York City footballers were due to hold a minute's silence out of respect for the late George Best before their away match against Morecambe at 3pm today.

A Morecambe FC spokesman said the tribute was all the more important because the club's new caretaker manager was former Manchester United star Sammy McIlroy, who was touted as "the new George Best".

The news that the legendary star had succumbed to multiple organ failure at the Cromwell Hospital in west London prompted an outpouring of grief from fans, friends and family.

The Football League announced there would be a minute's silence before all its games this weekend, while Celtic will stage a minute's applause ahead of the Bank of Scotland Premier League game against Dunfermline tomorrow.

Soccer stars past and present, including England skipper David Beckham, paid tribute both to the superstar's sporting prowess.

Prime Minister Tony Blair led the tributes, saying: "We all know that George Best was probably the most naturally gifted footballer of his generation, one of the greatest footballers the UK has ever produced."

People connected with the game in the York area also had vivid memories of the star.

Lol Cussons, a well-known referee in York and District Leeper Hare League, Beckett League and John Smith's Sunday League - officiated over the 1969 Newcastle Utd vs Manchester Utd league match in which George Best played.

Lol said: "I remember it was Match Of The Day. He was a brilliant player. There were two stars in the Man Utd team, George Best and Denis Law - a Northern Ireland international and a Scotland international.

"Best was such a first-class player. Defenders would run away from him rather than tackle him.

"I used to carry a tube of mints with me during matches. I offered Best one and he said he'd rather have a drink."

York City manager Billy McEwan said: "He was incredibly brave for a small player and you used to look at him sometimes and wonder how tough defenders could not get the ball off him."

Malcolm Huntington, former Evening Press sports editor, said: "I was fortunate enough to see George Best playing at the height of his career for Man Utd.

"I saw him play against Estudiantes, the South American team in 1968. It was a world Club Cup final at Old Trafford.

"He mesmerised the opposition. He is the finest attacking footballer ever to have played. He could dribble and shoot - he made the ball talk.

"It is tragic that things have turned out the way they have for him because of his massive drink problem. They say that genius is next to madness - it's a terrible shame."

Best's death signalled a flood of memorabilia on the internet auction site ebay, among it an autographed framed picture of Best with Sir Matt Busby, and a signed 1968 European Cup winners' shirt.

Updated: 10:01 Saturday, November 26, 2005