Best’s masterclass

Memorable day when a superstar lit up Gayfield

IT was a very simple team talk when George Best pulled on the black and white stripes of Arbroath Victoria to celebrate the club’s centenary.

Vics boss Ian Hardie pointed at Best and told his players: “Give the ball to him.”

It was to prove a simple but effective tactic.

While the 36-year-old Best was long past his Manchester United prime he was still a box office draw when he turned up at Gayfield 40 years ago.

There were at least 1,000 people on the terraces to catch a glimpse of the former European Cup winner and European footballer of the year who arrived with a beauty queen on his arm.

Best rolled back the years with two goals before signing autographs for young and old alike.

So how did the Vics lure this superstar to play for a side whose competitive honours included the Brechin Rosebowl and the Forfar Junior Consolation Cup?

Best was 27 when he played his final competitive match for United on New Year’s Day 1974, when he was sacked by manager Tommy Docherty after a long series of alcohol-related disciplinary breaches.

After a long road via South Africa, Ireland and the United States he arrived at Hibs on a pay-as-you-play deal in 1979.

One infamous incident saw Best briefly sacked in February 1980 after he went on a massive drinking session with pop star Debbie Harry and the French rugby union team, who were in the city to play Scotland.

The highlight of his return was a 2-0 win over Dundee at Easter Road in his finest performance in a green jersey which included his best goal for the club.

After a summer with San Jose Earthquakes, he made another half a dozen appearances for Hibs and was made captain for his final match, against Falkirk in October.

He looked as though he might be included in Billy Bingham’s Northern Ireland squad for the 1982 World Cup but finally only travelled to Spain as part of the ITV commentary team.

Arbroath Vics club secretary Jimmy Smith knew Bill McMurdo – Best’s agent at the time – and asked if he would play in the centenary match.

He was paid £1,500, which helped pay off a tax bill...

Best was struggling with alcoholism and would often go missing so the Vics were on tenterhooks waiting for him to show up on August 8 1982.

But he showed up in plenty of time along with Sweden’s former Miss World Mary Stavin. But there was no ego or look-at-me primadonna posturing.

Vics boss Hardie recalled: “He immediately put everyone at ease in the dressing room.

“He didn’t need to be given a team talk – it was George Best!

“Mary also turned up on his arm and she was a real beauty. Just like George, she chatted away to the players and had time for everyone.

“George was a hero of mine when I was growing up but I could never have dreamed that one day I’d manage him.

“Arbroath were a good side in those days but George was the best player on the park.

“One shimmy when he left three Arbroath players standing was just unbelievable.”

The Sunday game kicked off at 3pm and legendary whistler and 1982 World Cup referee Bob Valentine from Dundee was the man in the middle.

After a slow start Best typically brought the game to life in the 34th minute.

Vics were 2-0 down at this stage when he dragged the ball across the box, turned several Arbroath defenders inside out, and then struck from six yards.

The shot was handled on the line by a defender and Best converted the penalty.

Vics then equalised before Best put them 3-2 in front, again from the penalty spot.

Arbroath scored a penalty themselves to make it 3-3 before Vics claimed victory with a goal that brought applause from the great man himself.

Best, of course, had a hand in it but the plaudits went to Ian

Best in his days at Hibernian. Best – with girlfriend Mary Stavin – signs autographs for his Arbroath fans.