Second Best: My Dad and Me

Moving, engaging and unforgettable, Calum Best's astonishing memoir reveals the emotional story of his relationship with his father, soccer legend George Best

Calum Best should have had it all. As the only son of world-famous sports legend George Best and his first wife Angie, a gorgeous English model, Calum was born into a world of privilege and opportunity. But his father’s fame came at a price, and George’s playing career was soon overshadowed by his playboy lifestyle and an increasing dependence on the comforting embrace of alcohol. While his tumultuous later years could never diminish the memories of the peerless, often breathtaking, quality of his football, they had a profound effect on Calum. Growing up with his mother in California, Calum’s visits to see his father in England were all too rare, and he cherished every moment he could spend in the company of the man he adored. But as George’s alcoholism spiraled out of control, inebriation frequently led to violence and George’s self-destruction spilled over onto his son. Vivid, deeply moving, brave and honest, Second Best is the heartbreaking story of their relationship. It is a powerful tale of love and suffering, of an absent father and his wayward son, and of a family torn apart by addiction.

Calum Best is an actor, model and entrepreneur, and is involved in several charities including NACOA (National Association for Children of Alcoholics), Action on Addiction and the Elton John Aids Foundation.