When Bobby met Pele


This iconic image is a personal favourite. It was taken after Brazil had beaten England 1-0 in the group stage match of the 1970 World Cup Finals in Mexico, a match which contained that amazing Banks save, Moore's 'perfect' tackle on Jairzinho, Astle's miss and Jairzinho's cracker.  The photo evokes the respect and friendship between these two footballing greats. Here are the brief highlights including Moore's thoughts about what has been described as one of the best World Cup matches.


I bring up this photo as I've recently read that Pele's shirt from this match is currently owned by the Saracens chairman Nigel Wray and 'displayed' in his online museum. The shirt had been framed and hung in a Brazilian bar for 20 years, gathering dust and cigarette stains until Wray bought it and cleaned it up. Also in his 6,000 item strong collection are an autograph book from the 1936 Berlin Olympics containing the signature of Jesse Owens opposite that of Joseph Goebbels, the bat used by WG Grace in his last innings in 1914, a megaphone used by a starter at the 1908 London Olympics and a Springbok rugby top from South Africa's tour of the UK in 1906-07. He's published a book about his collection with the proceeds going to the Saracens Sport Foundation.

Sporting memorabilia is a buoyant market. George Best's European Cup winner's medal sold for £156,000 at auction. Fast forward sixty years - what price for Wayne Rooney's Euro 2012 winners medal? I can but dream...