When GEORGE BEST played for Fulham: A celebration of George's wonderful time at FFC where he "fell in love with football again"

By Mark Bishop

The year is 1976. In the UK, the average price of a house is 12,000 pounds, a brand-new Ford Cortina would set you back 2,026 pounds and a heatwave that had gripped Britain, which saw temperatures reach 35c, finally came to an end after nearly five long, dry months. Just days later a sensational story broke across the UK. It was as hot as the recent summer inferno itself. It was the news that the one-time, world's best footballer had agreed to return from America to Britain to play for Fulham. The then Division 2 club, had pulled off one of the most unlikeliest and unimaginable coups of the decade by signing none other than GEORGE BEST, a footballing icon, who only two years ago had still been playing for Manchester United. Now he would line-up in the same side as Bobby Moore and Rodney Marsh. It was the biggest sports story of the year and had reporters, photographers and TV crews scrambling from every newsroom and from every corner of the UK to Craven Cottage down by the banks of the River Thames. Senior news and sports reporter Mark Bishop digs deep to find out what 'the real' George Best was like and has also written and produced this book to celebrate Best's surprisingly long tenure and love of Fulham Football Club, his still retained brilliance and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of when the world's most famous of maverick players made his debut for Fulham on September 4, 1976 against Bristol Rovers at the Cottage.
It has now been widely reported that it was at Fulham where George Best fell in love with the game again after years in the footballing wilderness.
In a series of exclusive interviews, Bishop talks to Fulham legends Rodney Marsh, Les Strong and John Mitchell to get their revealing opinions, memories and thought-provoking opinions of Bestie while Mark also speaks at length to former players Kenny Hibbitt (Wolves) Steve Finnieston (Chelsea) and Jim Eadie (Bristol Rovers) who was the goalkeeper that September afternoon back in 1976, to face BEST on his debut match at the Cottage, to get their take on playing against this former European Footballer of the Year and European Cup winner. Bishop has also tracked down and recorded the memories of many Fulham fans from far and wide, as well as supporters from other clubs, who remember watching George Best play for Fulham, and has also facilitated the inclusion in this book of a truly wonderful collection of photographs of George during his Fulham days, along with other images of articles, memorabilia and programmes- plus photos of all the players who have contributed to this publication. Some photographs have never been seen before up until publication in this book.
All the big talking points at Fulham, during all of George's 47 appearances for the club, are covered, including some of Bestie's greatest goals in his total of 10 for the club, his controversial sending off at Southampton on the very first day that red and yellow cards were introduced in English football and 'That Hereford Match' when Best took the ball off Marsh- and then both of them proceeded to try and tackle each other As Les Strong so rightly said: "With George around at the Cottage, every day was just fun " Author Mark Bishop has decided not to dwell on George's already well documented off-the-pitch demons that became his nemesis. Instead, 'When George Best played for Fulham' is a celebration of all the good things about this complex, "humble" and unassuming man who brought so much joy to everyone who loves football and who loved to watch GEORGE BEST play. Especially during his wonderful time at Fulham. This book is also an absolute treasure trove for all Fulham fans who wants to delve into more than 170 yesteryear photos of George Best playing for FFC. It's a special book, written with passion and an understanding of this true football genius, commemorating a special, incredible footballer who had a beautiful renaissance with one of Britain's much loved football clubs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FG269DJG
• ISBN13: 9798290103686
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 1.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.0" x 10.0"