George Best shirt from six-goal game goes on sale

LONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters) The Manchester United shirt worn by George Best when he scored six goals against Northampton Town in 1970 will go on auction next month and is expected to fetch 20-30,000 pounds (-57,000 dollar).

The red-and-white shirt is part of a soccer memorabilia sale at auction house Christie's on September. 13. Best's performance during the match is widely considered as one of his finest.

Roy Fairfax, the Northampton player who was marking the Northern Irish player, said afterwards: ''The closest I got to him was when we shook hands after the game.'' Also on sale is the Brazil shirt worn by Rivelino at the 1970 World Cup final in which his team beat Italy 4-1. According to Christie's, Rivelino fainted at the final whistle and had to be carried from the field.

The shirt is estimated at 25-35,000 pounds, well short of the world record price for a football shirt at auction of 158,000 pounds paid in 2002 for Pele's shirt from the same match.

Christie's is also offering the 1970 F.A. Cup winners medal awarded to Chelsea captain Ron Harris, and the shirt worn by World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore in his last English league match in 1977.

REUTERS PDS PM0436