Lisnasharragh High has had a long tradition and history in playing football and encouraging the skills of young players.

George Best transferred to Lisnasharragh High (or Lisnasharragh Intermediate School as it was then), from another school as he wanted to play football for his school instead of rugby.   George joined us on 3rd September 1958 aged 12 and was a member of form 2B.    His talent on the football field and in the playground was noticed very quickly by the PE teacher Mr Davies, and soon, George was the star of the football team.

George's passion for sport was encouraged and developed.  During his time at Lisnasharragh High he played football for the school during the week, practised his skills on the football pitches after school and played yet more football for Cregagh Boys Club.

"A lot of people ask me what it is like to play for Manchester United.  I'll tell you what we do and let you judge for yourself.

At Old Trafford there are seven or eight youths aged fifteen to eighteen, who are known as apprentice professionals.  They are paid £9 a week, £4 of which is for lodgings, the rest being their own.  There are also quite a few amateurs.  We have what is known as a football school led by Johnny Aston, Jack Compton and Wilf Maguinness, all of whom have played for England .

We start training at nine o'clock with lapping the track until nine thirty , followed by physical training in the gym until ten fifteen .  Then we have ball practice until eleven, after which morning training finishes with a full scale match on the pitch until twelve o'clock .  We have a hot bath and a cold shower.  Everyone then, including the first team players, go for lunch at a hotel specially picked  by United, all food is paid for and lunch lasts until two o'clock after which we go back to the ground for afternoon training, which usually consists of ball control and tactics.

On Monday and Friday afternoons we clean the dressing rooms, boot room, gymnasium, ball boys' room and so on and finish at four fifteen .  On Saturdays we play in the Lancashire League, in which there is and 'A' and 'B' team playing in Divisions one and two respectively.

If the team wins there is a bonus of ten shillings for each player.  At the moment I am in the 'B' team which is at present top of the League.  We have played eighteen games and only lost two.  Besides matches in the winter we play in a summer tournament in Switzerland which United have won for the last five years.  We are going to Zurich in May.

This isn't all, however, as United provide any equipment needed - boots, training shoes, track suits and other items, and every Christmas they send each player's family a Christmas hamper.  They also provide him with a pass which entitles him to see any Football League match free of charge, and, on top of all this, they save a certain amount every week for each player in case he should have to give up soccer because of an accident.

It's a great life and I wouldn't give it up for anything"

George Best