Sargent says an All-Ireland soccer team would be a suitable legacy for George Best

Mr. Sargent said today, ?George Best?s career came to an abrupt end partially because he had no opportunity to display his skills on the world stage. Because he played for Northern Ireland, there was little chance he would play in a World Cup, which was one of the reasons he was lost to the game at such a young age.?

"Both soccer teams are at low ebbs at the moment, but if they come together, the All-Ireland team could be a real force in world soccer. It works well in rugby, hockey and a variety of other sports, so why not for one of the most popular sports on this island??

The Green Party leader said that if the two Irish teams had come together during Best?s career, he may have won a World Cup medal. ?Best was only 30 when Ireland?s soccer Dream Team could have been formed from players North and South, including Pat Jennings, Pat Rice, David O?Leary, Sammy McIlroy, Frank Stapleton, Liam Brady and Johnny Giles. We could have had the best team in the world.?

Mr. Sargent said that it is often the Protestant community who are deemed to oppose the union of the two teams, but Best, himself from the Protestant community, was in favour of bringing the two sides together in a permanent arrangement. We should honour his wishes, and bring the teams together.