GEORGE BEST

Introduced in 2008, George Best is a patio rose that Colin Dickson named in memory of the great Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer. Growing to about 60cm by 65, it has dark red flowers and was bred by Colin by crossing Minipol with (White Diamond x Unnamed Seedling)

A true footballing great, George Best played thirty-seven matches for Northern Ireland, scoring nine times, George was born in Belfast on May 22nd, 1946 and joined Manchester United, who were then managed by Sir Matt Busby, in 1963. He was to play most his club football on the right wing for there. In all he made 470 appearances for Man United, and scoring 179 goals. He also British club football for Fulham, Stockport County, Hibbs and Bournemouth.

A pin up boy of his day, who drank heavily, George was to die aged fifty-nine on November 25th, 2005 and today has the Belfast City Airport named after.

Other footballers who have had roses named after them are:

Bobby Charlton

Introduced in 1974, Bobby Charlton is named after the famous Manchester United and England footballer and was bred by Gareth Fryer from Royal Highness and Prima Ballerina. It is a hybrid tea rose that grows to about

200cm tall and has deep pink flowers.

Bobby, who was famous for his thunder bolt shots, was part of the England World Cup winning team of 1966

and was born on October 11th, 1937. He was one of those who survived the Munich Air Crash that killed many of this Manchester United colleagues, having first played for Man U in 1956. During his Old Trafford career, he scored 249 goals in 758 games for them. He also played 106 games for England, scoring 49 goals, before finishing his career at Preston North End.

Gary Lineker

Named after the former Everton, Tottenham and England footballer, who now presents BBC's Match of the Day, Gary Lineker is a floribunda rose that was introduced by Rearsby Roses in 1991. It has vermillion flowers and was bred from two unnamed seedlings by Colin Pearce of Limes New Roses.

Gary, who was born on November 30th, 1960, began his career with Leicester City, where he scored 103 goals in 216 games, before joining Everton. For the "Toffees", he found the back of the net on 38 occasions in his 52 appearances. He later played for Tottenham Hotspur, netting 80 times in 138 matches. For England his record was just as impressive as in 80 matches, he scored 48 goals.

The Jimmy Greaves Rose

Bred by Douglas Gandy from Dorothy Peach and Prima Ballerina, Jimmy Greaves is a hybrid tea rose that was named after one of England's greatest ever goal scorers. Jimmy held the record for the most goals scored for Tottenham Hotspur until his record was broken by Harry Kane in 2023.

Probably the greatest goal scorer of all time, Jimmy was born on February 20th, 1940 and was part of the England World Cup Squad of 1966, though he did not play in final having lost his place in the team to Geoff Hurst through injury. His career began at Chelsea where, before he joined A.C. Milan, he scored 132 in 169 appearances. after an unhappy time at Milan, he then joined Tottenham Hotspur where he soon became a cult hero. Scoring an increditable 268 goals in just 381 matches. He then finished his career at West Ham United before hanging up his boots. He was capped 57 times for England, scoring 44 goals.

The Pele Rose

The rose named after the great Brazillian football is a hybrid tea rose that was bred in the USA by Frank A. Bernardelle from two unnamed seedlings. It has flowers that are a blend of white.

Edson Arantes de Nascimento, better known as Pele, was simpily one of the best ever footballers ever. Born on October 23rd, 1940, he won three World Cup winner's medals for Brazil, the first when he was just eighteen in 1958 and the last 12 years later in 1970. Though he missed the final of the second of those through injury in 1962. Later the Brazilian Minister of Sport, he was to die aged eighty-two on October 29th, 2022.