George Best was a phenomenon of British sport. Blessed with an exceptional footballing gift, he was the first celebrity footballer and to many he remains the greatest player ever. This is a pictorial celebration of his playing career.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE BUBBLY traces five decades of George Best's fascinating life, from his humble beginnings as a shy working-class boy from Belfast to the man as he now stands.Best cast a spell on the world of football with his incredible form and star qualites but then spiralled into a fog of alcohol, women and gambling. This is the testament to the strength of character which got him through these perilous times. This affectionate account divulges the important relationships that Best formed along the way with such sporting legends as Denis Law, Sir Matt Busby, Nobby Stiles and Bobby Charlton, detailing what the world of football really meant to him. It also examines the George Best behind the scenes, in his own words and in his own inimitable style.

This revised edition of a classic text explores the development of rugby from a folk game into its modern forms. Updated with a substantial new foreword and epilogue.

George Best needs little introduction. A legend in his own lifetime, he is undoubtedly the greatest footballer the UK has ever produced. Blessed with an extraordinary gift he brought a beauty and grace to the game never before seen. But Best was unable to cope with the success and fame his football genius brought. His fabled story is littered with tales of women and sex and, of course, alcohol. Much has been written about Best, but very little substantiated by the man himself. That is until George Best opened his heart and engaged us in one of the most exhilarating life stories for years, Blessed. In his own words George recounts the halcyon days at Manchester United, the big games and European Cup win of '68. And then there's the heartbreaking truth about the death of his mother and his struggles with alcohol that forced him to face up to a life without drink. Blessed reveals the man behind the up-for-a-laugh, boozy, womanizing stereotype that had dogged George Best for so long. Open and honest about his mistakes, George is also incredibly candid about his triumphs, his regrets, and, only three years before his death, what he had hoped for the future. 'Don't coach him, he's a genius' Sir Matt Busby 'Unquestionably the greatest' Sir Alex Ferguson

George Best was sheer magic. Plucked from the mean streets of Belfast by a canny old scout, he astonished everyone at Old Trafford with his unique gift for the game, bursting into Matt Busby's first team at 17. He starred as Manchester United won the League title in 1964/65 while still in his teens and fame followed. 'El Beatle' became football's first pop idol in 1966 after the match of his life against Benfica in Lisbon. He shone again in 1966/67 as the Red Devils clinched the League title once more and then he was central to the lifting of the European Cup in 1968. Packed full of rare photos and personal insight from the men who knew him best on the pitch, the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, this book examines the career of a legend, celebrates the talent of a truly exceptional footballer and nods in heartfelt appreciation to the sporting gods who sent George Best to thrill us all.

One of the most famous footballers of all time, George Best is an icon to football fans all over the world. He lived a tumultuous life, and died in 2005 after battling with alcoholism. He is someone who has crossed over into legend status, with his personal life sometimes overshadowing his footballing prowess. There have been many books written about George, but here, Michael Parkinson combines his professional and personal knowledge of George with his classic and much loved writing style to produce a new, and interesting biography of a football and cultural icon.