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.

6

6

6

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.

READ MORE IN FOOTBALL

STADIUM BLOW

Incredible moment 'unsafe' stadium that hosted Prem giants is demolished

DOUBLE

Win a Lamborghini and a VW Campervan or £175,000 cash from just 42p with our code

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 81^st 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.

Most read in Football

LUK AT THAT

Conte’s side pip Inter to Scudetto as McTominay & Lukaku score in Cagliari win

UNITED LATEST

Amorim wants Casemiro 'GONE,' Mastantuono blow, Cunha deal agreed

OPEN-TOT BUS

Postecoglou gives update on future as Spurs celebrate ending trophy drought

NEV SHOCK

Gary Neville BANNED by Nottingham Forest for last day of Prem with Sky furious

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

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.

6

6

6

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 : “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.”

Can you name the famous fathers?

• Our dad's a Man Utd legend - now we run our own gym
• My dad is an Arsenal Invincible - and I played under him
• Our dad is Man Utd Treble winner – now we’re following in his footsteps
• My dad is a legendary manager - and I even dated one of his players
• Our dad won it all for Chelsea - now we're starring for our country

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.

Read More on The Sun

CRASH TRAGEDY

Two men, 21 & 23, and teen, 19, killed in crash with fourth fighting for life

r-over & out

Corrie's Daniel Brocklebank breaks silence as it's revealed he's leaving soap

“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.”