Cast your mind back, 1966, it’s June, what’s happening – why, the World Cup is being played in England, of course! I was but a youth but dead keen on footy and I’d been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the exotic footballers from all over the world! And Pele, the best of them all would be playing down the road from me at Goodison, home of the fourth best team on Merseyside, (1st Liverpool, 2nd Liverpool Reserves, 3rd Tranmere Rovers!).
The great man from Brazil, eventual author of the book: ‘Pele, My Life and the Beautiful Game’, scourge of the best defences in the world and a true gentleman of the game would be practically near enough to call round for tea and scones! Was I excited!
Other lads were lucky enough to get tickets too and they all had their autograph books at the ready – just in case! Me, well autographs have never been my thing.
I admired Pele, more than any other sportsman, but it was his football I loved not the way he signed his name! Sir Paul McCartney had dinner in our restaurant once, love his music – his handwriting, who cares? Boris Becker was hand-shaking distance from me at the wonderful, but now sadly defunct, West Kirby Tennis Tournament – did I ask him to sign my shirt? Nein Danke, Boris!
When I heard that the Costa Blanca Wine Society’s June speaker at the monthly tasting and dinner was going to be John Radford, famous broadcaster and best selling wine writer, I was delighted to be able to reserve a seat and listen to a maestro. However in truth I was somewhat under-whelmed when informed that he would be available for book signing if we brought along our copies of his excellent book, ‘The New Spain’!
I’m exceedingly interested in his knowledge of the wines of the Iberian Peninsular and indeed in his wine writing in general, as well as his story regarding how he climbed above the also-rans of wine journalism. But his signature, the way he deftly holds his felt tip – no sorry John, autographs are not us!