A telegram Eurovision star Lulu sent to her beau George Best almost six decades ago pleading with him not to beat Scotland in an upcoming clash is to be sold at auction.
The Scots pop star briefly dated the Manchester United legend when they were both at the height of their fame in the 1960s.
She sent the telegram from London to the hotel Best was staying at in Belfast before Northern Ireland played Scotland in October 1967.
The message reads: ‘I know you should win but against Scotland are you kidding? Love Lulu.’
Best did not heed her advice as Northern Ireland won the match 1-0 against the Scotland side who had defeated World Cup winners England just six months earlier.
His performance in the fixture at Windsor Park has been described as his best ever in a Northern Ireland shirt.
Best, who wanted an 18-year-old Lulu to move with him at the time, held on to the telegram for many years.
It forms part of a collection of George Best memorabilia which was bought directly from the football great by a private collector.
Lulu dated Best when they were both at the height of their fame in the 1960s
George Best and Lulu pose for a photo to launch a promo event. Pictured with George are (left to right): Patti Boulaye, Suzanne Dando, Mary Stavin, Lulu and Jay Aston
The Telegram, pictured above, is expected to fetch up to £550 at auction
The collector has now passed away and his family are selling the items.
The telegram, which features a wildlife drawing by illustrator Harry Titcombe, will go under the hammer at Graham Budd Auctions’ Sporting Legends Memorabilia Auction, on December 3, where it has been given an estimate of between £350 and £550.
David Convery, Head of Sporting Memorabilia at Graham Budd Auctions, said: ‘This telegram obviously meant something to George as he kept it for a number of years.
‘He and Lulu were friends and he was at the height of his fame at the time it was sent.
‘They both shared a passion for football and she seems to be asking him to give Scotland a chance in the match.
‘It’s an unusual thing to come on the market and we have already had some interest in it.’
Lulu, 76, found fame in 1964 with debut single ‘Shout’ and also represented the UK for at the Eurovision Song Contest in Spain in 1969 with song ‘Boom Bang-a-Bang’.
She has previously told how she resisted a full-blown relationship with Best because she thought he couldn’t be faithful to one woman.
She said: ‘We were both lonely in spite of the great things that were happening to us and the loneliness brought us together.
‘We had a brief and innocent time together. I went to see him play for Manchester United and he came to my concerts.
‘It lasted several months simply because there were lots of parallels in our lives. Of course I loved him. What was there not to love about George?’
She added: ‘He once proposed to me over the telephone. He had been injured and I phoned.
‘He said, “We should get married”. I told him it was the painkillers talking and that he should not be drinking with them.
‘I thought George was gorgeous but he could never have belonged to one woman.’
Other lots in the auction linked to Best, who died in 2005 aged 59, include his first pair of football boots and a Player of the Year trophy, worth £30,000-50,000, presented to him by the Football Writers Association.
