Best lesson for former Wales star

Fans hold up George Best posters in tribute at Old Trafford

It was a debut to remember for George Best - and equally memorable for the Wales international who had the unlucky job of marking him.

Graham Williams well recalls the 1963 game when the Manchester United winger showed the world a star in the making.

"He nutmegged me and I think I made his career," laughed Williams.

Williams, a former Wales assistant manager, was at Old Trafford on Wednesday as United played West Brom in their first home game since Best died.

A minute's silence beforehand was even more poignant for the fact that the mercurial Northern Ireland player made his bow against West Brom 42 years earlier.

Best, 59, died last Friday in London's Cromwell Hospital, and will be buried in his native Belfast on Saturday.

I was just tying up my boot laces and he [Murphy] said: 'Graham, George Best, good luck!' Graham Williams

Graham Williams, who captained West Brom to the 1968 FA Cup, also faced Best in his role as full-back for Wales.

He described how the Wales manager of the time, Jimmy Murphy - who was also assistant manager to Sir Matt Busby at Manchester United - would go around the players giving hints about how to handle their opponents.

"I was just tying up my boot laces and he [Murphy] said: 'Graham, George Best, good luck!' - as if to say 'You get on with it. You've just got to sort that problem out'."

Blue eyes

Williams also recalled how Best loved the cut and thrust of the game between midfielder and defender.

"He was a very brave boy. You could kick him, he'd come back and he always had an impish look about him."

"He had those blue eyes and he used to smile and that's when the red mist would hit you.

"If you kicked him, he would get up, he would smile at you."

Although fans held posters of Best aloft in silent tribute on Wednesday, Williams said he thought a minute's applause would have been more fitting.

"I would prefer the clapping because I don't like it when some idiots are hissing or turning on their mobile."