When George Best joined Cork Celtic for three games

Bizarre signing stunned soccer world half a century ago

He was the greatest footballer in the world. An icon revered for his skill on the pitch and his extravagant lifestyle off it. He played with Manchester United as one of their star players for 11 years and when he left, the world wondered what was next for George Best.

As it turned out, the next thing for him was a stint in Cork. On the 50th anniversary of this bizarre signing, a TG4 documentary tells the extraordinary story of George Best and his time with Cork Celtic.

'George Best I gCorcaigh/George Best in Cork', tells the story of the three games played by the Belfast-born maestro for the 1974 League of Ireland First Division champions, just seven years after he had starred in the win by Manchester United over Benfica in the European Cup final.

In 1975 Cork Celtic were in trouble. Attendances were low and with little money coming in through the turnstiles, the club was in danger of going broke. They needed a player to pull in the crowds and boost their flagging gates. George Best had left Manchester United the previous year after his superstar lifestyle had spiralled out of control.

Now the greatest player in the world was a football nomad travelling wherever the work took him. He had developed a ‘play for pay’ policy and if you could come up with his fee, he’d tog out alongside you. Cork Celtic’s Bobby Tambling, who knew Best from encounters on the pitch when he played for Chelsea, was sent to England to see if Bestie was interested. He was.

What followed was a fascinating football note in the history of League of Ireland soccer.

Featuring interviews with many of his Cork Celtic team mates, including Alfie McCarthy, Bryan McSweeney, Jerry Myers and John 'Blondie' Carroll, broadcasters and fans, John Creedon, Ger Canning and Trevor Welch, Republic of Ireland player Méabh De Búrca and GAA legend and former Cork Celtic player, Jimmy Barry Murphy, this documentary tells the inside story of one of the most fascinating periods in League of Ireland history.

Shot entirely on location in Cork and featuring rare archive of George Best in action for Cork Celtic, this is a fantastic and unique story that could only happen in Ireland, guaranteed to appeal to the fans, the fascinated and the mildly curious. Produced by Dearg Films.

George Best i gCorcaigh - TG4 on St. Stephen’s Day at 8.15pm and on the TG4 player at TG4.ie