THE SUNDAY TIMES
After 59 years of swerving, swaggering and staggering, George Best finally travelled on the straight road. As the cortege edged up the Prince of Wales Avenue that sweeps in a straight mile up to Stormont Castle, some of the 100,000 mourners gathered two and three deep along the pavement showered his hearse with flowers, and scarves and hats bearing the colours of Manchester United and Northern Ireland. In the pouring rain, garments stuck to the front windscreen, forcing the hearse to stop while a steward peeled them off. At last the rest of us were able to catch George Best.
While the rain lashed down, the rest of the proceedings were decidedly upbeat for the funeral of somebody who had died at such a relatively young age. Best’s many faults were never covered over, rather they were made light of. Denis Law, his former teammate at Manchester United and a close friend, set the tone with his opening remarks to the congregation gathered inside Northern Ireland’s parliament buildings.
"I’ve known George for over 40 years and I wouldn’t have been surprised had he not turned up today," Law remarked with a smile on his face. "But again, as usual, he got the better of me."
In a more serious moment called Best "a fighter" over the way he dealt with his long illness. Law deliberately steered away from Best’s footballing career, save for one anecdote told to him by Dickie Best, George’s father. "It was often said about Bestie that he never passed the ball to Bobby (Charlton) or I, and
I always wondered why. It wasn’t until last week when I was down in London and I was talking to Dickie that I actually found out. Dickie told us that George said to him, ‘Father, the reason I didn’t pass to Bobby and Denis was that they were always offside’. Only Bestie could have got away with that one."
Arriving at Stormont, Martin O’Neill, whose international career with Northern Ireland crossed over briefly with Best’s, also referred to his charming and disarming ways. "I was lucky enough to play with him. Occasionally I would get a pass or two," he said. "George Best played 37 times for Northern Ireland and missed loads and loads of games when we all desperately wanted him. I heard Pat Jennings say the other day that he’d be waiting around for George to turn up.
"Even if he arrived with 10 minutes to go before kick-off, as long as his name was on the teamsheet, they would have been absolutely delighted. Generally speaking, he wasn’t there but when he was he was very, very special.
"He was a human being. He had faults like every single one of us. I always felt that George Best was more easily forgiven by everyone than anyone else because of his super talent."
THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH:
Tens of thousands of people lined the road to Stormont to pay their final respects to one of the greatest footballers ever.
In scenes reminiscent of Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, members of the public threw flowers at the funeral cortege as it passed through the streets of east Belfast on its way to Parliament Buildings.
Applause broke out as the cortege made its way slowly along Burren Way, the quiet residential street where George Best grew up, with family members slowly walking behind.
Members of the public shook hands with George's son, Calum, until the procession stopped and the coffin, draped in a Northern Ireland flag, was placed inside the second hearse.
Led by six motorcycle outriders, the first hearse was filled with floral tributes from relatives, including one which read 'Legend'.
The second hearse, carrying the remains of George, was also surrounded by floral tributes, including one which read 'George' and one from son Calum, reading simply 'Dad'.
George's distraught family, including his father Dickie and Calum followed in three cars.
And as the cortege made its way onto the Cregagh Road, flowers, football flags, jerseys and scarves were thrown at the vehicles.
Umbrellas shielding the crowds from the pouring rain were taken down as the cortege made its way to Stormont and police officers along the route saluted as the cortege passed.
At one stage, a handmade tribute bearing the message 'Sir George Best, Northern Ireland King of Hearts' was seen draped over a traffic sign.
The procession was forced to halt to remove scarves that had been thrown at the leading hearse which restricted the driver's vision.
It continued along the Knock Road, past Lisnasharragh High School, where George developed the skills which would make him one of the world's most celebrated sporting heroes.
And as the cortege turned onto the Upper Newtownards Road, the crowds swelled again, as more and more flags were thrown at the leading vehicle.
This continued as the cortege continued up the drive of Stormont with numerous flags, scarves, flowers and jerseys scattered along the road and stewards removed the tributes thrown at the cars which had landed on the windscreens of the vehicles.
And as members of the public paid their final respects to George, representatives of Castlereagh Borough Council waited at the entrance of Stormont to oversee the coffin carrying the area's most famous son being carried inside Parliament Buildings.
THE BEEB:
Eriksson said: "I have never been to a funeral like that before. It was beautiful and I shed a few tears."
Former boxing champion Barry McGuigan, another close friend of Best, said: "I cried my bloody eyes out, but it was difficult not to when you think about his career and what has happened.
"It's just so sad, but I suppose the good thing is that he lived 100 years in his 59 years.
"Nobody ever really knew George Best. People never got to know how decent, gracious and good a man he was."
Ferguson arrived at Stormont with Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He said: "It's important we attend. It gives us a chance to meet George's family for the first time."
Professor Roger Williams, the consultant who operated when Best received a liver transplant said his patient had been a remarkable man.
He said: "It was moving. The songs were fantastic, the tributes unbelievable. It was wonderful."
THE PEOPLE:
Rain fell like the angels weeping yesterday as the world said farewell to football legend George Best.
But nothing could dampen the emotions of 100,000 people who braved the downpour to honour an unforgettable talent.
They lined the pavements of Belfast ten deep for the UK's most remarkable funeral since Princess Diana died.
Family, ex-wives, a host of football and showbiz stars. Ordinary fans and locals honouring the city's most famous son. They all wanted to pay tribute.
Ray Davison, a neighbour of the Best family, summed it up for everyone: "He is our prince."
George's son Calum, 24, said after the funeral: "It was a very sad day. But when you see how many people thought he was a legend, when you see Ireland coming together and you see these people lining the streets from four-years-old to 90-years-old - it was a great day."