The Unlikely Friendship that Shaped Barry Fry’s Career: George Best and Dunstable Town

Barry Fry: The King of the Lower Leagues and His Unlikely Friendship with George Best

Barry Fry, known as the king of the lower leagues in English football, has had a long and colorful career in management. Managing clubs such as Barnet, Southend United, Peterborough United, and Birmingham City, Fry has more than 32 years of experience and over 1,600 games under his belt. But what many may not know is that his career might never have taken off if it wasn’t for a friendship with the legendary George Best.

Fry and Best, two unlikely pals, met as apprentices at Manchester United and struck up a friendship that lasted for decades. Best played a pivotal role in Fry’s managerial career when he helped him out at Dunstable, a struggling club that Fry took over.

“Dunstable had finished bottom of the league eight years in a row. Nine after I took over in March,” Fry recalled. “I asked Bestie to play for Dunstable in two pre-season friendlies, and he agreed. The turnout was incredible, with 10,000 people inside Creasy Park and another 5,000 in the High Street unable to get in. We even made it on ‘News at 10’ after beating a Manchester United XI 3-2.”

This was just the beginning of Fry’s eventful career. From winning leagues to dealing with embezzlement scandals and even threatening to blow Harry Redknapp’s kneecaps off, Fry’s stories are as entertaining as they are unbelievable.

Despite the ups and downs, Fry has never looked back since his time at Dunstable. His passion for the game and his larger-than-life personality have made him one of English football’s most charismatic managers. And through it all, his friendship with George Best has remained a constant source of support and inspiration.