Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is a global phenomenon that has no boundaries in race or geography. While the World Cup 2006 is proceeding at full steam in Germany, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the National Football Museum in England have joined forces to present the "Football" exhibition, organised by the Hong Kong Museum of History in collaboration with the Hong Kong Football Association.

More than 150 items carefully selected by the National Football Museum and the Hong Kong Football Association will be on display from  (June 21) until September 18 at the Museum of History.

There's been much said about George Best - his footballing genius, his flamboyant lifestyle and of course his drinking. But one man from Chorlton remembers a gentle side of George. This is the story of the superstar and the ballboy:

John Edwards was a 15-year-old ballboy at Old Trafford during George Best's heyday at United.

As a United-mad teenager, he lived on Maitland Avenue, just round the corner from where George lived in digs with Mrs Fulloway in Chorlton.

And when John asked his hero for his United shirt, George didn't let him down. These are John's memories of George Best:

On the eve of the 2006 World Cup, The Royle Family’s Ricky Tomlinson gets off the sofa and embarks on a fascinating quest to track down the most famous shirts in English sporting history.

Four hundred million people watched spellbound on July 30th 1966 as, in the final moments of extra time, Geoff Hurst powered home his third goal to give England a 4-2 victory against Germany in the World Cup final.

As Beckham and the boys set out to replicate this awe-inspiring moment 40 years later, what has become of Bobby Moore’s heroic team and their famous shirts?

In this exclusive new UKTV show, football fanatic Tomlinson packs his kit bag and goes off in search of the ten iconic red shirts - plus Gordon Bank’s yellow keeper’s jersey - that were worn on that famous summer afternoon.

A piece of England's World Cup folklore which has been in German hands for the last 40 years went on public display in London today before going under the hammer next week.

The red No 2 shirt worn by England full back George Cohen during the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley is expected to sell for at least £20,000 when it comes up for auction at Christie's on Tuesday.

Fans coming to the World Cup can relive the life of Pele after the Brazilian launched the first exhibition about himself in Germany's capital Berlin.

The temporary museum, whose opening will coincide with the World Cup kick off tomorrow, features a collection of trophies and mementoes marking the career of the World Cup winner.

On display is the worn white leather ball, which he kissed after scoring his 1,000 goal in 1969 cheered by 75,000 fans, and sets of old black boots alongside his famous number 10 shirt.

The prestigious Fashion Gallery at Snibston Discovery Park is currently hosting a brand new temporary exhibition celebrating the relationship between football and fashion.

The Beautiful Game runs throughout the World Cup season and features four themed areas of display.

A section titled The Dressing Room looks at the impact of fashion and technology on professional football kits in terms of design and textiles.

Terrace takes a look at the clothes fans wear to matches and includes a potted history of terrace fashion including 1980s casuals. Items on display include Gabicci knitwear, Burberry from the 1990s and a CP Company jacket complete with goggles in the hood.

The National Football Museum has secured, on long term loan, the most infamous football shirt in the game's history.

Ex-Nottingham Forest, Spurs and England midfielder Steve Hodge has presented The Museum with footballing legend Diego Maradona's 1986 “Hand of God” shirt.

In the third part of a series on investing for fun, BBC News Online looks at the money that can be made from sports memorabilia. For many people it may seem laughable to put the words "football" and "investment" together in the same sentence.

But one area where football has proved a shrewd investment is in the field of memorabilia.
The huge growth in the game's popularity has been matched by growing prices of collectable items.

And football is not the only sport to attract a collectors market with golf, cricket, tennis and fishing antiques all in demand.