Top 10 facts about Grace and Pelé

It's Pele's 75th birthday October 22nd and the 100th anniversary of Grace's death

Not only is October 22nd the 75th birthday of the Brazilian footballing legend Pelé, but it is also the 100th anniversary of the death of cricketer WG Grace, so here are five facts for each of them.

 

1. WG (which stood for William Gilbert) Grace played first-class cricket for a record 44 seasons. 

2. Pelé was named after inventor Thomas Edison. His real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento. 

3. WG Grace was a qualified doctor but despite being officially an “amateur” cricketer, he earned more money from cricket than medicine. 

 

In all the first-class cricket matches in England in 1871, a total of 17 centuries were scored.

 

Pelé was named after inventor Thomas Edison. His real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento.

In all the first-class cricket matches in England in 1871, a total of 17 centuries were scored.

 

In 1987, Pelé’s visit to Nigeria caused a 48-hour ceasefire in their civil war.        

4. Pelé’s nickname arose when he mispronounced the name of a local goalkeeper called Bile. 

5. In all the first-class cricket matches in England in 1871, a total of 17 centuries were scored. WG Grace made ten of them. 

6. In 1987, Pelé’s visit to Nigeria caused a 48-hour ceasefire in their civil war. 

7. Grace was fond of curling and lawn bowls and founded the English Bowling Association in 1903. 

 

In 1961, Pelé was officially declared a national treasure in Brazil to prevent any transfer abroad.

8. In 1997, Pelé was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his work as a Unicef goodwill ambassador. 

9. In the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, WG Grace’s image is used as the face of God. 

10. In 1961, Pelé was officially declared a national treasure in Brazil to prevent any transfer abroad.