Gabriel Gatehouse

Hello, Gordon.

Hello, David.

Thank you very much for having me on.

Well, in fact, when I first started looking into this some three years ago, I came to you, Gordon, for help.

Because I was like veteran journalist, very kind of you to say.

But, you know, the world of spies and ex-CIA agents is really your domain, at least as far as I understand it.

And so, yeah, I sought you out in a little cafe in London where you spilled precisely no beans.

Yes, I think it was a Thai cafe in Clerkenwell.

I was wearing a blue trench coat and carrying a copy of the Financial Times.

It's a bit of a departure.

I mean, look, should I tell you what the story is, first of all?

I mean, so basically...

The facts, the proven facts of the situation of this.

1970, the World Cup was held in Mexico.

England were the defending champions, having won in 66.

They were kind of joint favourites to win alongside Brazil, who had an amazing team in 1970 with Pelé and Jairzinho and various other people.

And it was kind of England versus Brazil was a big rivalry.

Everyone thought they would meet in the final.

That's the way it was going to pan out.

And England's goalkeeper, Gordon Banks, was considered, even by Pelé, to be the best goalkeeper in the world at the time.