There can be little doubt what was the most newsworthy day in the history of Tobermore United – the day George Best turned out for them in an Irish Cup match against Ballymena United. The day is also memorable in a wider footballing sense as this turned out to be the very last competitive game Best would play in his illustrious career.
Tobermore United had only been formed seventeen years earlier and were playing in the B Division, so it was a huge ask for them to overcome Ballymena United, who boasted former Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Jim Platt – who had played in the World Cup just two years earlier – as their player manager. In the end Tobermore lost 7-0. However, this was a day for creating memories and for when fans, old and young alike, could say forever that they had seen former Ballon D’Or winner Georgie Best play his only competitive game in Northern Ireland.
The news report for this match is missing from the archives so this section of highlights has been edited together from the rushes. The end of the game was not captured but we have decided to focus on the moments of action involving Best himself. Don’t expect too much. Best was thirty-seven at this point and had not played regular full-time football since leaving San Jose Earthquakes in 1981. Still, there is the odd nice turn here and there and the footage stands as an important record of the day one of the greatest players of all time came to the village of Tobermore and enchanted thousands of fans.