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There’s only one George Best: British fans pay tribute

LONDON: Football fans across Britain paid tribute to late legend George Best with grounds holding a minute’s silence before Saturday’s kick-offs.

Best, considered one of the game’s finest-ever players, lost his long battle with alcoholism in a west London hospital on Friday. He was 59. The mercurial former Manchester United and Northern Ireland winger dazzled the crowds in grounds the length of the country and as a mark of the esteem with which he is held, the tributes were well respected.

At some stadiums, the minute was filled with applause or the chanting of Best’s name in appreciation for his talent. The flowers, scarves, team shirts, cards and farewell messages left at United’s Old Trafford ground continued to grow and fans quietly reflected as they looked at the tributes left there. At Portsmouth’s game against champions Chelsea, the memorial was particularly poignant as he was firm friends with Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric. The minutes’ silence quickly developed into a loud ovation and by the time it ended, the chant “there’s only one George Best” was echoing around Fratton Park. afp

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