Did George Best Play For Motherwell?

[Guest TinCanFan]

I heard on the radio once that George Best played for Motherwell.  The story goes, apparently that San Jose Earthquakes went on a pre-season tour of Scotland and had a game at Fir Park.  Best played for San Jose in the first half and Motherwell in the second.  Is it true or just a myth?

[Scotty]

http://www.football-history.net/who-is-who/b/george-best.htm

[Guest TinCanFan]

According to this one he did:

Domestic Club Games

Season - Club - Games ? Goals ? [Caps / Goals]

1963/64 Manchester United............17 / 04 [ 2 / 0 ]

1964/65 Manchester United............41 / 10 [ 7 / 3 ]

1965/66 Manchester United............31 / 09 [ 3 / 0 ]

1966/67 Manchester United............42 / 10 [ 1 / 0 ]

1967/68 Manchester United............41 / 28 [ 1 / 0 ]

1968/69 Manchester United............41 / 18 [ 4 / 1 ]

1969/70 Manchester United............37 / 15 [ 4 / 1 ]

1970/71 Manchester United............40 / 18 [ 6 / 4 ]

1971/72 Manchester United............40 / 18 [ 2 / 0 ]

1972/73 Manchester United............19 / 04 [ 1 / 0 ]

1973/74 Manchester United............12 / 02 [ 1 / 0 ]

1974 ....Dunstable Town FC............Southern League

1975 ....Stockport County FC..........IV. Division

1975/76 Cork Celtic FC...................03 / 00

1976 ....Los Angeles Aztecs.............24 / 15 [ 3 / 0 ]

1976/77 Fulham FC........................II. Division

1977 ....Los Angeles Aztecs.............25 / 13 [ 3 / 0 ]2

1977/78 Fulham FC........................II. Division

1978 ....Fort Lauderdale Strikers......12 / 01

1979 ....Fort Lauderdale Strikers......19 / 02

1980 ....San Jos? Earthquakers........26 / 08

1980-81 Hibernian FC Edinburgh.......II. Division

1981 ....San Jos? Earthquakers........30 / 13

1982-83 Motherwell FC...................II. Division

1983 ....Arbroath Victoria................III. Division

1983 ....AFC Bournemouth...............III. Division

1984 ....Nuneaton Borough FC..........Conference League

1984 ....Tobermore FC....................B-Division

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232272

[Scotty]

think i believe the explanation on the link I provided a bit better ... especially considering that there is no mention on Motherwell's site in the history section or even on that font of knowledge 'wikipedia'

http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/index.php?op...&Itemid=175

[The Mantis]

I saw him turn out for Hibs - he helped turn a 1-0 deficit against Rangers into a 2-1 win at Easter Road one freezing day before Xmas. That was in 79-80.

I think if he played for 'Well I would have remembered it.....

[Kingsmills]

I well remember the excitement he caused when he played for Hibs despite the fact that he was well past his prime but I've no recollection of him ever turning out for Motherwell.

[KingBeastie]

For those who can't or won't read to the bottom of the page Scotty linked to:

during the last years of his career in the early eighties, George Best also played matches for Motherwell, Scone Thistle, Arbroath Victoria, Glentoran, and Nuneaton Borough. As these appearances were restricted to guest appearances during charity matches and testimonials however, they have not been taken into account

[Guest TinCanFan]

And according to P&B poster Al B:

Yeah it's true. When he played in America for San Jose Earthquakes we played them in a friendly, and he played a half for each side. Was around 1982-ish.