Boys put on the spot over Pele's shirt

23 Nov 1996

A SCOTS family's squabble over a piece of football history ended yesterday in a sudden-death penalty shoot-out.

The Campbell family from Edinburgh could not agree which of their two sons should hang soccer legend Pele's No 10 Brazil shirt from the 1966 World Cup, above their bed.

Their mother, Thomasina, won it in a prize draw.

Paul, 11, and Steven, 12, both Hearts supporters, decided to settle their differences at the club's Tynecastle stadium yesterday by taking part in a penalty shoot-out.

After a nerve-wracking encounter, Paul hit the winner after the pair were tied after taking five kicks each.

Mrs Campbell won the shirt after winning £20 on a scratchcard.

Her name was then entered into a prize draw and the barmaid could not believe her luck when she was pulled from the hat first.

It was then that her two sons began quarrelling over whose bed the shirt should hang over.

Mrs Campbell, 40, said: "We thought this would be an appropriate way of settling the issue.

The boys took penalties against Hearts reserve goalkeeper Myles Hogarth after the squad had completed training for Sunday's Coca-Cola Cup final with Rangers at Hampden.

Jim Jefferies, manager of Hearts, watched as the boys faced up to the keeper.

After five kicks, the boys were level at 2-2 before Paul struck the winner Paul said: "I'm pleased I've finally won, although my mum will probably hang it in the living room after all this." A defeated Steven refused to be downhearted.

He said: "I'm just happy to have Pele's shirt in the house.

He's one of my heroes."

Taken from the Herald