BICENTENNIAL SOCCER

COLIN ALLAN REPORTS ON A TOURNAMENT WITH A DIFFERENCE IN THE USA BACK IN 1976...

LIKE me, Late Tackle readers would have been delighted to see in Issue 85 the iconic photograph of Pele and Bobby Moore shaking hands after their classic World Cup encounter in 1970. Well, in 1976 the two superstars were in the same team - playing against England!

It was during the USA Bicentennial Cup Tournament. To celebrate 200 years since the Declaration of American Independence, the North American Soccer League had organised a four-team international tournament to be played in several cities to try to publicise the game Stateside.

England and Italy both accepted invitations to compete. As they had both failed to qualify for that summer’s European Championships, it would provide warm-up games for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Brazil were to supply the ‘wow’ factor and a multi-national squad called Team America would provide home fans with a focus for their support.

The Team America squad included players who were plying their trade in the North America Soccer League. They included Pele (New York Cosmos) and Bobby Moore (San Antonio Thunder).

The tournament was intended to be a showcase of soccer (as the Americans insisted on calling the sport) in the hope of popularising its appeal.

Pele and Moore faced England at Philadelphia’s John F Kennedy Stadium on May 31. The 35-year-old Moore was actually captain of Team America. Even though he was then 36, Pele remained a fast and skilful player.

Right from the kickoff, Trevor Cherry and Mick Mills were given the unenviable task of shadowing the great Brazilian. In unfamiliar red shirt and blue shorts, Pele posed a huge threat at free-kicks. His first effort somehow bypassed England’s defensive wall and Ray Clemence was forced to make a good save to his right, turning it around the post.