SCHOOL friends, neighbours and fans braved torrential rain to line the streets around George Best’s family home in east Belfast as the former footballer began his final journey.

Among the thousands of mourners on Burren Way, some wore black ties as a mark of respect, while others hugged each other and clasped football scarves as the hearse passed in front of them. Loyalist flags had been taken down along the funeral procession route.

From 8am police closed off access to the Cregagh estate to allow friends and family attend a private service at 16 Burren Way, overseen by Pastor Roy Gordon. As the heavens opened outside, an undertaker offered up his umbrella to a group of children in the street.

As the ceremony concluded, the first of two hearses arrived. One would bear some of the thousands of floral tributes that carpeted the small garden and hedges of Dickie Best’s home.

One of the tributes simply bore the word “legend”. Another, a red and white ensemble, spelled out the word “George” and carried a card saying: “Fond memories from Dad”. A banner near the family home read: “Maradona good; Pele better; George Best.”

At 10.05am, the front door of No 16 opened and Best’s coffin was carried out in silence. Calum, his son, and other members of the Best family sombrely followed until the coffin was placed inside the hearse. One woman from the crowd broke the silence and cried out “God bless you, George”, prompting a rapturous applause from the crowd.

Noel Hamilton, 50, from Rochdale, Manchester, said he had travelled to East Belfast yesterday morning with his brothers to pay tribute to the former Manchester United star.

“My best memory of George was winning the European Cup in 1968 — we wouldn’t have won it without him,” said Hamilton. “I came over this morning to pay my respects and I would have walked if I had to.”

Richard McGowan, 77, who lives four doors up from the Best home, remembered a lively young George whose only interest was in playing football. “I’ve known the Best family for most of my life,” said McGowan. “I used to work in Harland & Wolff with Best’s grandfather who was known as Scottie. It had never occured to me that a superstar would grow up in this neighbourhood. George went out and made something of himself and made us all proud.”

Wallace McFall and son Stewart, 10, from Cregagh, were also among the mourners. “Growing up in this area, George Best’s football kit was the only one we all wanted,” said McFall. “I even bought one for my son when he got into football. The drinking side of things was an unfortunate illness that George suffered, but it didn’t take from the fact that for most of his fans it was only ever about the football.”

Ellen Stewart, 82, has lived in Burren Way for 48 years. As a boy her son, John, used to play football with George. “He was a brilliant, lovely and nice fella,” said Stewart. “But not everyone was happy being inundated by the hordes of fans and media that gathered.”

Doreen Hamilton, another neighbour, said it was unfair that fans had not respected the Bests’ plea for privacy. “The family should have been left to mourn in private,” she said. “I don’t think it is right or proper for the family to have been put under this type of pressure.”

The cortege returned to Roselawn cemetery at around 1.20pm where it was met by 200 people, who had waited to catch a final glimpse of the football legend despite the family’s request that they stay away.

The heavens opened once again as a police cavalcade led Best’s cortege. The funeral party included 10 luxury coaches ferrying Alex Best, the footballer’s second wife, Martin O’Neill the former Celtic manager, and Pat Jennings, the former Northern Ireland international. Alex went straight from Stormont to a reception at a nearby hotel.

There was a round of applause as the hearse entered the cemetery and shouts of goodwill for Best’s father, Dickie. Some fans held up Manchester United shirts, others threw flowers at the hearse.

Wreaths from Van Morrison the singer, Mickey Rourke the actor, Tony Blair and Peter Hain, the Northern Ireland secretary, were in the lead hearse.

The cemetery will open at 8am this morning until 4pm this afternoon to allow the public pay their final respects.

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