The Day Pele Came to Town

From the collection of

The Box
Established in 1992, the South West Film & Television Archive collection spans from 1893 to the present day containing more than 250,000 items. Formed from a variety of depositors, including broadcast news and programmes material from the Westward and TSW archive. In 2018 the archive collection transferred to The Box in Plymouth.

The Day Pele Came to Town


Santos Football Club bring Brazil's world cup talent to Home Park in Plymouth with Pelé playing his beautiful game.

The touring team decided to strike on the day of the match when they saw the crowd of nearly forty thousand and realised they had not negotiated a percentage of the gate. Pelé, with wife Rosemeri, was on a final tour with the club for which he had played since his debut as a talented 15-year-old in 1956.

The all-star team also featured Edu, Carlos Alberto and Clodoaldo from the Brazil squad who had won the 1970 World Cup. On the Argyle side, Pelé was marked by John Hore and, by half-time, Alan Dowling, Derek Rickard and Jimmy Hinch had all scored. Pelé blasted a penalty and Edu scored before the final whistle and a pitch invasion.

Pelé retired in 1974 but made a comeback playing for New York Cosmos. He is considered the greatest footballer of his generation and remembered for his prolific goal scoring. He is also credited with calling football the beautiful game. Many people remember that day at Home Park and how seriously Plymouth Argyle took the match. Perhaps the off-pitch antics ruined Brazilian concentration.


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Sporting Action

The camera dramatically changed the ways we interact with sport.
Watching sports on the screen allows us access that would be impossible for the ordinary spectator, whether it’s running with footballers, floating above the clouds with skydivers or drifting so close to surfers we're getting splashed. Sports broadcasting brought these elite athletes into our homes. On-pitch dramas and post-match interviews transformed athletes from sporting heroes into celebrities, flogging everything from training tips to new fashions to crisps. Nowadays there are screens in every stadium – enhancing the in-person experience and assisting the umpire. Wherever you are, you are in the best seat, enjoying extraordinary access to the energy, excitement and agility of sporting action.

29 videos in this collection

Newquay's Fistral Beach plays host to the Fosters Draught Euro-Pro and attracts top surfers.
1

Splashdance

2

WBO World Championship: Duke McKenzie V Gaby Canizales

3

London 2012: Imagine

4

New Era

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George Best

6

Skiing with Gina [15/09/74]

7

Swimming - David Wilkie

8

Tennis Doubles Match

9

Barry McGuigan Fight Preview

10

Play the Game Table Tennis

The end of the season at Somerset and an award for Viv Richards
11

Ian and Viv at Somerset CCC

Santos Football Club bring Brazil's world cup talent to Home Park in Plymouth with Pelé playing his beautiful game.
12

The Day Pele Came to Town

13

Swimming: The First European Community Championships

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14

A Lyme Regis Water Skiing

15

Virginia Wade v Ann Jones in Dewar Cup Tie

16

At One with the Wind

17

Golden Wonder Crisps: Pat Cash

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Judo [10/05/70]

19

Canon Uc-10 Camcorder: Ski Acrobatics

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Manchester

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21

Barnstaple Skateboard Park Competition

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22

Target - Geoff Hurst

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23

Archer's Target

An England team takes on an invitational XI
24

Old England XI

25

Para Sports at Stoke Mandeville

26

Pro-Celebrity Darts [10/05/1979]

27

Women Set Sky Diving World Record

28

Sport: The New Opium

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The Oval Globe: A World of Rugby Part 1

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