tomclare
24th May 2006, 04:01
"Number One, was Georgie Best, Number Two-ooo , was Georgie Best, Number Three, was Georgie Best, Number Four -uur, was Georgie Best......." and so it went on as 400 or more people packed into the Samuel Platt's pub and raised their voices in tribute to their recently departed favourite son. It was fitting that Platt's lies in the shadow of Old Trafford stadium where George enjoyed his finest hours. For most that were present, it was a very poignant moment, but I suspect none more so than for George's father Dickie, his sister Barbara and her husband Norman, who were sitting there under the glow of the spotlights, alongside another United legend and close friend of George's, Paddy Crerand. It was a moment when people in that audience, who remembered George so well, shed more than a tear. I suspect that there was also a lot of people present at this function who actually never ever saw George play, but that didn?t matter as they had also come to pay their respects, and also part with their hard earned cash to help boost the funds in support of the George Best Foundation.
For me personally, it was an occasion that I would not have missed, and as I listened to those present belching out their rousing tribute, I too felt very emotional and also very humble. Not only because we were remembering George, but because I was back once again amongst people whom I term are "United family people." The atmosphere was so very different than what I had experienced during my last number of visits to Old Trafford for matches. People were there in attendance because they cared and wanted to do, and be part of, something very special. They were there because they cared about Manchester United Football Club and one of it's favourite sons. Cared about his family and what they are trying to achieve in his memory. Cared about the history, traditions, and values, of what Manchester United used to stand for. They were simply, "Manchester United people."
So much hard work had gone into planning this event. So much time given by people who were only too willing to give it. None of them doing it for recognition or self gratification. Just happy to be part and parcel of making sure that the evening went along superbly, and in that process, making sure that all the attendees enjoyed themselves. I can say for certain that nobody left Samuel Platt's that evening or early morning, disappointed. It is a great credit to all the IMUSA/MUST personnel that took part in the organizing and setting up of the function, that it flowed so smoothly, and I for one, on behalf of everybody who was there, would like to thank you all sincerely for a wonderful job that was so well done.
There was a buzz about Platt's from the moment that you entered through the front door. Myself and my guests arrived at 7:30p.m and even at that time, there was hardly a spare seat to be found in the establishment, upstairs or downstairs. It didn't matter. People, a lot of whom were complete strangers to each other, were only too happy to engage in conversation. It was a happy, engaging atmosphere and it just felt so good to be there. Everybody felt so proud and privileged to be in the company of George's family, and as Barbara said when she made her speech, the feeling was reciprocal. She spoke with such pride and dignity, explaining exactly what the Foundation was about, and her words were inspirational.
Paddy Crerand did a question and answer session with the audience and told some wonderful tales. Two ladies had traveled all the way up from Northampton and told of how they had become United fans after seeing George score his six goals in that famous F.A. Cup tie all those years ago. Dickie's face beamed as he listened and it was worth the price of the ticket just to see how happy he looked. I talked with a party of young people from Southend who had also traveled up to Manchester especially for the function. Kids who were far too young to remember George, but who felt that "we just had to be here." In conversation with Pete Martin from the Hanky Park duo, it was pleasing to hear his 17 years old son remark as he looked around the room; "this is what United is all about - belonging, being part of family."
Everybody inside Platt's entered into the spirit of what the evening was all about. The musicians were superb and the audience participation raucous! Don Fardon brought everybody to a crescendo with his song "Belfast Boy", and Desi had us all in stitiches regaling tales of his times with George. Cracked Flag were superb as was Hanky Park with their rock and roll routine.
It was so lovely to finally meet lots of people of whom previously I had only known from their user names on this board. The neck oil flowed copiously throughout the evening but all too soon it was over - but what a great night/morning it had been. Well worth the breakfast of buttered Anadins that I swallowed later that morning!
For me personally, it was an occasion that I would not have missed, and as I listened to those present belching out their rousing tribute, I too felt very emotional and also very humble. Not only because we were remembering George, but because I was back once again amongst people whom I term are "United family people." The atmosphere was so very different than what I had experienced during my last number of visits to Old Trafford for matches. People were there in attendance because they cared and wanted to do, and be part of, something very special. They were there because they cared about Manchester United Football Club and one of it's favourite sons. Cared about his family and what they are trying to achieve in his memory. Cared about the history, traditions, and values, of what Manchester United used to stand for. They were simply, "Manchester United people."
So much hard work had gone into planning this event. So much time given by people who were only too willing to give it. None of them doing it for recognition or self gratification. Just happy to be part and parcel of making sure that the evening went along superbly, and in that process, making sure that all the attendees enjoyed themselves. I can say for certain that nobody left Samuel Platt's that evening or early morning, disappointed. It is a great credit to all the IMUSA/MUST personnel that took part in the organizing and setting up of the function, that it flowed so smoothly, and I for one, on behalf of everybody who was there, would like to thank you all sincerely for a wonderful job that was so well done.
There was a buzz about Platt's from the moment that you entered through the front door. Myself and my guests arrived at 7:30p.m and even at that time, there was hardly a spare seat to be found in the establishment, upstairs or downstairs. It didn't matter. People, a lot of whom were complete strangers to each other, were only too happy to engage in conversation. It was a happy, engaging atmosphere and it just felt so good to be there. Everybody felt so proud and privileged to be in the company of George's family, and as Barbara said when she made her speech, the feeling was reciprocal. She spoke with such pride and dignity, explaining exactly what the Foundation was about, and her words were inspirational.
Paddy Crerand did a question and answer session with the audience and told some wonderful tales. Two ladies had traveled all the way up from Northampton and told of how they had become United fans after seeing George score his six goals in that famous F.A. Cup tie all those years ago. Dickie's face beamed as he listened and it was worth the price of the ticket just to see how happy he looked. I talked with a party of young people from Southend who had also traveled up to Manchester especially for the function. Kids who were far too young to remember George, but who felt that "we just had to be here." In conversation with Pete Martin from the Hanky Park duo, it was pleasing to hear his 17 years old son remark as he looked around the room; "this is what United is all about - belonging, being part of family."
Everybody inside Platt's entered into the spirit of what the evening was all about. The musicians were superb and the audience participation raucous! Don Fardon brought everybody to a crescendo with his song "Belfast Boy", and Desi had us all in stitiches regaling tales of his times with George. Cracked Flag were superb as was Hanky Park with their rock and roll routine.
It was so lovely to finally meet lots of people of whom previously I had only known from their user names on this board. The neck oil flowed copiously throughout the evening but all too soon it was over - but what a great night/morning it had been. Well worth the breakfast of buttered Anadins that I swallowed later that morning!