Latest news with #GeorgeBest
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Retro: 26 nostalgic pictures of growing up in the early 1980s, including George Best, Swap Shop and Darth Vader
At the start of the 1980s, computers for most people were still a novelty, George Best was playing for Hibs and Multi-Coloured Swap Shop was on TV on Saturday mornings. Here are some old black and white photos from the Evening News archives showing some of what was happening in Edinburgh in the early 1980s, from the Pope's visit to pony rides on the beach. Scroll through the carefully selected pictures to get a flavour of what Capital life was like four decades ago. 1 . Latest computers Secondary school pupils work with the latest Apple II computers at the Wester Hailes Education Centre (WHEC) in Edinburgh, October 1980. | TSPL Photo: Alan Macdonald Photo Sales 2 . Hibs Open Day Hibs players Peter Cormack and Jim McArthur meet two young fans, Tony Jinks and Tam Tait, at a Hibs Open Day at Easter Road in July 1980. | TSPL Photo: Bill Newton Photo Sales 3 . Puppet show Children mesmerised by the string puppets at the Ross bandstand in Edinburgh's Princes Street gardens, July 1981. | TSPL Photo: Joe Steele Photo Sales 4 . Dance time Young ballerinas from the June Geissler dance school rehearsing at Leith Town Hall in Edinburgh, November 1980. | TSPL Photo: Stan Warburton Photo Sales Related topics: Nostalgia
Belfast Telegraph
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Calum Best reveals dad George's passing made him angry and closed-off
TV personality tells radio show about growing up and struggle to love legend The son of the late Northern Irish football legend George Best has revealed how he became selfish and angry after his father's passing turned him against the world. Calum Best was speaking to Rylan Clark in a sit-down interview for BBC Sounds as part of the broadcaster's series, Rylan: How to Be in Love.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Calum Best, 44, reveals he was rejected for the 'first time' after finally thinking he found 'the one' as 'humbled' reality TV love rat opens up on secret failed heartbreak
Calum Best has opened up on a secret heartbreak after he was rejected for the 'first time' from a girl he thought was going to be 'the one'. The son of legendary late footballer George Best, 44, candidly discussed the failed relationship on the latest episode of Rylan: How to Be in Love. After finally finding what he thought was going to be his forever partner, Calum said he was truly 'humbled' when she walked away from their relationship. Speaking to host Rylan Clark, Calum said it was the first time he outwardly said 'I love you' and even discussed starting a family. He said: 'I was humbled for the first time… I met a girl last year and for the first time in my 44 years that I felt this, ahh this is what I've been looking for, this feeling that I haven't had before. 'It was the first time I outwardly said 'I love you' and we spoke about having a kid, we spoke about having a family... 'And then I go, yes, this could be it! And then she thought different. And I went, wow, that has humbled me sincerely.' Calum's rollercoaster love life was never far from the headlines, with Calum dating names including Sarah Harding, Bianca Gascoigne and even Lindsay Lohan. Now a self-confessed fitness fanatic, the heavily tattooed TV personality has also featured on Celebs Go Dating, Celebrity Ex On The Beach and SAS: Who Dares Wins. Calum endured a turbulent childhood as the son of late footballer George, given the sportsman's well-publicised battle with alcoholism. In a 2017 interview, he revealed the details surrounding his father's relapse following a liver transplant. It happened in 2002, following his assurance that he was cured of his addiction to drink, and Calum caught him himself while the Best family were away on holiday. Speaking about the time he walked in on the late Manchester United player, Calum said: 'I knew he had just swigged from this bottle. And it was like f**k! It ended right there. I wanted to give up then totally. 'From then on it was just back to drinking. And he drank and drank until it ended. I remember leaving that trip so confused and upset and distraught.' Calum endured a turbulent childhood as the son of late footballer George, given the sportsman's well-publicised battle with alcoholism Talking about how this set Calum himself on a downward spiral, the current CBB star said: 'I came back and snorted and drank and s***ged my way through everything.' George's battle with alcoholism finally took his life in 2005, which sent Calum into a tailspin of self destruction and grief. It was during this time that Calum was also a contestant on Celebrity Love Island, and won the second series with Bianca Gascoigne. Despite their winning title, the pair split up shortly after their stint on the dating series. Calum had already earned a reputation for his rollercoaster love life, having dated Girls Aloud star Sarah back in 2005. In 2006, he enjoyed a brief romance with Rod Stewart's daughter Kimberly, but their relationship quickly fizzled out. Later in 2006, Calum was given the chance to brush with some of Hollywood's finest, as he started dating actress Lindsay Lohan, at the height of her Mean Girls success. However, things took a turn when Calum confessed Lindsay dumped him after becoming fed up with his attempts to flirt with other women, and he wrote in his memoir: 'The two of us together are combustible. At this moment in our lives, we're both a bit nuts. 'We both like to party a lot and it makes things tempestuous.' Calum also had a short-lived romance with glamour model Georgia Salpa in 2011, and in 2016 he was rumoured to be dating TOWIE star Chloe Sims. They both kept quiet about the romance rumours at the time, but Chloe later referred to Calum as her 'ex' in an interview with The Daily Star. Later that year, Calum appeared on US dating show Famously Single and struck up a relationship with fellow reality star Brandi Glanville, but their romance ended after a fiery row which featured on screen. In the midst of his long list of famous girlfriends, Calum has also been accused of fathering a love child, after Lorna Hogan, 33, fell pregnant the day before the memorial of his father George Best. In 2015, Lorna claimed that Calum had refused to take a paternity test, and claimed he 'abandoned' his daughter Amelia. She told The Mirror: 'All she can say is that she doesn't know him and he doesn't want anything to do with her - it's heartbreaking.' She went onto claim that a DNA test was later planned through Calum's mother Angie, but says he failed to attend. In 2017, Calum hit back at these claims in a response to a fan on X, writing: 'Did a paternity test to clear the child wasn't mine bless.' George's own struggles with alcoholism would haunt Calum who described how he would feel, 'demonic anger,' because of his father's drinking. Indeed in 2007 his own life started to fall apart as he spiraled out of control, suffering alcohol and drug addiction. Calum said at the time: 'I'm a bad boy. I go out and get drunk, I get high on cocaine and I do stupid debauched things with the wrong women. 'I've been sowing my oats for years, and I've been doing drugs for the past six years. I do drink too much and it gets out of control. 'The drink leads to the coke and the coke leads to debauchery - the wrong people and places. When I'm high I do wild, stupid s**t. I'm a red-blooded male and I'm addicted to sex. 'I don't have to be like Dad, but I feel his blood running through my veins. I need to sort out my problems before it's too late.'
Irish Daily Mirror
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Stuart Byrne: Shels can't take eye off the ball in Europe, like my team did
The single worst thing Shelbourne can do is mention the word Qarabag. Not with a difficult Champions League tie against Linfield to overcome Duff was speaking yesterday about how all talk of Linfield is banned for now, what with Derry up tonight and a trip to Waterford on Monday. Shels are off the pace at home and have work to do to get back into the league title conversation, so you can understand it. But behind the scenes, there will be plenty of Linfield chatter and I don't mind that because these European nights are what it's all about. But don't look beyond Linfield. Don't be thinking or talking about Qarabag in the second round because football will bite you in the arse. And I know this from two lowest moments in football were Shelbourne's 2005 Setanta Cup final defeat to Linfield, closely followed by our Champions League loss to Hibs of Malta in 2002. We took our eye off the ball in between the two legs, and that should be a lesson to the current team. Now, we are talking about extremes and there isn't a chance a modern day team would prepare for a European game like we did that year. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. First of all, a travel cock-up meant we ended up in Malta for almost an entire week around the first-leg. George Best and his wife Alex were lounging around the pool on holidays, which was pretty surreal in itself. But we were there for too long and curfews were broken left, right and centre with lads on the beer, all of which caused friction in the group. When we did eventually get home, we played Manchester United in a friendly at Tolka Park just a few days before the home leg against Hibs. And as I've mentioned before, it wasn't any old friendly - but Roy Keane's first game since the explosive Saipan World Cup bust-up and the game was a media circus. It was carnage and no sort of preparation at should have beaten Hibs with one eye closed because you've never seen such a one-sided European game. But we made a balls of it. We knew going into the tie that we'd play Boavista in the next round and they were one of the biggest Portuguese teams at the time. Just knowing that was a distraction as lads were obsessed with their financial bonuses and all sorts. Throw everything else that happened that week into the mix and it was car crash could have been there until Sunday and we wouldn't have scored against Hibs. It still haunts me now. So if Duffer hears anyone talking about Qarabag, he needs to give them a slap because Linfield are a serious outfit. I don't care if they're out of season, there's no such thing as an easy draw in the Champions League. You take all the politics and religion out of it, and nobody can deny that Linfield are a great club. Their history and heritage speaks for itself.I've spoken before about the monotonous dedication you need to be a footballer at the highest level in Ireland. It's bloody hard work, but these are your rewards. These are the games that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The added spice of an All-Island rivalry is healthy. There will be a lot of weight and emotion going into the game and Shelbourne just need to focus on themselves and make sure they don't take their eye off the for RTE to step upOne more point on this mouthwatering Champions League clash - RTE have to be all over have women's Euro 2025 commitments at the same time, but I don't care and I don't want to hear the excuses. I don't want to be watching England v Netherlands, or France v Wales which are down to be played on the same night as the Tolka Park game on July pay our licence fee for a reason and RTE Sport have a duty to cover Irish football Get the wallet out and get it for DroghedaI've been thinking a lot this week about Drogheda United and their European heartbreak. It's like your hands have been tied, a blanket is put over your head and you're thrown in the back of a van. You're helpless and there's nothing you can do about it. But you know what? Rules are a personal level, I'm disappointed for my old team-mate Kevin Doherty and I'm sure he won't feel any better for me saying that I'd say his head is in a spin. Hopefully Drogheda's owners are sticking around but with these multi-club ownership rules here to stay, you'd wonder what their motivation is if this is the outcome?As a footballer you strive to be the best you can be and here in Ireland, that's winning trophies and getting into Europe. When that's taken away from you it must have an enormous emotional toll.I was very lucky to play on successful League of Ireland teams and enjoyed great European flights - but I can count them on one hand. I was having lunch in town with my wife a few weeks ago and a fella walking by stopped to chat about football for 30 seconds, and it was all about European games of you're telling me now that Drogheda can't play in Europe, then I'd wonder what the American owners see in this. But I'm sure Kevin Doherty will use it all as motivation.I've always felt that to win a league, you can't really afford to lose more than five games. Now, Shels proved that wrong last year, but five is my guideline. Drogheda have only lost four times this season and they're not going away. They're showing that winning the FAI Cup was no fluke and they have something about the next season or two, the goal for these Drogheda United players is to win the league title and here's hoping the owners stick around and back roar? Lions bore!Batten down the hatches. Cover your ears, close your eyes because the Lions are coming and don't you just dread it. The hobby of the upper class. The most ridiculous sport ever invented. The poshest of the posh. The pretentiousness of the ... ok, you know what I 'that' time again. The time when Irish, Scottish, English and Welsh people come together and deliberately forget about their repressive past for the purpose of, what? Padraig Pearse and William Wallace would be turning in their graves. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
Khaleej Times
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
1971 was the real resurgence of Indian cricket, not 1983, says Farokh Engineer
Farokh Engineer retired from cricket almost 50 years ago. But the legendary Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, who settled down in Manchester after marrying an Englishwoman, still talks about the game with the same vigour he displayed while playing those fearless hook shots against the world's fastest bowlers in the pre-helmet era. Engineer is hale and hearty at 87, having recently undergone a successful heart valve surgery. A Brylcreem model in his youth, he was India's first glamour boy, who also played a significant role in India's first-ever Test series on English soil in 1971. Engineer is now itching to get back to Old Trafford — home of Lancashire Cricket Club where he became one of the legends of county cricket — for the fourth match of the new-look Indian team's five-Test series against England. During an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times over Zoom, Engineer reminisced about his glory days and also opened up about his friendship with Pele and George Best. Q. Good to see you and you seem to be doing very well after the heart surgery… Yes, I am fine and alive. And now I can't wait to go to the Old Trafford for the India-England Test. Q. Lancashire holds a very special place in your heart. You won so many trophies with them… Yes, I'm now a vice president of the club, a lifelong vice president. And I'm also one of the legends of the club. They have selected only a few people as legends. You know, legend is a term that's very loosely used, but Lancashire have honoured me along with Clive Lloyd and others. So, we are not only vice presidents for life, but we are legends as well, and I am very proud of it because it's a great club and a great institution. Q. Well, you are also an Indian cricket legend. You became the darling of Indian cricket for your flamboyant style of cricket, both in front of the wicket and behind it as a keeper-batter I usually get youngsters telling me that their grandfathers used to talk about me because I'm almost 88 now. But it's always nice to know that people still remember me. Q. People who truly love cricket will never forget India's historic Test series wins in the West Indies and England in 1971. And you played a big role in the series win against England… Yes, I got important runs in that Test series. The first Test at Lord's, we should have won that match. I had a very interesting partnership with Sunil Gavaskar when we were chasing some 180-odd runs. But rains fell and we lost wickets. The third Test at The Oval, which we won, will always remain in my mind as one of the most historical moments in Indian cricket. You know people think that 1983 (World Cup triumph) was the renaissance of Indian cricket. But 1971 was the real resurgence of Indian cricket, not 1983. Of course, the 83 World Cup win was a great achievement. But if you ask me, the resurgence of Indian cricket was in 1971. Unfortunately, people have short memories, you see, people forget what's happened before. Q. Now today's youngsters who love Virat Kohli are probably not even aware of Viv Richards and Barry Richards, the South African legend who played only four Tests because of apartheid… I have not seen a better batsman than Viv Richards and Barry Richards. You know, Sachin Tendulkar was a great player. Brian Lara was fantastic, a phenomenal player. Sunil Gavaskar was a great opening batsman. But you mentioned those two names — Viv Richards and Barry Richards — they were just incredible. Yes, the world hasn't heard much about Barry because he was from South Africa and South Africa was isolated those days because of that apartheid. I played against Gordon Greenidge and Barry Richards. I mean, what a formidable opening partnership that was for Hampshire. But we had good cricketers (at Lancashire). We had Clive Lloyd with us. You know, he was my roommate for over 10 years. The standard of county cricket was very high. Do you know how we were invited? Only six cricketers were initially invited to England to play county cricket, Garry Sobers, myself, Rohan Kanhai, Mike Proctor and Barry Richards. All those were greats of the game, but you mentioned two names, Viv and Barry. Viv was absolutely phenomenal for me. I think he's the finest batsman I have ever seen or played against, because his reflexive was so quick. Barry wasn't far behind, our own Tendulkar was a great player too. But Viv was the best I have seen. Q. The purists of the game still rave about your hundred against the fearsome West Indies attack at Chennai in 1967. They still call it one of the best attacking innings in Test cricket… Yes, I almost scored a century before lunch against Wes Hall, Charlie Griffith and Garry Sobers. When they won the toss on a real green top, nobody (in the Indian team) wanted to open. We didn't have any helmets, no thigh pads, no chest pads, nothing. I mean, there was no protection at all. People now rave about today's fast bowlers, but those guys were really quick. And I hooked their bounces all over the place. I was 94 before lunch, and when (spinner) Lance Gibbs came on after lunch, I hit him out of the stadium. People joke that the ball is still travelling because they never found it. Q. Cricket is not the same sport you played back in the 1960s and 1970s. There was absolutely no money then, and now players earn millions of dollars for playing a two-month-long IPL. I remember a Test match against New Zealand. We're winning the game in four days. Those days we used to get 50 rupees per day for a Test match. If we had won the match in four days, we would have lost out on the 50 rupees for the fifth and the final day. So when we were nearing the victory target, all sorts of messages were coming from the dressing room. They wanted us to defend. And a loud cheer went on when we had two or three runs left to score the next day for 50 rupees each. Luckily, I was involved with the advertising people at Brylcreem. Denis Compton was the first person to model for Brylcreem, and he was a double International. He was a soccer international and a cricket international for England. Then there was Keith Miller, the flamboyant Australian all-rounder, fantastic legend, good-looking guy, and I was the third person. To be offered a contract by Brylcreem those days was like being on the cover page of Vogue magazine. Q. We also heard stories about your friendship with Pele and George Best... Pele became a very dear friend of mine. Gordon Banks invited him to England and we got talking that day. He was playing golf with Bobby Charlton the next day. I live just 100 yards from that golf course. And he asked me if there was a good hotel where he could stay. I just looked at my wife, and I said 'you can stay with us.' So he came and stayed over at our place. Now when we have guests at our house, I show them the bed where Pele slept. He was a wonderful man, he gave me his shirt and also signed it. And how did you become friends with Best? George came from (Northern) Ireland and I came from India. You know the Old Trafford cricket ground is only 100 yards away from the Manchester United football club. So there's a lot of connection with that and George just became friendly. He loved to eat curries, and so we just hit it off from the start. Q. Did you get to see the other side of him, his flamboyant lifestyle? We had a car crash when I was giving him a lift to the ground. There was a traffic light and George being George, put this window down and started talking to a blonde. I don't know if you knew her or not. So I took my eyes off and suddenly the car in front stopped and I hit it. When the police came, I said, 'I'm sorry'. And he was like 'you don't see many blondes in Bombay'. So we were that kind of friends. I got a lovely shirt from him, his boots as well. I've got them at home, I will never sell them. Q. Cricket may not have given you a lot of money, but it gave you you some amazing friends… When I meet my (cricket) contemporaries, we have a good laugh. I was with Viv Richards a couple of weeks ago, and we had a great time. He had come over to England for a trade show. You know even Dennis Lillee came over from Australia to play my benefit match in India. We are still close friends, even though I scored 192 against him and Jeff Thomson, not against Australia, but in a tour game in Brisbane. So, we have kept our friendship going, and I hope it keeps blossoming till the day we die.
