How Watford season ticket holder Pelé met his namesake

Pelé Johnson, 52, made headlines in the 70s after he met the late Brazil legend as a child.

Now a father of four living in Abbots Langley with his wife, Kate, he said association with the player has “only ever been good” and mourned his death on December 29.

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The owner of fishing business Spotted Fin said: “When I was born it was a bit of a kerfuffle. It was in the papers then and again when I met Pelé in 1973, when Santos played Fulham.

“My parents said he was very nice and humble.

“He actually spent a lot of time with me, it wasn’t just a fleeting thing. I played football with him and wouldn’t give him back the ball, he walked around with me, held my hand.”

Mr Johnson, who said he shed a tear when Pelé died, explained that if his father had his way he would have been named after the full Brazilian attack and midfield (Pele Jairzinho Rivelino Clodoaldo Gerson Johnson) but his mother (perhaps sensibly) limited it to Pele Jairzinho.

Pelé Johnson (Image: Pelé Johnson)

Similarly, when his own son was born, Kate, 43, shut down naming him after a Brazil player of the time.

“I’ve always supported Brazil,” he added.

“Luckily I’ve never had a major final to deal with where England and Brazil are at loggerheads.”

Having moved to Watford when he was 18, the English Pelé became a committed Hornets fan and season ticket holder.

Brazilian legend Pele (Image: Rui Vieira/PA)

He can sometimes be seen wearing his number 10 Brazil shirt with his name on the back.

The name has provided a good way in to many conversations through life, but the business owner says this can come with the trade off of having to deliver a “five minute speech” explaining the story whenever he meets someone.

“People won’t believe me sometimes,” he said.

“Pete seems to be the thing I get called most often because it is properly spelt with the accent over the e. I even had an incident where I got a bit of stick from Brazilians online who thought I was making it up.

"If anything though, it’s only ever been good.”