I am so sad to hear of the death of Pele. I would have been nine, I suppose when I became aware of the World Cup in 1962 in Chile, and suddenly when we were playing football all my pals wanted to be Pele. It was the first time I remember anyone wanting to be anyone other than a St Mirren or Celtic or Scotland player when we were kicking the ball about. And we all wanted to be Number 10. From then on Pele became a hero even if we hardly ever saw him back then in those black and white days.
In 1966 Brazil played a friendly against Scotland en route to the England World Cup. I was in school on the Renfrew Road in Paisley. It was lunchtime, I seem to recall, and a bus pulled up outside the Chiva’s regal whisky factory next door to us. All these guys got out of the bus. We were not used to seeing black people back then and immediately we realised it was the Brazil team come for a tour. We broke so many rules, climbing the fence or running round the long way to mob the players. Of course we were looking for Pele, but he wasn’t there, but we shook hands with those players and then the bell went and we all had to chase back round to get into our lines.
The Brazilians were the greatest for us football-mad teenagers and that would remain with Pele always at the top. He was the epitome of all that was great in the magical game. Of course the high point of his career was the 1970 World Cup – the magnificent dummy against Uruguay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UzRsvCsC4c
the wonderful header that brought out the amazing Banks save: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNLam4RAbg8 (still brings goosebumps)
and, of course, his weighted pass to Carlos Alberto to score that wonderful team goal in the final: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5HbmeNKino
There may have been greater players, I don’t know, but I’ll never have a hero like him in my lifetime. Nobody will give me the thrill that Pele gave in his football...a legend, an icon, a genius.
Rest in Peace...and thanks.
In 1966 Brazil played a friendly against Scotland en route to the England World Cup. I was in school on the Renfrew Road in Paisley. It was lunchtime, I seem to recall, and a bus pulled up outside the Chiva’s regal whisky factory next door to us. All these guys got out of the bus. We were not used to seeing black people back then and immediately we realised it was the Brazil team come for a tour. We broke so many rules, climbing the fence or running round the long way to mob the players. Of course we were looking for Pele, but he wasn’t there, but we shook hands with those players and then the bell went and we all had to chase back round to get into our lines.
The Brazilians were the greatest for us football-mad teenagers and that would remain with Pele always at the top. He was the epitome of all that was great in the magical game. Of course the high point of his career was the 1970 World Cup – the magnificent dummy against Uruguay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UzRsvCsC4c
the wonderful header that brought out the amazing Banks save: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNLam4RAbg8 (still brings goosebumps)
and, of course, his weighted pass to Carlos Alberto to score that wonderful team goal in the final: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5HbmeNKino
There may have been greater players, I don’t know, but I’ll never have a hero like him in my lifetime. Nobody will give me the thrill that Pele gave in his football...a legend, an icon, a genius.
Rest in Peace...and thanks.
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