Soccer

George Best to appear on Royal Mail stamp

Northern Ireland legend one of 11 players to be featured as part of FA anniversary celebrations

George Best’s sister, Barbara McNarry with the George Best stamp which goes on sale. Photograph: Simon Graham/Harrisons/PA Wire
George Best’s sister, Barbara McNarry with the George Best stamp which goes on sale. Photograph: Simon Graham/Harrisons/PA Wire
Wed May 08 2013 - 15:31

George Best is to feature on a new set of stamps which go on sale tomorrow.

The Royal Mail is marking the 150th anniversary of the establishment of association football with images of the 11 greatest players from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Former Manchester United forward Best is depicted in his Northern Ireland strip and a special Best postmark will appear in his home city of Belfast, Royal Mail said.

Best’s sister Barbara McNarry said: “I am deeply honoured to see George being recognised in such a special way by Royal Mail in this significant year for the Football Association. I am sure fans, not just from Northern Ireland and Great Britain, but from around the world will enjoy and treasure this tribute.

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“George would have been very proud of the stamp and it is so very sad that he isn’t here to appreciate this accolade.”

Best played as a winger for United and Northern Ireland, winning English league titles and lifting the European Cup following the thrilling 1968 final against Benfica. He battled with alcoholism for much of his life, underwent a liver transplant, and died aged 59 in 2005.

The stamps also mark the 150th anniversary of the Football Association.

Trevor Brooking, FA director of football development, said: “Everyone who loves football has their favourite players from the past. It might have been one of the greats they tried to emulate in the school playground or a superstar they would idolise while watching on from the terraces as a fan.

“It is fantastic – especially in the year of the Football Association’s 150th anniversary and the Scottish Football Association’s 140th – that Royal Mail has honoured a whole team of these heroes from across the United Kingdom.”

The 11 players are in the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. They are: Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, John Charles, Dave Mackay, Bryan Robson, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, George Best, John Barnes, Jimmy Greaves and Denis Law.

Andrew Hammond, managing director of stamps and collectibles at Royal Mail, said: “The UK has given the world some of the greatest sports and football is rightly celebrated as a national obsession.

“The stamps celebrate heroes of the beautiful game who excelled on the pitch at club and national level, and are rightly considered icons of the sport. We feel there is no more fitting tribute to the game’s 150th anniversary than this collection of football heroes on stamps.”