Once in a Lifetime [DVD]

This documentary film is both informative and highly entertaining and should be compulsory viewing for any football (soccer) fan in Britain. It tells the story of the rise and fall of the Cosmos. This team was founded in 1971 and was backed by the Warner Communications Group. Money became no object. Need a class player? Then take a jet to either Europe or South America. Pele not sufficient, then go for Carlos Alberto. Still need more talent? Then fly to Germany and sign the Kaiser Franz Beckenbauer. Throw in Coventy's Steve Hunt and Manchester City's Dennis Tuert plus a sprinkling of North Americans and bingo! A Championship winning team...Now were I have I seen that happen in recent years? To cut a long story short the Cosmos (pronounced 'Coes-Moes')ended up playing to nearly 80,000 people every home game in the Giants' Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey. Sadly, like the NASL (North American Soccer league) this was not to last much into the 1980s. In 1984 the league collapsed with only a handful of franchises (teams) remaining and the New York Cosmos was effectively wound up. The South Sea Bubble had well and truly burst with soccer only existing as an indoor professional sport until the launch of Major League Soccer only a handful of years ago. The English Premiership Chairmen should collectively take note of the bitter lessons learnt twenty years ago in the States

Ironically, at the beginning of the 1978-79 English season the New York Cosmos came to London and played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Weird, given latter day comparisions that have been made. Pele has long fulfilled his contract with them so guess what? To boost interest the Cosmos recrruited a guest star player, none other than Johan Cruyff.

Was New York Cosmos football or showbiz? I suppose they were a mixture of the two. What is certain is that they were 20 years ahead of their time when one considers today's English Premiership. They had big money backing and were intent on scouring the world for the very best players available plus the league negotiated a network TV deal.

I cannot recommend this title highly enough. The soundtrack is also a complete blast!

Fascinating for

* How football, and footballers, and all their cronies and hangers on, were back in the pre Sky TV 70s

* Where Sky and Premier League got their ideas and inspiration from (New York Yankees were years ahead of their time from a marketing sense)

* Why US will never really make "soccer" their sport

Plus great visuals, funky soundtrack and one of the best individual goals I have ever seen, in terms of skill and context, by the great Carlos Alberto

Amazon asked to write a review - my first. Fascinating documentary on Cosmos in '70s and into '80s - Pele, Alberto, Chinaglia and the big German chap. Some good action clips (mainly goals) including Pele calling the legs away from Rodney Marsh (in Cosmos v Tampa Bay Rowdies - apparently that's as near as it got to Rangers v Celtic).

Got a fright with the Cosmos goalie posing for scud books to earn extra cash before the big investment and then Pele arrived, so if you're watching in polite company be prepared to close your eyes at that bit. Great story on friendly vs (I think) Haiti, who all defect before the game, so the Cosmos win the final by a distance, playing against a scratch select who hadn't played together before.

Recommended as history. Easy to tak a high tone and mock it all, but they've qualified for more World Cups recently than Sccotland, so not a bad legacy.