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Ex-Saints footballer Pelé fostered 70 children since retiring

Related Topics: Pelé, Southampton City Council

By Ethan Gudge

BBC News

A former professional footballer has described the "amazing" experience of fostering 70 children over the past decade.

Former Southampton FC player Pedro "Pelé" Monteiro and his wife Jo started fostering following his retirement.

The pair are now fronting a campaign led by the club and Southampton City Council to find more foster carers.

Pelé described fostering as "that thing that you've got inside of you that you want to help".

Image caption, Jo said she brought up fostering children on her first date with Pelé

The ex-professional, who also spent time at AFC Totton and Havant and Waterlooville FC during his career, said: "We make them all feel part of the family, it's not like this is us and this is you, it's everybody the same.