Wi George Best was born in Liverpool?

  • Thread starter Deleted member 5719
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Deleted member 5719

Let's imagine that on the 1st of January 1946, Dickie Best loses his job in Belfast. He decides that, with a baby on its way, his best option is to take a job on Liverpool docks, currently understaffed due to the still uncompleted demob of British soldiers. His pregnant wife Ann acompanies him.

He settles in the Loyalist working class Tory district of Toxteth, renting a two-up two-down on Yanwath Street.

His son George is born on the 23rd of May, 1946, at thier home.

What happens next? what are the consequences for the history of Football, and even the history of Britain? Would George have played for England?
 

hammo1j

Donor
Without doubt GB would play for GB, but I think that self distruct would get him in the end.

Perhaps there would be an easier route for England in 66 and provided the booze did not get him by then retention of the cup in '70 when we were up there with the favourites OTL.

Perhaps a certain famous TL would never have come into being concerning the England Germany game and Peter "the Cat" Bonetti.
 
I must point out that this would likely be a no George Best TL rather than a George Best for England TL.
The chances of him developing the same football skills and being noticed the same way are very remote.


But since its a fluffy idea anyway lets have a butterfly net...hmm...
 

hammo1j

Donor
I must point out that this would likely be a no George Best TL rather than a George Best for England TL.
The chances of him developing the same football skills and being noticed the same way are very remote.

Wot as a scally lad he's not going to be knocking a ball around but out thieving in a well co-ordinated way.

What's to stop George that didn't stop Stevie G?
 
Let's imagine that on the 1st of January 1946, Dickie Best loses his job in Belfast. He decides that, with a baby on its way, his best option is to take a job on Liverpool docks, currently understaffed due to the still uncompleted demob of British soldiers. His pregnant wife Ann acompanies him.

He settles in the Loyalist working class Tory district of Toxteth, renting a two-up two-down on Yanwath Street.

His son George is born on the 23rd of May, 1946, at thier home.

What happens next? what are the consequences for the history of Football, and even the history of Britain? Would George have played for England?

He'd most likely have signed for Everton, making his debut in the tail end of the 1962/63 season, when Everton won the League in OTL. Everton have a tradition of giving opportunities to local lads.

His skills would have ensured that the Blues would have dominated English football in the 1960s. As it was, Everton were one of the best teams of that era, winning championships in 1963 and 1970, and the Cup in 1966, as well as finishing in the top six in every season save their FA Cup winning year.

Having Best coming from the same city as the Beatles would have boosted his fame, their fame and the city as well.

Even Alf Ramsey, with his well known distrust for "flair" players, could not have left Best out of his England teams. He'd have given England an extra dimension; allied to stars such as Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Alan Ball, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst etc etc, Best would probably have helped them retain the World Cup in 1970, or at least reach the final.

Best's character flaws might still have caused him to self-destruct by the 1970s, but there is a chance that with international and club success, he might have avoided his descent into alcoholism.
 

Deleted member 5719

I must point out that this would likely be a no George Best TL rather than a George Best for England TL.
The chances of him developing the same football skills and being noticed the same way are very remote.


But since its a fluffy idea anyway lets have a butterfly net...hmm...

Disagree. The genetic predisposition for athleticism would remain the same, and Liverpool is a football exclusive city. I doubt growing up in Belfast or Liverpool would make any difference.

I also think he's going to be an Everton man, possibly after playing a few games for South Liverpool. I also think playing on the world stage might posrtpone his descent into alcoholism. If he's in Liverpool in the 60's, he might well meet with John Lennon, perhaps the beer wouldn't be his problem...
 

Deleted member 5719

OK, what if Georgie gets hammered with Ivan Cooper after a chance encounter in the Philharmonic in Liverpool, and drunkenly agrees to speak in a Civil Rights meeting in Belfast, bringing his good friend John Lennon along with him...

There might be a cool but dippy timeline in there somewhere.
 
Meets John Lennon, develops an interest in the guitar and another George finds himself looking for a different gig :D
 
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