George Best

[Austinho]

What was it like watching George Best at Hibs? Hard to imagine one of the top 20 greatest footballers of all time ever gracing Scottish football again, even if they are a little past it at the time!

Also, what squad number did he wear?

[Thecat23]

Sure from some of the footage I remember watching he wore number 11. I never seen him myself, but he didn’t look in great shape in those clips I watched. You never lose the skill though I suppose.

[JeMeSouviens]

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Sure from some of the footage I remember watching he wore number 11. I never seen him myself, but he didn’t look in great shape in those clips I watched. You never lose the skill though I suppose.

It was pretty fleeting and I was only 9 when he arrived and 10 when he left but it was a bit like Sauzee. His mind was so far ahead of everyone around him that a lack of physical pace didn't really matter.

[CropleyWasGod]

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It was pretty fleeting and I was only 9 when he arrived and 10 when he left but it was a bit like Sauzee. His mind was so far ahead of everyone around him that a lack of physical pace didn't really matter.

He would play balls into spaces for players to run into.....

... and no-one would see the run until afterwards.


(similarly, when Grant Brebner started with us, I was reminded of that time. GB would play superb balls out left.... to naebody. I think someone then reminded him that Ryan Giggs didny play for us. )

[SChibs]

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He would play balls into spaces for players to run into.....

... and no-one would see the run until afterwards.


(similarly, when Grant Brebner started with us, I was reminded of that time. GB would play superb balls out left.... to naebody. I think someone then reminded him that Ryan Giggs didny play for us. )

Not saying they are best or sauzee standard but a few times this season whittaker or Allan have played the ball to absolutely nobody and got pelters. In reality though someone should have been there and they saw the space and passed it into it

[CropleyWasGod]

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Not saying they are best or sauzee standard but a few times this season whittaker or Allan have played the ball to absolutely nobody and got pelters. In reality though someone should have been there and they saw the space and passed it into it

That's quite common for players who are used to playing at a higher level. It's an assumption that everybody else will be on the same wavelength.

The really top players, though, learn how to manage that assumption and tailor their play accordingly.

[G B Young]

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He would play balls into spaces for players to run into.....

... and no-one would see the run until afterwards.


(similarly, when Grant Brebner started with us, I was reminded of that time. GB would play superb balls out left.... to naebody. I think someone then reminded him that Ryan Giggs didny play for us. )

Not from his time with Hibs, but this is worth a watch as an example of the sort of balls he could play. Check out the ball to Rodney Marsh at 4:15:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0KLrwmUDg0

[CropleyWasGod]

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Not from his time with Hibs, but this is worth a watch as an example of the sort of balls he could play. Check out the ball to Rodney Marsh at 4:15:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0KLrwmUDg0

Superb

If we'd signed that Marsh laddie as well, we'd have escaped relegation no bother.

[GreenLake]

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He would play balls into spaces for players to run into.....

... and no-one would see the run until afterwards.


(similarly, when Grant Brebner started with us, I was reminded of that time. GB would play superb balls out left.... to naebody. I think someone then reminded him that Ryan Giggs didny play for us. )

Saw that plenty of times. His vision was extraordinary.

[Thecat23]

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It was pretty fleeting and I was only 9 when he arrived and 10 when he left but it was a bit like Sauzee. His mind was so far ahead of everyone around him that a lack of physical pace didn't really matter.

That’s how I’d imagine him to be, his mind could easily read the game no matter what shape he was in. Must have been great though seeing him run out for us.

[ancient hibee]

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That’s how I’d imagine him to be, his mind could easily read the game no matter what shape he was in. Must have been great though seeing him run out for us.

It was pretty sad really.Over the years the myths have built up.He scored some nice goals,had some nice passes which often were not picked up on.But his legs were totally gone and his lungs weren’t much better.He cheered up the supporters no end but couldn’t contribute likeMcLeod or Callachan and of course not knowing whether he would turn up or not didn’t help much.

[cleanyman]

Excuse the music but this is a favourite of mine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nplemK3Y4ns

He's doing all of this with a two tonne ball. Take note dear Sky Sports generation.

[hibsbollah]

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It was pretty sad really.Over the years the myths have built up.He scored some nice goals,had some nice passes which often were not picked up on.But his legs were totally gone and his lungs weren’t much better.He cheered up the supporters no end but couldn’t contribute likeMcLeod or Callachan and of course not knowing whether he would turn up or not didn’t help much.

He DID have some cracking games for us that season, particularly Celtic where he took them apart in a 2-1 win. Some of the chat about him being useless while here is unfair. The good performances were fleeting though, and often punctuated by two day benders.

Mentioned before but When George Came To Edinburgh is a very informative book about it.

The home début vs Partick in 79 was an absolute celebration, ER was packed, twas my 9th birthday, it was like the Bay City Rollers had arrived

[Thecat23]

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It was pretty sad really.Over the years the myths have built up.He scored some nice goals,had some nice passes which often were not picked up on.But his legs were totally gone and his lungs weren’t much better.He cheered up the supporters no end but couldn’t contribute likeMcLeod or Callachan and of course not knowing whether he would turn up or not didn’t help much.

Good to hear this from someone who’s watched him. As you say I think the myth of him being great was a bit off. Must have been frustrating not knowing if you’d see him one week then not the next.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

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It was pretty sad really.Over the years the myths have built up.He scored some nice goals,had some nice passes which often were not picked up on.But his legs were totally gone and his lungs weren’t much better.He cheered up the supporters no end but couldn’t contribute likeMcLeod or Callachan and of course not knowing whether he would turn up or not didn’t help much.

I was just a bairn at the time but, thats pretty much how I remember it too.

[Lago]

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Sure from some of the footage I remember watching he wore number 11. I never seen him myself, but he didn’t look in great shape in those clips I watched. You never lose the skill though I suppose.

Went along with my father in law to his first home game, think it was against Partick Thistle, and he was done, over weight totally unfit, but ball control & passing ability still there.

[JeMeSouviens]

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What was it like watching George Best at Hibs? Hard to imagine one of the top 20 greatest footballers of all time ever gracing Scottish football again, even if they are a little past it at the time!

Also, what squad number did he wear?

He played in the days where the team wore 1-11 regardless of who was in it. I miss that.

[G B Young]

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What was it like watching George Best at Hibs? Hard to imagine one of the top 20 greatest footballers of all time ever gracing Scottish football again, even if they are a little past it at the time!

Also, what squad number did he wear?

He wore No 11, but there weren't squad numbers back then. His signing created a huge buzz around Scottish football and he was still a great entertainer. He was never fit though and he served mainly to provide a colourful distraction to what was a terrible time of decline for Hibs. Some footage here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIDVmLCkgRY

[Bostonhibby]

Seen every game he played. Definitely wasn't the fittest or most reliable to even turn up but the football brain and ability to put the ball where he wanted was still there.

Scored one against st mirren that the keeper couldn't hold and I recall good performances against the now defunct Glasgow rangers and celtc.

Pretty sure he wore number 11.

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[DR1875]

I'm surprised he could concentrate on any football with that Bukta top he had to wear! It was an itchy f#cker, he must have been red raw under it.

[wookie70]

Never mind the top 20 , George Best must be in the top 5 of all time. He was well out of shape and usually hungover or drunk but you could still see some genius poking out now and again. His goal against Celtic is one of my all time favourites and the 20K crowd at his Easter Road debut is by far the biggest crowd I have been in at home. At least 30K there and probably more. I might still have his autograph somewhere from when he opened the new Tyre centre with his Miss World wife in PIERSHILL.

[weecounty hibby]

It was amazing to have a guy playing for Hibs who had been arguably the world's best player just a few years earlier. It was just do exciting having George Best playing for Hibs. He was the worlds sexiedt player and he was playing in the worlds sexiest strip. I still remember how excited I was travelling to Love Street to see his first game, still remember the crowd against Partick, still remember his goal against celtic, still remember how he genuinely was two or three steps ahead of everyone else in thought at least. It must have been incredible to have seen him in his prime.