sport news GERRY FRANCIS: Playing against Pele was one of the proudest moments of my career trends now
sport news GERRY FRANCIS: Playing against Pele was one of the proudest moments of my career trends now
GERRY FRANCIS: Playing against Pele was one of the proudest moments of my career... the Brazilian icon made football a global sport through talent and personality, and that's why he's still my greatest of all time
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If captaining England was my proudest moment, sharing a pitch with Pele came a close second.
Like many players of my generation, he was my idol growing up, I'd fallen in love with him and Brazil as a seven-year-old watching the 1958 World Cup and wanted one of their shirts, much to my grand-dad's annoyance being a proud Englishman.
Pele was 35 when I finally got the chance to play against him for England against Team America in Philadelphia in 1976 and he was still some player even then; two brilliant feet, quick as lighting, great balance and outstanding in the air.
