I have another tale regarding Pele which older readers of BwB may have heard from me before.
Following on from Andy Walker’s tale,I have certainlybored my friends and family with this many, many times.
I was covering games in the U/16 Youth World Cup and saw the group matches which were played at Dens Park.
On one particular occasion, Pele was there as a guest of FIFA.
I found out that he was to meet the ballboys after the game and decided on a plan of action.
I say “plan of action” but it was a simple ploy… gatecrash the party!
The inside of Dens is not what it is now and there was one long corridor under the main stand.
I came down from the Press box to find the ballboys lined up in a single line in the corridor, waiting to meet the legendary Brazilian.
After a few minutes, the great man appeared and stood for a few minutes talking to the first ballboy.
Then, as probably pre-instructed, all the ballboys in unison raised their right hand.
Pele then proceeded to come up the line giving each youngster a ‘high-five’.
After the last ballboy, he was greeted with one other hand mine!
There was just the briefest of moments when our eyes met, then he smiled and high-fived me, before being swiftly ushered on by his entourage.
It’s a moment I’ve never forgotten.
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