Fifty years ago the greatest footballer of all time made his solitary appearance on an Irish football pitch.
By the time that Pele sprinted towards the old tunnel at Dalymount Park having overseen Santos' 3-2 friendly win over a Bohemians-Drumcondra Selected XI, the arguments had already started as to the Brazilian's impact that Saturday afternoon.
If attracting Santos - on a gruelling and lengthy tour of Europe that included victories earlier that week at Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday - to Dublin by the two northside League of Ireland clubs was an undoubted coup, the quality of the 90 minutes left many in the 30,000 plus attendance distinctly non-plussed.
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Yet, in hindsight, the very fact that the three times World Cup medal winner actually figured in a game, albeit an exhibition, on these shores is momentous in itself.
In an era when the then 31 year old and Muhammad Ali were by some distance sport's most recognisable global figures, Pele's hurried visit to the capital caused a stir in a country still reeling from the barbaric murder of 13 civilians by the British Paratroop regiment in Derry four weeks previously.
Crowds of people milled about outside Santos' O'Connell Street hotel in the hope of getting the autographs of Pele or his 1970 World Cup final team mate Carlos Alberto who would sit out the Dublin encounter through injury.
Pele reputedly received an additional payment of £1,100 for his services - on top of Santos' fee - which was agreed by Drums' director Royden Prole and his Bohs' counterpart Liam Rapple when they confirmed the fixture several weeks earlier at a meeting with Santos' representatives in London.
Bohs had won the FAI Cup in 1970 having only just taken the historic decision to embrace part time professionalism, leading to a decade of glory in the 1970's that yielded two League of Ireland titles, another Blue Riband in 1976, two League Cups and numerous European excursions.
Two miles down the road at Tolka Park, the opposite was unfolding.
Champions as recently as 1965, five times FAI Cup winners Drumcondra were in their death throes as a senior club and would be taken over by Home Farm five months later, fielding under a joint name with their near neighbours for just one further season in the League.
Tapping into a new source of money was the primary and understandable motivation for the clubs' joint venture but it was The Gypsies - who would finish third in the league that season compared to Drums' lowly 12th perch of 14 teams- that provided eight of the starting side.
"You were just in awe of actually playing against him and watching Pele," recalls a then fresh-faced 20 year old Mick Martin who would join Manchester United from Bohs 12 months later and win 52 senior caps for his country.
"He put a shift in and when you're a player of his quality you want to entertain the fans and show people why you're the best player in the world rather than take the Mickey and amble around.
"That was never him.
"I had a bit of a bug a few days prior to the game and I was hoping that it would not stop me from playing.
"It was fairly competitive if my memory serves me well. The game brings back great memories for me."
Martin started alongside "good friend" Ken McGlynn at centre half that day with the central midfield duo of Johnny Fullam and Tommy Kelly given the role as the first line of defence against Edson Arantes do Nascimento.
"Johnny Fullam was peerless, he was a brilliant player," reflects Kelly who echoes the view of more than one generation of football fans who witnessed Fullam in action for Ireland, Preston North End, Shamrock Rovers, Bohs and Athlone Town for more than two decades.
Bohs' Kelly is one of the few Irish players who twice encountered Pele during their careers having been on the end of a 7-1 defeat in the USA in 1968.
"I played against Pele four years earlier when I was playing for the Boston Beacons and Pele and Santos came to play us during a tour of the States.
"Pele was fantastic that day in Fenway Park but unfortunately he didn't live up to his reputation in Dalymount. The fans were expecting more.
"Johnny did a good job marking him and when he got by him, Mickey Martin was the next man.
"We kept at him, getting close to him. But when we were keeping Pele quiet, three others were going wild because of the skills that they had.
"He would drift towards the far post or into space that he could find. He'd make space for himself with the skill that he had.
"You had to be very careful about jumping in. If you jumped in, you'd be left on your arse!
"He was not at his best that day, they had been touring for weeks.
"But it was still very interesting and you'd rarely get a chance to play against players like this. So It was a great day for us."
Goals from Fullam and Tommy Hamill gave the hosts a 2-1 interval lead but two strikes from Alcindo restored Santos' lead having earlier gone ahead through Edu in the ninth minute.
Martin - then working for the Arrow advertising agency on Dublin's Merrion Square- cannot remember that the home side received any bonus although this was of little concern to him.
"The actual fact of playing in the match was ample for me.
"Pele is the biggest and best player I ever played against. I also played against so many other great players in competitive games such as the French, Dutch and Belgians with Ireland.
"Those games were obviously far more competitive with more at stake. But it was special to face Pele."
Pele played the full 90 minutes although referee John Carpenter made sure to give the Brazilians prior warning of his final whistle.
"Pele was off the pitch like grease lightening! He got a nod near the tunnel even before the referee blew his whistle.
"There were a few people chasing his jersey. I didn't get the chance to swap my jersey because there was such a heave of people on the pitch.
"It was difficult enough getting into the dressing room . A few of the lads went into their dressing room but I did not venture in.
"It was a case of getting in, having a shower and going for a few pints!
"I think Santos got on their bus and headed off. Probably just as well as the crowd was very disappointed with their display!"
Second half substitute Brendan Place offered his illustrious opponents some local wit, adds Martin.
"Brendan said to a few of the Santos players as they ran from the pitch 'look after yourself - if you need anybody then give me a shout'!"
If Martin was soon playing in the English First Division, Kelly remained a key figure in the success enjoyed under manager Billy Young over the next decade, becoming Bohemians' all-time appearances' holder and club legend.
Retired postman Kelly still gets along as often as he can to Dalymount where he enjoyed so many great days in the red and black stripes.
"I played in my third FAI Cup final in 1982 when we lost 1-0 to Limerick - that was the last game I played and Kevin Fitzpatrick played his last game for Limerick, Tony Ward played that day.
"Winning the league twice was special because it's over the full season but winning the cup in 1970 was magic, especially after two replays.
"But being on the same pitch twice as Pele is also a great memory that I'll never forget."
BOHEMIANS-DRUMCONDRA: Garry Scothorn (Drumcondra); John Doran (Bohemians), David Parkes (Bohs), Mick Martin (Bohs), Ken McGlynn (Bohs), Tommy Kelly (Bohs), Fran Swan (Bohs), Johnny Fullam (Bohs), Frank McArdle (Drums), Barry Sullivan (Bohs), Tommy Hamill (Drums). Subs: Jimmy Martin (Drums) for McArdle (80 mins), Brendan Place (Bohs) for Sullivan (85 mins).
SANTOS: Cejas; Paulo, Ze Carlos, Orlando. Leo, Oberdan, Manoel Maria, Nene, Edu , Pelé, Ferraro. Subs: Delgado (45 mins) for Paulo, Alcindo (45 mins) for Manoel Maria.
Referee: John Carpenter (Dublin).
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