Pele: Resident's memory on seeing Pete play in Bolton

A far cry from the sand dunes of Qatar, superstar footballers at the 1966 World Cup found themselves training in muddy, rainy England.

Arguably the greatest player ever, Pele trained with his international teammates for the tournament in Bolton.

On December 29, Pele’s family announced that he died in his native Brazil, aged 82, after suffering with health issues in recent years.

He won three World Cups, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and scored a record 1,279 goals in 1,363 games during his illustrious career.

Memories of him live on for many around the world, including 66-year-old Francis Warren, who was lucky enough to watch the Brazilian great train at Bolton Wanderers’ training ground on Bromwich Street back in 1966.

The Brazil national football team at Lymm Hotel near Warrington for the 1966 World Cup (Image: Eddie Whitham)

Francis said: “It’s only a distant memory, a nostalgic memory. We’d just go down and watch them play.

“I just thought it might jog other people’s memories that they might have.

“There were all the greats like Garrincha, these were players on a par with Messi and Mbappe.

“And they were playing in front of people on Bromwich Street in Bolton.”

Francis remembers how close he got to the footballing stars.

He added: “Me and the crowds of people were right there, it wasn’t like nowadays where they’d have a lot of security.

BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme interviews Pele at Lymm Hotel for the 1966 World Cup (Image: Eddie Whitham)

“It would never happen again.

“You only realise the gravity of it when you get older. At the time everyone was caught up in the World Cup fever, it being in England and England winning it.

“My other mates went to Old Trafford and saw Eusebio play.

“It’s only after the event that you realise how important that moment was.

“Kids leaning on the fence at Bromwich Street, watching these greats ping a ball about.

Pele, in the foreground, among the Brazil players preparing for the group game against Bulgaria (Image: Public)

“My mate Peter Cooper had a Charles Buchan World Cup photo album and a sticker of Pele.

“One day, gathered round the team coach, a smiling face and hand reached out of the coach window, it was Pele.

"Peter passed his book to be signed by the great footballer.

“Pele signed the photo, passed it back through the coach window, smiled and waved us all goodbye as the coach drove off. What a fantastic moment and memory.

“God bless and rest in peace Pele.”