Best’s European Cup medal fetches 156,000 pounds at UK auction
By ANIThursday, October 21, 2010
LONDON - Legendary England football star George Best’s European Cup winner’s medal has been auctioned off for 156,000 pounds.
The Manchester United star, who died in 2005 aged 59, won the medal with the Old Trafford club in their 4-1 triumph over Benfica in 1968.
The Daily Express said that the medal had been expected to fetch between 90,000 pounds and 120,000 pounds at Bonhams in Chester.
The auction house last night described the final price as “staggering”.
The money will go to the footballer’s sister, Barbara McNally.
A replica of the European Cup winner’s medal, made for Best by the Professional Footballers’ Association when he misplaced the SDHp original, fetched 9,000 pounds.
The BBC Lifetime Achievement Award for the recovering alcoholic sold for 7,800 pounds and his 2000 Belfast Telegraph Hall of Fame award raised another 4,800 pounds.
Other important lots sold included the 2000 International Hall of Champions award, which made 3,960 pounds and the Freedom of Castlereagh award (4,560 pounds).
The last shirt worn by Best for Northern Ireland while a Manchester United player on November 14, 1973, was snapped up for 6,000 pounds. (ANI)
