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1969. As an idealistic 17 year old I hitched up to Stoke from Oxford on my own one mid-week day.. Found a dirt cheap B&B near the Victoria Ground and headed there that evening to watch Stoke City v Santos and a last and only chance to see the great man. He scored twice ( past Gordon Banks) in a blizzard of flashlights. A torrid night for poor Dennis Smith left trailing in his wake . Also on the pitch if I remember were Jimmy Greenhof (?), Clodoaldo and Carlos Alberto. While only an Exhibition match, it's still vivid 53 years on.
Yesterday saw the passing of a Greatness.. as much defined by the modest life lived as the dazzling football played.
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1969 - I was football mad 15 year old who got really into football after the 1966 World Cup. I was bemused by Pele’s skill during the World Cup, but my real hero was Gordon Banks. I started to follow Leicester City at a distance, as well as watching Swindon Town, who had just beaten Arsenal in the then League Cup Final. My Dad said how did I fancy going to see my hero down at the Dell, then Southampton’s ground, at an evening fixture. Well what a game which ended 4-4. Banksy had one of those games, and to be honest was at fault with 3 of the Saints goals. Happy days then as cu a teenager, but then started watching proper football by getting involved with the Bluebirds COYMB