Pele 1-0

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-Welcome to Ninian Park...

-..the starting point of one

-of the most intriguing stories...

-..in the history of Welsh sport.

-I'm taking you back to Wales's

-World Cup campaign in 1958.

-I'm also going to meet this man.

-Pele.

-I'm happy for the opportunity

-to embrace...

-..my sporting friends in Wales...

-..across Europe

-and around the world.

-And to talk a little about my life.

-Wales's campaign to reach the World

-Cup Finals for the first time...

-..began on 1st May, 1957,

-at Ninian Park.

-They played a strong

-Czechoslovakian team.

-Wales won 1-0.

-From there, we hit the road.

-We lost 2-1 to East Germany...

-..and 2-0 in Czechoslovakia.

-We ended our campaign

-with a 4-1 drubbing of East Germany.

-We started well and ended well.

-Somewhere in the middle,

-we lost the plot.

-We were second in the group

-with four points.

-Our World Cup dream was over

-for four more years.

-But then... trouble in

-the Middle East. Nothing new there.

-Israel upset a few people...

-..and no-one wanted to play them

-in the qualifiers.

-FIFA couldn't allow Israel to enter

-the World Cup without playing.

-FIFA's wise decision was to put the

-names of the runners-up in a hat.

-The team picked from the hat

-would play Israel, home and away...

-..for the right to play

-in the World Cup.

-Here's your choice.

-Guess who came out of the hat!

-Yeah!

-The first leg was played at

-the Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Aviv.

-Wales dominated from the kick-off...

-..and went ahead

-through an Ivor Allchurch goal.

-Captain Dave Bowen sealed

-the victory with a 20-yard strike.

-With a 2-0 victory, Bowen and his

-team inched closer to the World Cup.

-Brazil has already secured a place

-in the World Cup finals...

-..after beating Peru over two legs.

-After losing in the final in 1950

-and the quarter-finals in 1954...

-..they hoped the sound of the samba

-would sway their way in Sweden.

-Wales had high hopes

-of joining Brazil in Sweden...

-..when they played the second leg

-against Israel.

-The dream moved ever closer

-when Ivor Allchurch put them ahead.

-Soon after, Wales went 2-0 up.

-Medwin crossed for Cliff Jones

-to fire the ball past Hodorov.

-2-0 on the night, 4-0 on aggregate.

-Wales were on their way

-to the World Cup...

-..as representatives of Asia/Africa!

-You couldn't make it up.

-Wales's success was a feather

-in Jimmy Murphy's cap.

-He'd been appointed as Wales's first

-full-time manager a year earlier.

-Jimmy Murphy left Cardiff

-on February 6th a happy man.

-He travelled north

-and returned to his main job...

-..at Old Trafford, as Manchester

-United's assistant manager.

-When he reached the stadium,

-he received dreadful news.

-The aeroplane carrying Manchester

-United's squad - the Busby Babes...

-..had crashed in Munich

-as it returned from Yugoslavia.

-Twenty-three died,

-including eight of the players.

-Duncan Edwards, one of their star

-players, was amongst the dead.

-Had Murphy not been on duty

-with Wales...

-..he would have flown

-with the squad that day.

-His seat was taken by Bert Whalley,

-one of the coaches...

-..who sat next to Sir Matt Busby.

-Whalley died in the crash.

-Murphy was an impresario

-and a staunch nationalist.

-What he did with United and Wales...

-..was swear at the players...

-..and inspire them.

-He was a fiery character.

-He was a remarkable manager...

-..not the most tactical,

-but still a great manager.

-He was the epitome of a manager.

-You could go so far but no further.

-That's how it should be now.

-He was very generous.

-He'd give you a puff

-on his cigarette at half-time...

-..and a little drop of brandy.

-Yeah, nice bloke, nice bloke.

-I remember playing

-against England in 1957.

-Jim had given his team talk...

-..and he said, "Would anybody

-like to ask anything?"

-Reg Davies said to Murphy...

-.."What if Duncan Edwards picks the

-ball up and comes through with it?

-"Shall I close him down

-or back off?" he said.

-"Reg," he said, "Get out

-of the bloody way - he'll kill you."

-That sums Jim up.

-That's how he approached it.

-He was a no-nonsense character.

-We all loved him and respected him.

-A good footballing man.

-In the meantime, down in Brazil,

-a new star was emerging.

-At 17 years of age, he had been

-chosen for the World Cup squad.

-His name -

-Edson Arantes do Nascimento...

-..although everyone in Brazil

-knew him as Pele.

-Who were the stars

-in the Welsh squad?

-In 1958, he was seen as one of

-the top three goalies in the world.

-Harry Gregg, Lev Yashin

-and Jack Kelsey.

-For many, he was the best.

-I once asked him,

-"Jack, when you catch the ball...

-.."why does it never leave

-your hands?"

-"I chew gum before the game.

-"Before kick-off,

-I rub the gum over my gloves."

-"Yeah, yeah, I believe that!"

-When he died in 1992, that story

-was in the newspapers. It was true.

-Ivor had everything.

-He could dribble the ball,

-he could pass...

-..and he could strike the ball

-like a bullet.

-Ivor would never score

-inside the penalty box.

-All his goals were scored

-outside the box.

-Cliff Jones - Spurs' winger.

-They called him "the Flying Winger".

-He was fast.

-He could cross the ball

-with both feet.

-His ability and perseverance

-were responsible...

-..for a large number

-of Spurs' goals.

-He never walked to you and told you

-that you were in the team.

-The only time you ever found out

-was listening to the News.

-He'd put it on the wireless

-and that was it.

-He was going through

-and going through...

-..and when it came to No.4 or No.5,

-my name and I was chuffed then.

-That's the only way we knew

-we would play for Wales.

-Mel's brother, John,

-was the brightest star of all.

-The Gentle Giant as he was known

-since moving to Juventus in 1957.

-John was the god.

-Imposing, talented,

-graceful and influential.

-If John was in your team,

-you thought you could beat everyone.

-One thing will stay with me forever.

-It was in 1958.

-I'd gone to Llanfairfechan

-on my bike.

-Deiniol, my friend, and I

-were looking out to sea.

-We could see a man

-playing football with his son.

-Both of us stared in disbelief -

-John Charles.

-We went over to him and asked him

-for his autograph. He was wonderful.

-I can say I've played football

-with John Charles in Llanfairfechan.

-Years later, he was a guest

-of honour at a dinner.

-Mrs Charles came to the bar

-to order an orange juice.

-I told her how wonderful he'd been

-to us when we were young boys.

-She asked me to tell him that...

-..because his memory

-was starting to fail.

-I had a 15-minute conversation

-with him about the holiday...

-..and he remembered it vividly.

-The Welsh players

-came up to London...

-..for a five-day training camp

-before leaving for Sweden...

-..and stayed

-at the Lancaster Court Hotel.

-The FAW failed to organize

-suitable training facilities.

-Luckily, Hyde Park was nearby.

-They had wardens on horses

-going from A to B...

-..looking that everything was OK.

-This was a squad of 20 players.

-Spud went over, Jim Murphy,

-great character.

-"We're off to Sweden

-to play for Wales in the World Cup."

-The fella got on his horse

-and we trained there for five days.

-It was like Sunday morning football

-training for the World Cup.

-That's how it was. We were playing

-as if we were playing as kids.

-This is where the Welsh squad

-were put through their paces.

-"Jumpers for goalposts" would have

-been a very suitable description.

-With the London fiasco

-out of the way...

-..the rest of the trip

-would be a walk in the park.

-Yeah, d'you think so?

-BROMMA AIRPORT

-STOCKHOLM

-The Welsh squad arrived

-at Bromma Airport without a hitch...

-..apart from Ken Jones

-who'd caught a plane to Tel Aviv.

-As some of the players told him,

-"No, we've already played Israel!"

-John Charles was absent when

-the plane touched down in Bromma.

-Italy had failed

-to reach the World Cup...

-..so they decided to organize

-a cup tournament between the clubs.

-In his first year, Charles had

-inspired Juventus to the title.

-They fought

-to keep hold of the giant Welshman.

-An official welcoming party

-awaited the team.

-One of the selection team

-received a bunch of flowers...

-..red, white and blue,

-to represent the Union Jack.

-The Swedish organizers didn't know

-that we had our own flag.

-They didn't even know

-that we had our own anthem.

-God Save The Queen was played before

-every Welsh match. The shame of it!

-The Grand Hotel, in Saltsjobaden,

-was 20 minutes from Stockholm.

-This is where the Welsh squad

-spent most of their time in Sweden.

-With the Baltic Sea

-within yards of the front door...

-..grand boats and luxurious

-holiday homes, it was paradise.

-A few of the more mischievous

-players liked a pint or two.

-They went to find an off-licence,

-bought some beer...

-..and hid in the woods

-in case Jimmy Murphy caught them.

-We'd be by the pool

-doing something or other.

-All of a sudden, there's about five

-of them walking past the pool...

-..down the field, into the woods.

-They were like the Seven Dwarves -

-there was only five of them.

-Where were they going?

-They'd had a few beers and taken

-them down there to have a picnic.

-They were harmless enough.

-One of the so-called Big Five

-was Colin Baker from Cardiff City.

-It was too dear to drink

-in the hotel.

-We'd bought some bottles of beer...

-..in a little shop in Saltsjobaden.

-That's how we entertained ourselves.

-After long discussions, Juventus

-agreed to release John Charles...

-..but the Italian FA

-were still to ratify the decision.

-With only three days to go

-until the first game...

-..John Charles was released to play.

-He arrived at Bromma Airport

-at 3.00am.

-There was no-one from the FAW

-to pick him up.

-A Western Mail reporter

-gave him a lift to the hotel.

-We didn't know whether my brother

-would play. He was in Juventus.

-It was up to the last stage

-he came over.

-All the directors

-and all the wives were singing...

-.."For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

-He came and it was great

-for him to come anyhow.

-It was amazing when he did come.

-We were all training.

-Jimmy Murphy says,

-"John's arrived,"...

-..as if God had just appeared.

-Then off he goes to get John.

-He brought John back.

-The giant had reached Sweden.

-Wales were ready for battle.

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-Wales's campaign started

-against Hungary...

-..here at the Jernvallen Stadium

-near Sandviken.

-Hungary was one

-of my favourite teams.

-They had Puskas, Sipos, Kocsis

-and Hidegkuti in their ranks.

-I remember all their names

-and knew a lot about them.

-They'd beaten England 7-1 too!

-This is the northern most

-stadium to host a World Cup match.

-Today, they play a game

-called bandy here...

-..which is hockey on ice -

-but it's not ice hockey.

-I don't make up the rules!

-Hungary were expected to beat Wales

-but they had a weakened side.

-Many players had fled the country

-after a political revolution.

-On the eve of the game,

-there was a fierce argument...

-..between the manager

-and one of his players.

-Despite the general consensus,

-a few were hopeful of a shock.

-Welcome to the Jernvallen Stadium

-in Sandviken...

-..for this exciting contest

-between Hungary and Wales.

-Wales's World Cup campaign had

-started in the worst possible way.

-Hidegkuti. Out to Bozsik.

-Goal. Hungary lead 1-0.

-According to Kelsey,

-with the sun in his eyes...

-..he had no chance

-of saving the shot.

-For the next 20 minutes,

-Wales were under the cosh.

-John Charles was singled out

-for some heavy tackling.

-Charles in possession.

-Matrai fouls him again.

-25 minutes into the game...

-Cliff Jones with the cross.

-Charles rises. John Charles.

-Grosics has no chance.

-1-1 and Wales deserved

-to be on equal terms.

-1-1 was the final score,

-which was cause for celebration.

-Jimmy Murphy was jumping around

-the changing rooms shouting...

-.."We'll do it. We can go further."

-After seeing Hungary play over here,

-with Puskas and all those...

-..we expected Hungary to have a

-similar side, real good footballers.

-Completely different.

-They were just animals in a way,

-really.

-They kicked John off the park.

-To get a 1-1 draw against them

-was excellent.

-We thought that would possibly be

-our hardest game.

-It turned out to be a hard game

-but it was physically hard.

-There wasn't any football-wise.

-They scored first as well

-so we had to fight back and we did.

-It was a good draw

-and a good performance...

-..against a side who were

-really very physical at that time.

-I remember John Charles

-being a very special player...

-..and he scored against me.

-The English were more physical but

-the Welsh were technically better.

-It was a good start for Wales...

-..but things were about to take

-a turn for the worse.

-The boys returned to Saltsjobaden.

-On the 10th of June, they faced

-Mexico at the Rasunda Stadion...

-..in the middle of Stockholm.

-Wales was expected to win

-at a canter.

-All they thought they had to do

-was turn up and the win was theirs.

-Oh, no!

-15,000 supporters turned up,

-including hundreds of Mexicans.

-The South American team

-weren't fancied...

-..but they had

-enthusiastic supporters.

-Ten minutes into the game, it was

-evident that Wales weren't on form.

-They looked tired and out of sorts.

-Then, a stroke of luck.

-Webster takes the corner kick.

-Allchurch waits.

-He shoots and scores

-against the run of play.

-Wales were in the lead, 1-0.

-The game continued

-but Wales continued to disappoint.

-Colin Webster's ferocious tackling

-incensed some of the crowd.

-The Mexicans came down from

-the stand to have a word with him.

-All the Mexicans were sitting

-on the side where Colin Webster was.

-He's turned around

-and done something.

-Everything was quiet and tight

-and then there was an uproar.

-The Mexicans were waving

-their scarves and their hats...

-..and having a go at Webster.

-We stuck him inside

-until half-time...

-..and I went outside-right

-which was no problems.

-By the time we got in

-at half-time...

-..he was playing the other way.

-If they'd have got hold of him, you

-don't know what would've happened.

-Colin was a character.

-Wales were ahead at half-time.

-When they returned to the field,

-they were still playing poorly.

-Somehow, they managed

-to keep the Mexicans at bay.

-Then, two minutes before the end...

-Sesma crosses. Belmonte waits.

-It's in. Belmonte's scored.

-The man from Belmonte -

-he say goal!

-1-1 was the final score.

-Jimmy Murphy was furious.

-He vented his anger

-on all his players...

-..including John Charles

-who'd had a poor game.

-To be honest, this was Wales's worst

-performance since World War II.

-We were expected to win that game.

-But... I think a draw

-was a fair result.

-But they gave us a fright,

-they did - Mexico.

-Brazil were lighting up

-the World Cup in Sweden.

-They'd started the competition

-on fire.

-Austria were cast aside 3-0, thanks

-to goals from Santos and Mazola.

-They were also making their mark

-off the field.

-They had a personal chef,

-a psychologist and even a dentist.

-These boys were serious.

-The hosts, Sweden,

-were Wales's next opponents.

-Jimmy Murphy decided to play

-for a draw against a team...

-..which had already secured

-its place in the quarter-final.

-Wales returned to

-the Rasunda Stadion on June 15th...

-..for Sweden versus Wales.

-On the one side, you had

-Jimmy Murphy's defensive tactics...

-..and on the other hand,

-you had the tactics...

-..of Swedish manager

-George Raynor...

-..who cared little

-whether his team won or not.

-Somewhere in between, 30,000

-supporters present that night...

-..saw one of the most boring matches

-in the competition's history.

-Sorry, I was watching grass grow.

-That was far more interesting

-than watching Sweden play Wales.

-Jimmy Murphy's wish was granted -

-a goalless draw.

-They did miss some fair few chances.

-We were really thankful

-to get a draw against them.

-They were one of the favourites

-since it was in Sweden, I suppose.

-The match against Wales

-wasn't a memorable one.

-We were through to the last eight

-so it didn't matter to us.

-One thing that stays with me

-is how good John Charles was.

-After the goalless draw...

-..the news filtered through that

-Hungary had thrashed Mexico 4-0.

-This meant that Wales were joint

-second in the group with Hungary.

-There was no such thing

-as goal difference in 1958.

-There would have to be a play-off

-to decide which one went through.

-If the first game was dirty,

-the next one was filthy.

-The FAW didn't expect Wales

-to qualify from the group...

-..so they returned to London

-before flying back the next day...

-..for the play-off with Hungary.

-Well done, lads!

-According to Jimmy Murphy...

-..Wales would be hampered by the

-Russian referee chosen for the game.

-With such a close bond between

-the Soviet Union and Hungary...

-..he was worried that Hungary would

-receive preferential treatment.

-He was right too.

-The Rasunda Stadion

-had a capacity of 54,000.

-Unfortunately, only 3,000 turned up

-to watch the game that night...

-..possibly because the game

-against Sweden had been so boring.

-Wales started well,

-taking the game to the opposition.

-John Charles was fouled twice

-in the penalty box.

-The one-eyed Russian ref

-turned a blind eye!

-After half an hour...

-Budai crosses. It eludes Williams.

-Tichy. Goal. Hungary lead 1-0.

-Soon after the interval, John

-Charles was fouled in the box again.

-To be honest, he was fouled

-in the box for the whole game...

-..but he always stood up,

-smiled and continued the game.

-The referee gave Wales nothing but

-ten minutes into the second half...

-Allchurch shoots.

-What a goal. A great goal by Ivor

-Allchurch. Wales have equalized.

-According to some, it was

-the best goal of the tournament.

-Wales were back in the game and

-Hungary were losing their heads.

-Cliff Jones missed

-a golden opportunity to score...

-..but everyone felt

-that the second goal had to come.

-Wales in possession.

-Grosics rushes out.

-Medwin. Goal.

-Wales lead.

-The goal was my fault.

-I was trying to find Sarosi

-but he'd turned his back on me.

-He wasn't expecting the ball.

-I shouted at him

-but it was too late.

-Wales's right wing

-had stolen the ball.

-It was one against one

-and he scored.

-There's always things in football

-that will never go out of your mind.

-Being in the World Cup and scoring

-that goal, it's something special.

-That's it - Wales are victorious

-by two goals to one.

-Wales are through

-to the quarter-finals.

-We won. It's the only game Wales

-have ever won in the World Cup.

-Terry Medwin had taken us through to

-the quarter-finals to face Brazil.

-Come on, lads.

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-Against all expectations, Wales

-were through to the quarter-finals.

-No wonder the team were over the

-moon as they returned to the hotel.

-The night Wales won...

-..a party was organized in the

-Copacabana Club in the Grand Hotel.

-We'd had one or two, kind of thing.

-I think it was Kenny Leek...

-..who wanted to sing...

-..when the singer was on stage.

-He went up...

-..and took the mike out of his hand

-and wanted to sing Welsh songs.

-The bouncers or the heavies,

-they came on.

-They tried to get him off the stage.

-We got a little bit involved

-in this.

-At the end of the day, we were

-big boys then, kind of thing.

-We could look after ourselves.

-Unfortunately, once again...

-..things fell apart

-in the Copacabana...

-..when Colin Webster decided

-to headbutt one of the barmen.

-Webster was the Craig Bellamy

-of the 1950s.

-Enough said!

-While the celebrations

-got out of hand in Sweden...

-..and news of their success

-reached home...

-It created a lot of interest

-at the time...

-..when Wales reached

-the quarter-finals.

-Even children started

-playing football on the yard.

-They adopted the names of

-Kelsey, Bowen, Charles and Medwin.

-Everyone discussed football.

-I was so enthusiastic

-throughout the World Cup.

-As we progressed...

-..I thought we could go on

-to win the World Cup.

-We had such great players

-at the time.

-We'll never have a side

-like that again.

-Wales left the Grand Hotel...

-..and decamped to the Fars Hatt

-Hotel, just outside Gothenburg.

-With less than 24 hours to go...

-..before the most important game of

-their lives, Murphy had a problem.

-He'd never seen Brazil play.

-He had no idea what their skills

-and tactics would be like.

-We didn't know anything

-about Brazilian football.

-I'd studied for my 'O' Levels...

-..so I knew a country called Brazil

-existed in South America.

-We knew nothing about the Brazilian

-football team before 1958.

-You wouldn't have seen a side

-like Brazil before then...

-..and you would have read

-very little about them.

-That added to the pleasure

-of watching them play football.

-Brazil had reached

-the quarter-finals easily.

-They ended the group stages with

-a 2-0 win over the Soviet Union.

-Playing in his first World Cup,

-one young lad was making his mark...

-..and set up a goal for Vava.

-He's the No.10 -

-yes, that's it, Pele.

-D'you know what? Jimmy Murphy

-had an even greater problem.

-After the cuts and bruises

-he'd received against Hungary...

-..it looked likely that John Charles

-would be unavailable for the game.

-Why John, of everyone?

-Once we'd lost him...

-..which side in the world,

-even Brazil...

-..wouldn't miss a player

-of his stature?

-John Charles wasn't called

-King John for nothing.

-He was a remarkable player.

-I know I had a few kicks

-but that was the game then.

-I didn't retaliate.

-I couldn't catch anybody.

-My leg was bloody hurting me.

-They kicked John...

-..they kicked him ridiculously

-but no-one got sent off.

-When he sat down

-when we played Brazil...

-..there were tears in his eyes.

-Wales were about to face

-the World Cup favourites.

-John Charles was injured and Colin

-'Headbutt' Webster replaced him...

-..mainly because the FAW

-had flown over their wives...

-..rather than reinforcements.

-The FAW had taken 18 players

-to Sweden...

-..rather than the permitted 22.

-PSV Eindhoven striker Trevor Ford

-was left at home...

-..along with Arsenal's

-Derek Tapscott.

-Both would have given

-Jimmy Murphy extra options.

-This was Wales's third game

-in five days.

-25,000 supporters crammed

-into the Nya Ullevi Stadion.

-After one of Jimmy Murphy's

-legendary team talks...

-..Dave Bowen led his players

-on to the pitch.

-They all felt like giants.

-Unfortunately,

-the biggest giant of all...

-..was sitting next to Murphy

-on the bench.

-Wales started well.

-Wingers Jones and Medwin caused

-problems in the Brazilian defence.

-Colin Webster had come in

-at centre forward.

-Colin was a good player

-but he was no John Charles.

-John was centre forward

-in the World Cup.

-From my point of view,

-it was possibly my best game.

-Santos, the fullback, he was a bit

-slow on the turn. I exposed that.

-I got some crosses in and likewise

-Terry Medwin on the other side.

-I know that, sort of...

-If John had been in the centre,

-he would have picked up something.

-After 20 minutes,

-Brazil got into their stride.

-More importantly,

-they had some possession.

-They bombarded Jack Kelsey's goal

-with ferocious shots.

-Luckily, Arsenal's goalie

-was more than up to the task.

-Garrincha.

-He steps around the Welsh defence.

-He shoots. Kelsey saves.

-They had the tops.

-They had Garrincha and Didi.

-They were spinning and twisting

-the ball around.

-They took a free kick against us

-and we were all standing in a line.

-It went around us

-and hit the crossbar.

-Never seen anything like it.

-I can still see Garrincha now.

-Zagallo played in a position

-we'd now call the left wing.

-Dear me!

-Didi and Vava -

-aren't they lovely names?

-Imagine having a centre half

-called Bellini.

-They were bound to win.

-They couldn't lose.

-It's 0-0 at half-time

-at the Nya Ullevi Stadion.

-Wales will be happy

-with their first-half performance.

-It was a lovely summer's night

-in June.

-I was listening to the game

-between Wales and Brazil...

-..on a transistor radio.

-That was something very new at the

-time - for us in Llangaffo, anyway.

-Alun Williams was the commentator.

-Alun Williams was one of the best

-football commentators that ever was.

-He would bring the atmosphere of

-the game in Sweden into your homes.

-I had a radio.

-When a match was played, Dad and I

-were always together in the kitchen.

-No-one else was allowed near us.

-If he couldn't hear...

-..I would shout to him

-if there was a chance of us scoring.

-I would have to give him

-a running commentary of the game.

-The second half started

-in the same vein as the first.

-Wales attacked,

-then Brazil attacked.

-Stuart Williams and Mel Hopkins

-played the games of their lives.

-Garrincha was the man

-in the World Cup...

-..but Mel Hopkins played him

-completely out of the game.

-He didn't give him a kick.

-That went a big way

-to getting our performance going.

-Twenty minutes to go and Brazil

-were under the cosh.

-All of their attacks

-were stifled by the Welsh defence.

-With less than 15 minutes to go,

-nerves were fraught.

-The ball was played into the box

-and landed at the feet of... Pele.

-It's played through to Pele.

-He beats Charles.

-He shoots and he scores.

-Kelsey is finally beaten.

-Brazil lead.

-Pele! 1-0.

-A fluke.

-It just bobbled in.

-If Pele had connected properly,

-Jack would have saved it.

-I've no doubt about that. There

-was a deflection off Williams's leg.

-It was very disappointing, that.

-I could see

-he was shaping up to shoot.

-I'd come into the middle to cover.

-I knew I had to get

-a block tackle in.

-He shot just before -

-it only takes a split second...

-..before I could get there.

-I was only about a foot away...

-..and it just hit my studs.

-Jack Kelsey reckoned he'd have

-got it if it hadn't touched me.

-God bless you, Jack,

-but I still don't believe you!

-The Brazilians went crazy.

-Pele shouted "Goal!"

-and he ran to kiss the ball.

-Some of his team jumped on top

-of him and celebrated.

-Brazil defended for the rest of

-the game and passed the ball around.

-That's how it ended,

-with Brazil winning 1-0.

-Wales were out of the World Cup

-and on their way home.

-At the end of the day...

-..we say if Big John had played...

-..you'd like to think

-if he'd played, we'd have won...

-..but they were some team.

-Brazil had a lot of ability.

-Their technical skill

-was magnificent.

-We were pleased that we'd let them

-know that Wales weren't pushovers.

-We weren't.

-We'd done quite well and Brazil

-were a bit classy, a bit classy.

-The game against Wales

-was very hard.

-They played well defensively.

-They were more concerned with

-defending than scoring themselves.

-You can see by the result,

-Pele scored and we won 1-0.

-Beating Wales

-was extremely difficult.

-They would have beaten us anyway.

-They were a great side.

-They were a wonderful side, really.

-Brazil are through

-and Wales are out of the...

-It was a good World Cup for us.

-When you get to the quarter-finals,

-you want to win.

-You don't want to lose any game.

-I suppose it was a success.

-I think everybody was pleased

-about that.

-Brazil and Pele

-went from strength to strength.

-They beat France 5-2 in the

-semi-final. Pele scored a hat-trick.

-They beat hosts Sweden in the final

-by the same score-line...

-..with Pele adding

-another two to his tally.

-The whole experience was too much

-for the 17-year-old.

-He had inspired his country

-to their first World Cup.

-Surely, a hero's welcome awaited

-Wales when they returned home.

-An open-top bus tour? No,

-just Mel and the ticket collector.

-They didn't know

-we were playing out there.

-You'd never believe that.

-We came to Swansea Station - Ivor,

-Terry Medwin, myself and Cliff...

-..and a ticket collector asked,

-"Where've you been, on holidays?"

-We were playing in the World Cup!

-The end of Wales's journey

-but merely the beginning of Pele's.

-My journey continues

-after the break...

-..as I meet the most famous name

-in the history of football.

-Pele!

-.

-888

-888

-

-888

-Pele's adventures in the 1962 and

-1966 World Cups were cut short...

-..because of some brutal tackling.

-His romance with the World Cup

-reached its pinnacle in 1970.

-Pele scored four times, including

-the first goal in the final...

-..as Brazil won the World Cup

-for the third time.

-The 1970 team is regarded

-as the best team ever.

-Finding the man himself

-was a long process.

-After a year of phone calls,

-e-mails and faxes...

-..between Wales, London, New York,

-Los Angeles and Sao Paulo...

-..we were invited

-to Zurich in Switzerland...

-..to meet him.

-I'm outside the Baur au Lac Hotel

-in Zurich.

-I think you know

-who I'm going to meet next.

-Good afternoon.

-I'm here to meet Pele.

-Yes. Welcome to the hotel.

-Yes. Welcome to the hotel.

-

-Thank you very much.

-As the clock ticked,

-the nerves started jangling.

-All my questions turned

-around and around in my head.

-The lights and cameras were ready.

-We just needed Pele.

-KNOCK ON THE DOOR

-Can we come in?

-Can we come in?

-

-I'm Lisa.

-It's nice meeting you.

-May I introduce this gentleman here.

-I'm Lisa. This is Gary.

-It's an honour to meet you, sir.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-Very well, thank you.

-To make the most of my time

-with Pele...

-..I decided to get straight

-to the point...

-..the big game in Sweden

-50 years ago.

-How much did you know about the

-Welsh team? Did you expect to win?

-We knew very little

-about the Welsh team.

-At the time, there were no

-video tapes of our opposition.

-But we kept an eye on

-the other teams in the competition.

-We knew that Wales defended well

-and were tight markers.

-Garrincha, Zagallo and I knew

-we had to be at our best...

-..to overcome a defence

-which was physical and strong.

-Our strength was counter-attacking

-and that wasn't easy against Wales.

-That was our main concern

-before the game.

-What are your recollections

-of that game?

-I have some fond memories

-of that night...

-..because that game

-gave me confidence.

-It was a difficult game

-and I scored the goal...

-..which put Brazil

-into the quarter-finals.

-Wales was the crucial game.

-After that game,

-we were full of confidence.

-It's important to remember that we

-had to defend well against them.

-There was only one goal in it

-and luckily, it was enough for us.

-On another night, Wales could have

-won. It was close until the end.

-That's why the game

-boosted my confidence.

-It was an extremely difficult game.

-Without a doubt, it's one of the

-most important games of my career.

-It gave me the belief...

-..that I could be an important part

-of the Brazilian squad.

-Were you relieved

-that John Charles wasn't playing?

-That was a disaster for Wales...

-..but it was good news for Brazil.

-During the tournament, a journalist

-had declared that John Charles...

-..was the tournament's best player.

-Then came the news that

-he wouldn't play against Brazil.

-That made life easier for us.

-Of course, I had to ask him about

-the goal that shattered our dreams.

-It's a goal I'll never forget.

-Wales were playing deep

-and marking us well.

-I was close to one

-of their defenders.

-I chested the ball,

-turned in an instant...

-..and shot for goal.

-The other defender

-had closed me down quickly...

-..but the ball squeezed under his

-foot and into the corner of the net.

-I was surrounded by defenders

-and everything happened so quickly.

-It was a moment of inventiveness, a

-quick move intended to deceive them.

-That was that, 1-0 to Brazil.

-Within moments, we were all

-in the goal celebrating together.

-Without a doubt, it's the most

-important goal of my career.

-I was 17 years old and a newcomer

-in the Brazilian squad.

-The pressure of an entire nation

-was on us and I scored the goal.

-As a result, there's no doubt

-that it was my most important goal.

-It's the one that gave me confidence

-to grow for the rest of my life.

-Well, it's been a pleasure

-to talk to you, Pele.

-Many thanks for sparing the time

-to talk to me.

-On behalf of the people of Brazil...

-..I'd like to thank

-the people of Wales.

-I'd like to extend

-my warmest greetings to you.

-My conversation with the world's

-most famous footballer ended...

-..with a beaming smile.

-Even though he knocked Wales

-out of the World Cup...

-..I could never hold a grudge

-against Pele.

-If he was standing here now

-and if my arthritis allowed...

-..I'd kneel down, grab his legs

-and say, "Thanks, son, thanks."

-He had everything

-at 17 years of age.

-He had control, he had pace,

-he was good in the air.

-He had a great temperament.

-You just knew

-he was the complete package.

-You knew he was going to go on

-to greater things...

-..which, of course, he did...

-..becoming, possibly, the greatest

-player this world has ever seen.

-Certainly the best I've seen.

-His talent was incredible.

-Even when he was only 17,

-he was a complete player.

-He could head the ball, shoot with

-both feet and beat defences easily.

-A unique player, we'll never see

-the likes of him again.

-There's an endless debate

-about the best player that ever was.

-I don't think there's any doubt.

-He scored around 1,000 goals

-in around 900 games.

-That in itself says a lot about him.

-He was also a team player.

-He made so many goals.

-The man is...

-He's unique, completely unique.

-We should leave him

-out of the equation...

-..and then talk

-about other footballers.

-I will never wear it again.

-They say you should never

-meet your heroes.

-Don't talk nonsense, I say,

-after meeting Pele.

-Nothing was too much for him.

-This shirt now hangs in a frame

-on my wall.

-Fantastic.

-Wales haven't reached the finals of

-any tournament in the past 50 years.

-Tonight,

-at the Racecourse in Wrexham...

-..Wales' U-21 team

-are playing England U-21.

-These lads are close

-to qualifying...

-..for next year's

-U-21 Euro Championships.

-You'll never guess

-where it's being held - Sweden!

-Let's hope they can emulate,

-or even better the heroes of 1958.

-Where there's talent, there's hope.

-Goodbye for now.

-HALL OF FAME DINNER

-City Hall, Cardiff

-May 16th, 2008

-It was a long time ago...

-..but I do have it up there

-with my best moments in my career.

-The peak is the World Cup,

-without any shadow of doubt.

-I'm just proud and honoured to have

-been able to represent Wales...

-..in the World Cup in 1958.

-You could never forget it.

-It'll be in my mind

-for the rest of my days.

-That is the top of the tops.

-There's not many people who will

-play in the World Cup for Wales.

-I hope there's more after me.

-In the future, the Welsh boys

-will perform in the World Cup again.

-I'm sure

-it's in the horizons somewhere.

-What a bag of has-beens!

-S4C subtitles by Simian 04

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