Best memorabilia goes under the hammer

A replica European Cup marking one of football legend George Best’s career highlights sold for £2,600 in an auction of memorabilia…

A replica European Cup marking one of football legend George Best’s career highlights sold for £2,600 in an auction of memorabilia collected by his late father.

Shirts worn by defenders tormented by Best also went under the hammer in the early sales from a collection which was expected to fetch up to £100,000.

George Best died in 2005 and the 110 items on sale last night belonged to his father Dickie, who died last year aged 88.

A miniature replica of the European Cup commemorating the Manchester United star's goal in the 1968 final triumph against Benfica, presented to Dickie as a memento, was the highlight of the sale at Wilsons Auctions in Belfast.

Dickie Best stipulated in his will that both the family home at 16 Burren Way in the Cregagh estate and its contents be sold on his death.

Other notable collector pieces on offer at Wilsons Auctions house included a letter opener presented to the forward to mark his two goals in another stunning victory over Benfica, this time two years before the European Cup final.

Best's two goals in Portugal that night in 1966 earned him the nickname "El Beatle" and tonight the gift commemorating the event sold for #900.

Richard Bell, group property manager at Wilsons Auctions and auctioneer of the Dickie Best Collection, said it was a hugely popular sale.

"Like George, the auction itself received global attention and we had bidders register from North America, Australia and beyond," he said.

"That said, local fans still secured the majority of lots and I am delighted that most of the memorabilia will remain in the province.

"People here have a real affinity with George Best and it is only right that much of this memorabilia stays in Northern Ireland.

"It was a real privilege to see local fans bid to own part of a local hero's legacy."

A separate auction of sports memorabilia was held immediately after the Dickie Best Collection and some of the items included were donated to charity.

Mr Bell added: "We also managed to raise a substantial amount for the George Best Foundation on the night — George always did bring out the best in people, especially here in Northern Ireland."

Bids were registered from as far away as Australia, Canada and The United States as Best fans from all over the globe made offers to own a piece of sporting history.

The 110 lots of George Best memorabilia on sale were collected by Dickie over 40 years.

The Mallusk-based auction house was also packed with local bidders.

One managed to secure a framed England No 3 jersey with original George Best signature for £500.

A framed one millionth edition of The George Best Ulster Bank £5 note, presented to Dickie by the Ulster Bank, sold for £2,300.

The Dickie Best Collection represented many of the items from Dickie Best's home which was put on the market last year.

The executors of the Dickie Best Estate retained some of the items from the house and as the collection was so large, invited the general public to bid for the rest.

PA