...Northern Ireland, Ulster Bank Limited - £5 2006 George Best Commemorative

Five Pounds, ND27.11.2006 P339
Commemorating First Anniversary of George Best's Death

Reverse

One million pieces printed. Notes released on 27/11/2006 to the public. The entire issue was taken up by collectors within 10 days of becoming available in bank branches in Northern Ireland. This is indeed a record for any commemorative issue (apart from the Malaysia 2007 RM50 Commemorative and 2008 China Y10 Olympics note). The Bank also issued a presentation blue wallet with the picture of George Best in his Northern Ireland national strip and details of his achievements when he was a professional footballer, mostly with Manchester United FC. These wallets were issued free to customers for a maximum of 5 for every 10 notes purchased. The note was issued at face value. It appears that the notes were offered for sale worldwide when it was released.

George Best died on November 25, 2005 in the Cromwell Hospital in London, of liver failure, following Best`s battle with alcoholism. The first note in the run with #000001 was presented to Best’s sister Barbara McNarry who headed the George Best Foundation and the last note #1000000 to his father Dickie at a special launch ceremony in Belfast.

You have to have at least one in your collection if you are a football fan.