantwell was one of the
great characters not only of football but of Irish
sport in general. He was a great inspiration to those
who played alongside him whether for club or country.
"On behalf of
the FAI and the family of football in Ireland I
extend sincere sympathy to Noel's family and friends.
May he Rest in Peace."
Also see Ex-Hammers
Further
Autumn 2005 news can be found at ...
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