THE GUARDIAN - UNITED IN GRIEF AS SPIRIT OF BEST PREVAILS
True to form, the Glazers sent their apologies last night, apparently deciding this was not an occasion worthy of their presence. It is a strange set-up that Manchester United's owners should be absent when the club bids farewell to George Best but, then again, did anyone actually want them here? As Old Trafford basked in nostalgia, it would have felt incongruous in the extreme to see the Glazers fixing their most wooden smiles on a night of such genuine emotion and warmth.
Far better for those who came to commemorate Best's life that they should do so in the company of men who will always be guaranteed a warm reception at this stadium. It is doubtful the Glazers could have named even three of Best's former team-mates who had reconvened to pay tribute to the man that, as Tina Turner reminded us, was simply the best. The old-timers played an integral part on a night of rich memories, an occasion that will be remembered for much more than the goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Louis Saha and John O'Shea that eased United into the Carling Cup quarter-finals.
There has been so much to divide United's supporters during this annus horribilis, whether it be Sir Alex Ferguson's apparent decline, Roy Keane's acrimonious exit, the breakaway FC United or that open sore, the Glazer takeover.
But as Old Trafford stood to acclaim their old hero, as "Georgie Georgie - Belfast Boy" was pumped out on the loudspeakers and an A-Z of former Stretford End favourites lined the pitch this felt like a moment when the fans could reidentify the greatness behind the club and remind themselves why the name of Manchester United holds its lofty position in the sporting world.
Old Trafford, once again, felt like a cathedral with something to worship. "The entire Manchester United family is here," observed Sir Bobby Charlton.
As for the Glazer family, their love for Old Trafford is such that on this momentous occasion, when the club paid tribute to a man who had enriched the lives of so many people, not one of those self-styled "lifelong fans" felt it necessary to make the trans-Atlantic flight from Tampa. These are men whose hearts are aligned to Wall Street stoniness rather than Mancunian sentimentality.
Somebody should buy them The Official History of Manchester United as a Christmas present. Or show them a picture of the kaleidoscopic floral carpet that now stretches 200 yards along Sir Matt Busby Way. One poster stood out: "We never met - but I always thought I knew you." Another bore the legend: "Shevchenko, £50m. Ronaldinho, £50m. George Best, priceless. RIP."
THE TELEGRAPH - FANS UNITE RELIVE BETS OF MEMORIES
Manchester's rain extinguished the candles lit in the shrine to George Best on Sir Matt Busby Way, soaking all the scarves and shirts left in tribute, even staining cards with their inky scribbles, but it couldn't wash away the memories of those gathered in the cathedral of Old Trafford last night.
As the rain finally ceased, as the tears rolled down the faces of fans and former players, as a haunting hush fell across the arena Best once filled with cheers, one club stood united in their grief for a legend. Forty-two years after Best made his United debut, West Brom were again the opposition and again the talk was all about the Belfast Boy.
The strains of 'Georgie, Georgie - The Belfast Boy' danced out of the stadium speakers as Sir Alex Ferguson and his Albion counterpart, Bryan Robson, fittingly a former wearer of the No 7 shirt, had emerged from the tunnel, bearing wreaths.
As fans held up posters of Best, Sir Bobby Charlton talked of "a giant of the game of football who will never be forgotten here". The electronic hoardings carried one advertisement only, promoting one man's memory: "George Best: Manchester United, 1963-1974, 470 appearances, 179 goals, 1 genius."
Men who worked alongside that genius lined up along the halfway line with George's son, Calum, in the middle. As the songs of praise to his father swirled around this famous old footballing citadel, Calum's eyes filled with tears at the raw emotion of the occasion, the unmistakable love in all the fans' voices.
The ever-expanding memorial outside displayed the sheer respect with which football holds Calum's father. Beneath the benevolent gaze of Busby, whose statue may soon have Best's distinguished, arm-aloft likeness for company, the shrine to Best kept spreading.
One photograph, prominently displayed, pictured Best and Busby sitting side by side in the Old Trafford stands, laughing away. "You're with Sir Matt now, George, he will take care of you again," read the caption.
THE INDIE - POIGNANT NIGHT AS UNITED PAY TRIBUTE TO BEST
George Best has travelled so far and so deeply back into the heart and the mythology of football these last few days, he has made time travellers of us all. But there was no more poignant stage of the story that will have its last act in burial in Belfast on Saturday, than this beautifully measured penultimate stride.
We can only speculate, hugely, on the weight of emotion that will grip a native city that knows so well the pain that comes with the fall of heroes and lives lost before their time. But we know now that he will have a permanent place here in the football grounds where he has made a memorial to all that is most thrilling in football.
For those who were here at the start of his journey in football, who came along on a September afternoon 42 years ago, inevitably found last night an experience provoking the deepest reflection. We were provoked into this by the words of the hero himself a few years ago when he was appraised of all the disasters that had befallen him since he stopped playing football with his most serious intent.
He said: "I recall moments which most fans wouldn't remember but which meant a lot to me, like scoring twice against West Brom in the dying minutes to win a game we were losing 2-1. West Brom will always have a special place in my memory because it was against them that I walked out on to the Old Trafford field for the first time and I experienced that feeling of the hairs standing up on the back of your neck. They will stand up whenever my mind reels back to that day and other days like it. And the bad days cannot wipe away those memories."
That linking with the famous old club from the Midlands is for eternity now. You knew that when Sir Alex Ferguson and former United captain Bryan Robson, now manager of Albion, walked out on to the field carrying wreaths and the old guard of 1968, men like Nobby Stiles and David Saddler, Sir Bobby Charlton and Paddy Crerand stood solemnly to salute their fallen comrade.
United versus West Bromwich Albion might have been one of the low-key moments of the season, a Carling Cup tie destined to be lost in the race for more significant honours. But we will not forget it now. No more than that day in 1963 when Best wore the red shirt for the first time.
There have been more spectacular debuts, heaven knows. But Best did a few things that day which illuminated the sky; he showed poise and courage and a remarkable maturity on the ball. United, reigning FA Cup holders but some way from being a major force in the League, won 1-0 before 51,000 fans.
M.E.N. - OLD TRAFFORD PAYS TRIBUTE TO BEST
Forty-two years after a waif-like 17-year-old George Best stepped out to begin his Manchester United odyssey, Old Trafford rose as one to acclaim his legend.
Fate had contrived to provide West Brom as fitting opponents on an emotional night, the team against whom Sir Matt Busby first blooded Best so long ago.
Graham Williams and Campbell Crawford, two of the men whom Best tormented on a night which has passed into United folklore, joined United's 1968 European Cup-winning team in the guard of honour to mark his passing.
Best's son Calum paused to take in some of the messages left in memory of a man whose genius ensured he will never be forgotten.
"Georgie Best was everywhere, with Elvis hips and Beatles hair - a real wizard on the ball, he was the greatest of them all," read one poignant note.
Best's appeal transcended generations as much as it did traditional football divides. The light blue of Manchester City was especially evident among the colourful tributes.
In his programme notes, Sir Alex Ferguson wrote: "He was a special player who says he wants to be remembered for his football, which is not difficult because he always gave such great joy to the game... he has left us with a million memories and all of them good."
THE SUN - BEST PACKS THEM IN AGAIN
Five days after moving on up to the Elysian Fields, George Best still managed to put 5,000 on the gate at Old Trafford.
He would, no doubt, have observed with a wry smile that it wasn’t the first time he had pulled them in — and then missed the kick-off.
Equally as certain, he will be awaiting his attendance-linked bonus in the next post.
Manchester United’s ancient and modern — many of whom had never seen the old maestro in action — were all there last night in a 48,900 crowd that comfortably eclipsed the season’s previous best in the Carling Cup.
Some, like Bill Foulkes in the pre-match Old Trafford guard formed by the 1968 European Cup winners, must have wondered how, at 73, he was here doing the honours for his young team-mate who died at 59.
Surely, it should have been the other way round?
His recollections would have been just some of so many thoughts — and so many memories — on a night United bade farewell to the oft-troubled but still Prodigal Son.