ONE of the legendary George Best’s greatest performances in a Manchester United shirt came against the club’s EFL opponents.
On February 7, 1970 the skilful Northern Irishman scored and English-record SIX times in an 8-2 over Northampton.
The two sides have only ever met four times, but Best ensured this FA Cup clash would be the most memorable.
Northampton full-back on that fateful day, Ray Fairfax admits the 1968 Ballon d’Or was on a different planet that day.
He told The Telegraph: “I think the closest I got to him was when we shook hands after the final whistle.
“When you ship eight goals and the man you were marking scores six you do think you could have done better. Your professional pride is dented.
“But the fact is, if I’d marked him out the game and we’d drawn 0-0, you wouldn’t be wanting to talk to me about it 46 years later.
“Actually I played a part in history. Even if it was a very small part.”
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Best had just returned from a six-week ban imposed on him by the FA after he punched the ball out of the referee’s hands.
He was determined to make up for lost time against The Cobblers and became the first player to score a double hat-trick.
Notable George Best achievements
FA Youth Cup — 1964
First Division title — 1964-65, 66-67
European Cup — 1968
Ballon d’Or — 1968
Football League Top scorer — 1967-68
FWA Footballer of the Year — 1967-68
Jose Mourinho now takes his United side to Northampton’s — named without a hint of irony — Sixfields Stadium in need of a morale-boosting victory.
And 8-2 win would be nice, but the former Chelsea boss would take any sort of victory at the moment.
The Red Devils last met Northampton in an FA Cup tie in 2004.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men 3-0 that day with Diego Forlan among the goal scorers.
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