George Best football stamps go on sale

George Best features on a set of Royal Mail stamps.

Legendary footballer George Best features on a new set of stamps which go on sale on Thursday - almost 50 years after he first pulled on a Manchester United jersey.

The Royal Mail stamps celebrate 150 years of the Football Association (FA).

Best was born in Belfast and signed for Manchester United at 17.

His sister, Barbara McNarry, said he would have been very proud of the stamp and said it was "sad that he isn't here to appreciate this accolade".

She added: "I am deeply honoured to see George being recognised in such a special way by Royal Mail in this significant year for the Football Association.

"I am sure fans, not just from Northern Ireland and Great Britain, but from around the world will enjoy and treasure this tribute."

All stamped mail posted to Belfast will also have a special George Best postmark.

Best is one of 11 of the greatest football heroes from Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales to feature on the new stamps.

Sir Trevor Brooking, FA director of football development, said: "Everyone who loves football has their favourite players from the past.

"It might have been one of the greats they tried to emulate in the school playground or a superstar they would idolise while watching on from the terraces as a fan.

"It is fantastic - especially in the year of the Football Association's 150th anniversary and the Scottish Football Association's 140th - that Royal Mail has honoured a whole team of these heroes from across the United Kingdom."

The stamps have been illustrated by artist Andrew Kinsman, who used photographs of all the players.

He then created a composite artwork, so that when the 11 stamps are placed together, they form a traditional team shot.

The 11 players selected were chosen for their outstanding record on the pitch and representation of their home country.

Alongside Best on the new stamp collection are Kevin Keegan; Bobby Charlton; Bryan Robson; John Barnes; Gordon Banks; John Charles; Jimmy Greaves; Denis Law; Dave Mackay and Bobby Moore.

Andrew Hammond of Royal Mail said: "Across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, we've been lucky enough to witness some of the finest footballers to ever play the beautiful game.

"The UK has given the world some of the greatest sports and football is rightly celebrated as a national obsession.

"The stamps celebrate heroes of the beautiful game who excelled on the pitch at club and national level, and are rightly considered icons of the sport.

"We feel there is no more fitting tribute to the game's 150th anniversary than this collection of football heroes on stamps."