THE publicity for this new photographic celebration of Best's life and career boasts it was put together in record time - only 12 days from deciding to go ahead with the book to it appearing on the shelves in Belfast.

Such haste - which smacks a little of rushing to cash in on the great man's death - isn't always a guarantee of quality.

Under the circumstances, however, Appletree Press has done a good job. It has brought in "Belfast boy" and radio breakfast show host Ivan Martin to write a very short account of Best's life, which serves to stitch the images together.

But this is mainly a book of photos - and those photos speak for themselves.

The grace, the poise, the athleticism and sheer youthful exuberance of the young Best as he skips past flat-footed defenders say it all. The contrast between that young footballing God and the good-natured, but prematurely aged and broken man who died after a lifetime of battling alcohol is unbearably poignant.

"When I'm gone all that will be remembered will be the football. That'll do for me," Best apparently once said.

That's not true: his drink-raddled later years are remembered all too clearly by those who loved him at his footballing peak.

But at least the photos here help us remember the good times, too.

George Best: The Legend - In Pictures will be available here on February 1.

Updated: 16:26 Friday, January 27, 2006