The dizzyingly talented Northern Irishman is still regarded by many Reds as the greatest player to ever don the United shirt.
He was just 17 when named in the starting XI for a First Division fixture against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford, and so callow that he was not even listed among the line-ups in that day's match programme.
A knee injury to a more senior winger, Ian Moir, a couple of days before the game, provided Best's opening: assistant manager and youth-football guru Jimmy Murphy was insistent that the teenager should be drafted into the team.