George Best memorial plans underway

The development of a lasting memorial for soccer legend George Best is underway, following the establishment of a working group who will consider ideas and make recommendations on the way forward.

The Best family will have representatives on the George Best Memorial Working Group, alongside members of Belfast City Council and Castlereagh Borough Council.

This group will be overseen by a steering group, which will be made up of members of the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, the Northern Ireland Office, the Irish Football Association and the Northern Ireland Sports Council.

Spokesperson for the George Best Memorial Working Group, Eamon Deeny, today said that it was agreed to set up a working group following a meeting with the Best family and other stakeholders in a bid to co-ordinate the many suggestions for a fitting tribute to the former Manchester United star.

Mr Deeny said: “From the outset we made it clear that the wishes of the Best family should be paramount in this process. As a result, four of them will sit on the working group, which will also be co-chaired by George’s brothers-in-law Norman McNarry and Pete Nixon.

“Among the issues we have to consider is the nature and location of the memorial, other ideas that have come forward to the family and to the other stakeholder organisations and how it will be funded."

The spokesman continued that the group has set themselves a target date of May 22, 2007, to coincide with the anniversary of George's birthday next year.

The Best family have stated that they would prefer the memorial to be situated in the city centre in order to make it more accessible to everyone wishing to pay tribute to the footballing hero.

Eamon Deeny added: "We will also consider the family’s suggestion that funding could be provided by public subscription to enable the many people who have expressed their sympathy and grief with the opportunity of contributing in a tangible way to keeping George’s memory alive. Clearly, some form of public consultation would also have to be part of the process."

He concluded by saying that the Best family have been overwhelmed by the response they have received from people throughout the world and are honoured that a lasting memorial is even being considered.

(EF/SP)