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Socrates - a tribute
The Brazil legend and one time Garforth player has died at the age of 57
Garforth Town tribute to Socrates
Owner of Garforth Town, Simon Clifford has paid tribute to former Brazil captain and Garforth Town player Socrates, who died yesterday in Sao Paulo at the age of 57.
Socrates, a distant admirer of Simon’s work came to Garforth in November 2004 to show his support to Simon and his Garforth Town, Brazilian Soccer Schools and SOCATOTS projects.
He memorably made a 13-minute cameo appearance for Town against Tadcaster Albion. In anticipation of his appearance, the normal attendance of a few hundred swelled to a once record 1,385 for the non-league match.
Simon said: “Socrates played a key part in securing Garforth's promotion from the Northern Counties East League that season.
“When I originally asked Socrates to play he agreed straight away. He showed great grace in playing for me. He took no money for playing.
“His time with us lifted the club and made it possible for the team to later win promotion. He brought a kind of magic.”
Before arriving at Garforth Socrates was one of the greatest talents to grace the game of football. He had captained one of the greatest teams of all time. He was two-footed, an adept finisher and tall for a midfield general. His signature move was the back-heel pass.
Pele once quipped that Socrates was better going backward than everyone else going forward.
He was though much more than a footballer, he became an icon.
He will be remembered not only for his football prowess but for his wonderfully idiosyncratic personality.
He trained and qualified as a medical doctor while he was playing professional football on the weekends. After his playing career ended, he practised medicine for several years. He became a crusading newspaper columnist and used his status alongside a fearless ability to speak his mind to bring about change.
Simon last spoke to Socrates at the end of the summer when he was released from hospital after suffering from bleeding in his digestive tract.
Simon said: “He was the most intelligent man I’ve met in football. He made a difference to society as well as football right until the end. I don't know of others quite like him, I feel absolutely horrible; he was the most principled man I had met in football.
“He will always be special. We have lost a unique man and a unique footballer."
Socrates will be remembered fondly by Garforth fans, possibly one of sport’s strangest moment, he brought the eyes of the world on our small club – the man and the moment will always be remembered.