Stoke verus Santos 1969

[walrus]

I've just come across this on a football trivia site, the game was before I was born, so I was wondering if anyone that posts on here went to it, or has any more info, lineups, attendance, scorers etc.

"I went to watch Stoke v Santos as a young boy in 1969 and I could have sworn that Pele did not play in this game," said Andrew Pimlott back in July last year. "Now someone I know reckons I am mistaken and not only did he play but he also scored. Is this true?"
Alas your memory isn't what it was, Andrew.

"A friend of mine who was at the game says that Pele did play, although he doesn't remember if he scored or not," says Mike Lockwood. "He does, remember, nevertheless, that it finished 3-2 to Brazil, and Dennis Smith had a goal disallowed just before half-time when the ref blew a la Clive Thomas when the ball was in the air from a corner, and micro-seconds before Smith powered an unstoppable header into the back of the net".

Carl Andre concurs and is able to add a detail or two. "Pelé didn't just play, he also netted twice in that particular game. Santos won 3-2 and Jimmy Greenhoff scored at least once, maybe twice. I'm not sure."

[doitforfrank]

My mate has got a programme signed by Pele from that game.

His aunty was kit lady at Stoke at the time.

[walrus]

Aug 14, 2008 21:22:49 GMT doitforfrank said:

My mate has got a programme signed by Pele from that game.

His aunty was kit lady at Stoke at the time.

I'll give him 50p for it.

[doitforfrank]

Im guessing the answer would be no!!

[Lakeland Potter]

I was there - although I can remember very little of the game. Pele certainly played and scored though. We had a good side in those days - in the summer of that year (1969) in a friendly we defeated Barcelona 3-2 in the Nou Camp in front of 65,000! Somehow preseason tours don't have the same magic these days.

[spitthedog]

I was there and i also got Pele's autograph, in fact i remember i was allowed to go on to the Santos bus with my dad to get his autograph.
i remember that more vividly than the match, but i seem to remember Pele scoring twice, i'm sure there were a few other brazilian players on show including Clodoaldo, Carlos Alberto and Gilmar in goal. I need to dig out the programme to check it.

[johnfarmersshirt]

I went to that game as well, I cant remember who scored for Stoke but Pele definitely got two goals, I seem to remember the second one was one when he walked round Denis Smith who had been told not to kick him because that was who everyone had come to see.
He then waltzed past Banksie and just slotted. Pele was pure class and when you were only 14yrs old and had gone to the Vic just to see him it was brilliant!! ;D

[c00kie]

> I need to dig out the programme to check it.

I'm in the crowd photo on the front cover! (bottom right, 9 years old...)

I do recall the Smith "goal" exactly as described, at the Stoke End where I stood. Also the score. As for the rest: "Ah yes, I remember eet" ...well, not so well.

[GlennA]

I was three, so my memories of the game are sketchy, but I wanted to say Hi to c00kie. Good to know you're still about.

[seabridgejim]

I posted something on the old message board along the lines of "what was your 1st ever game?" etc,with mine being the santos game sitting in the old butler street corner stand with my dad.I clearly remember Pele playing but couldnt recall the score, someone replied and told me the final score was 2-2 so i'm confused now!

[AlliG]

Pele only scored the one goal that night.

The other 2 goals for Santos were scored by Edu.

[herbiepotter]

Wrong way round.

Pele scored twice, with Edu getting the other. Ritchie and Greenhoff scored for Stoke. Gate around 23,000.

[biddulphchav]

Fuckin hell Edu's been around a while hasnt he? Seems to be taking its toll now though, wasnt half the player after he left Arsenal for Valencia - still cant knock him for playing for so long really.

[pilly60]

Iwas at the game and Pele scored twice , Edu once and Greenhoff scored twice . Pele said after the match why doesn't Greenhoff play for England .

[Lakeland Potter]

A lot of people said a lot of times "why doesn't Greenhoff play for England"?

To be fair he was picked at least once but a Stoke game took precedence. He should have been a regular in the squad though.

[Linx]

I was at that game. I think I was about 8 years old. All I remember was that Santos played in an all-white strip.

[y_oh_y_delilah]

I (obviously) was at the game too.

Have to agree about Jimmy Greenhoff, without any bias whatsoever, IMHO the very best English player never to have been capped.
When you look at the dross (Joey Barton WTF ???) who have been capped, it puts the modern game into perspective.

[eddyclamp]

I can remember patting Pele on the back after that game.
Pele at the Vic for a little kid was awesome.

[doitforfrank]

Aug 15, 2008 9:09:48 GMT eddyclamp said:

I can remember patting Pele on the back after that game.
Pele at the Vic for a little kid was awesome.

Eddy were you small for your age??

[DodgyDino]

Here you go, Ive got the programme but didnt go the game

www.quickfilepost.com/download.do?get=39734bac83996fe26089382b850501b6

[AlliG]

I was at the game too.

On the night I thought Pele had scored twice, once at The Boothen End and once at The Stoke End (Bloke knew how to keep the customer satisfied. )

However, in the match report in The Evening Sentinel the next day, they gave both the goals at The Stoke End to Edu. In fact the match report ran something along the lines that while Pele was the main attraction, Edu turned out to be the real star on the night etc, etc....

On the basis that The Sentinel reporter (Peter Hewitt?) probably had a better view of what went on close to goal at The Stoke End than a kid down at the front of The Boothen End I have always accepted what The Sentinel reported (Daft I know!)

At least this thread has put me right now after all those years.

I still don't know what is sadder. Taking what was written in The Sentinel over what I saw myself, or nearly 40 years on still being able to remember the report.