Ian Stewart, who featured for NI at the 1986 World Cup and played a number of English clubs including QPR and Newcastle United, has produced the song along with London-based Cherry Records.
A left winger, Stewart would have been more used to breaking down defences, but has gone with the name The Back Four for the collection of NI musicians in the band.
The cover for the single, to be released on Friday
The song is a cover of Don Fardon’s 1970 single Belfast Boy, which reached number 32 in the UK charts.
Stewart said Best — who amassed 474 appearances for Manchester United and 37 caps for NI — was an inspiration to him during his own playing career.
“When I was a kid growing up, he was number one, and I always wanted to do this song,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.
“I listened to the original and wanted to do my version. It’s my homage to George Best and I wondered how I could bring it into 2024.
“I was never really a musician; after I played football I worked for the Irish FA for 29 years and have just recently left. I had an amazing time there.
The band also brought out a single for the upcoming Euro U19 championship
“I started doing football songs a few years ago and got signed to Cherry Records in London, who release football songs.
“I was writing my own songs, I have an U19 song for the tournament that is coming up. I’ve done other songs — Electric Green, a song I wrote last summer for the Girls.
“The last couple of years, I put a band together called The Back Four of really great musicians.”
The band are made up of Philip McCarroll (lead, backing vocals and acoustic guitar), Matt Wilson (bass guitar), John Wilson (electric guitar and keyboard) and Adam Callaghan (drums and percussion).
George Best
“They’re amazing musicians who are probably wondering why an ex-footballer is telling them what to do,” said Stewart.
“Philip is a legend of NI music; he has been in many bands. Matt actually plays bass guitar along with Brian Downey in the Thin Lizzy tribute. The guitar player is John, who teaches music. He’s a classically trained pianist, but he plays guitar on this song and Adam Callaghan is also an amazing drummer. This is the 10th song I’ve done with them, but as a band they don’t exist apart from in my head and in the studio. It’s a bit of fun.
Ian Stewart in action for Northern Ireland
“A lot of people comment that the songs are very catchy. I’m not a musician, I am not a singer, and when I write songs I try to rearrange them. I am the general public. The band hate me saying that, they say I’m an ex-footballer, but I’m the general public.
“I always think ‘what would the general public want?’ I always thought it was a catchy song, and that’s why I wanted to do it.”
Belfast Boy will be released on Friday, June 7 and will be available on a number of streaming platforms