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George was born in Belfast on the 22nd of May 1946 and by the age of one and literally as soon as he could walk, George had a ball at his feet. One of his first photographs was taken when he was 13 months old outside his Gran and Grandfathers house, already with a ball at his feet. George was very close to his Grandparents but at the age of 11, George’s Grandfather also called George and from whom George took his name passed away. Despite the sadness of losing his Grandfather, shortly after George went on and passed his eleven plus and was the only child in his class to do so. In doing so meant that he would be sent to Grosvenor High Protestant School meanwhile all his friends would be attending Lisnasharragh Secondary Modern.
Being a High School, Grosvenor’s sport of choice was Rugby, so what with George’s passion for football and with all his friends attending a different and more local school, it wasn’t long before George began to play truant, before to long he had decided to quit the High School and join his mates at the local secondary school. From day one when he was picked to play in a school football team, he felt this was where ho belonged.
It was at this school and around the age of 13 that George starting taking an interest in what would become a life long interest, Girls, at the same time, things were also beginning to develop on the football front and he had began playing for Cregagh Boys Club. Until this time, George had always played in trainers as real football boots were too expensive, but the Christmas after he had signed for Cregagh, he opened a present from his parents to find himself looking at his first brand new pair of leather football boots, complete with steel toe caps and sides that came above the ankles as football boots did in those days, he thought they were beautiful and were the best present he had ever had.
George’s big chance came shortly after when Cregagh Boys played a match against the Northern Ireland School Boys Probable’s, he played well in the 2-1 win and was short listed for the end of season School Boys International. George made the final 16 only for them to decide to take 15 with George being the one to miss out, he was heart broken.
The Apprentice Years
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