I played Pele and got the better of him, now I’m still going strong at EIGHTY in English football
JIM BARRON is still going strong in the beautiful game aged 80 after getting the better of football legend Pele.
Barron is a former goalkeeper who clocked up more than 400 games in 20 years for various big names.
The stopper turned out for Wolves and Chelsea before settling down at Oxford United.
Barron then enjoyed more success at Nottingham Forest and Swindon before heading to the USA in 1977.
It was there he came up against three-time World Cup winner Pele, who was playing for the New York Cosmos after an incredible career with Santos.
Pele, who netted a mind-boggling 1,279 goals in 1,363 games for his boyhood club, enjoyed a good spell in the States despite being in his mid-30s.
But he could not find a way past Barron, who was between the sticks for Cosmos’ 3-2 win over the Connecticut Bicentennials 47 years ago.
Despite shipping three, Barron kept Pele at bay with several saves as the Brazilian, who passed away in December 2022 aged 82, failed to hit the target.
And with his 81st birthday approaching next month, the Durham man is still loving life in football.
Barron, who retired in 1981 after a spell with Peterborough, is now working as assistant manager of National League South side Bath City.
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After caretaker spells with Wolves, Birmingham and Northampton – as well as a brief stint as Cheltenham boss – Barron was cast in his Bath City role last year.
The icon, who also worked as an Everton scout, makes a 172-mile round trip from his Berkshire home twice a week.
Yet he is still enjoying his career as No2 to ex-Birmingham star Jerry Gill – who Barron coached 23 years ago.
Recalling his battle with Pele, Barron told the BBC: “It was one-on-one, me against Pele. I made the save.
“There’s a picture of me in a newspaper catching the ball and Pele jumping over me.
“It didn’t matter who it was against, I always took great pride stopping anyone from scoring.”
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On his advanced years, Barron commented: “I’ve got aches and pains, one of my wrists is not so good and I’ve got arthritis in a couple of fingers.
“Apart from that I feel OK. I’d be bored without football. I’ve been paid all my life for something I’d do for free.
“Since leaving school I’ve been pretty much involved in football, whether that’s playing, coaching, managing and scouting. In that respect it’s been a good life. I’ve been lucky.”
Bath City boss Gill reckons Barron’s age does not impede him in the slightest, adding: “Jim has the work ethic of an enthusiastic 21-year-old.
“I honestly forgot how old Jim was when I went to the board to get permission to appoint him.
“My chairman said, ‘you do realise he’s nearly 80’. But this isn’t some 80-year-old who is sat in an armchair. This is a guy who is extremely active.”