THE EVENING I SAW PELE PLAY FOR SANTOS AT VILLA PARK IN 1972. VILLA WON THE EXHIBITION MATCH 2-1...

 Pele At Villa Park In 1972…

MY PROGRAMME COVER.
VILLA'S EDITION FOR THE GAME & FOR THE 0-0 HOME DRAW v WALSALL FEATURED ASPECTS OF THE SANTOS MATCH...

I was there, aged 21, standing at the Holte End in a crowd of 54,437 when Pele’s Santos circus arrived at Villa Park to play the Third Division hosts (the equivalent of League 1 today, of course) in an exhibition match. Villa led the league from Bournemouth and the leading goalscorer was Andy Lochhead, although both Ray Graydon and Willie Anderson were chasing the rugged centre-forward’s total, both of them in double figures. 

A generator had been purchased by Villa to ensure that the match would go ahead because of the possibility of power cuts at the time and because of the miners’ strike. In fact, after the interval, Pele led some Santos complaints about the floodlights and there was a delay until the problem was sorted out. 

Pele played in a deep attacking role for Santos but despite some typical promptings, turns and flicks from the player, his forwards struggled to menace Villa’s defence too much, in which Fred Turnbull, George Curtis, Mick Wright and the veteran Charlie Aitken held firm until later in the second period. At 2-0 down, Pele was fouled and Edu curled a fine 20 yard free-kick from inside-right, left-footed, past Villa’s cricketing goalkeeper Jim Cumbes, whose punted kicks were often enormous… 

Edu scored 183 goals for Santos during a ten year career there from 584 appearances, whilst netting 8 times for Brazil from 42 appearances.

EDU'S FREE-KICK NESTLES IN A CORNER OF THE NET...

Villa had opened the scoring early in the first-half from a right-flank Graydon corner, which Aitken nodded forwards under pressure but it was Pat McMahon’s typical speed of thought which saw him nip in to head the  ball past the startled Santos gloveman Cejas. Ex-Celtic midfielder McMahon made a habit of scoring valuable goals for Villa, popping up regularly with headers. 

MCMAHON, LEFT, HAS HEADED VILLA 1-0 UP...

Cumbes saved well from a Pele shot and ex-Luton Town star Bruce Rioch, famous for his powerful left-footed shooting, tested Cejas, before Rioch was upended after the break to earn Villa a penalty.

Graydon converted the spot-kick and although Santos had a goal correctly disallowed for offside, their only response of note was Edu’s fine free-kick strike.

GRAYDON HAS ADDED GOAL 2 FOR VILLA...

Pele was quick to exit the pitch I recall, no surprise when the circus was always on the move but ultimately I guess I can always say not only that I saw Pele play but that he failed to score against Villa’s workmanlike Third Division team.

PELE EXITS...

However, I was always more in awe of Portugal’s forward Eusebio and I came to appreciate Brazilian midfielder Gerson but most all, Rivelino, whose left boot seemed caressingly wand-like on occasions when playing for Brazil. 

Defender Ian Ross of Liverpool watched the Santos match from the seats and Villa would soon sign him as skipper for £70,000… Villa would of course be promoted after two embarrassing seasons in the Third Division, although they had reached the League Cup Final in 1970-71, losing rather unluckily to a brace of Martin Chivers goals of First Division Spurs. Villa had beaten Manchester United in the two-legged semi-final, drawing 1-1 at Old Trafford and dramatically winning 2-1 at Villa Park to progress to the old Wembley.. 

I was fortunate to witness all three of those games too…