One is a man who played football across a variety of countries during the 1970s and relishes telling stories of his time in the game. The other is Pele.

Jim Lemon is an electrician by trade. You may have walked past him in a shopping centre where he was working, or wondered who maintains the lights on warships built along the River Clyde.

But the 67-year-old has the perfect anecdote to spark any conversation into life. He lays claim to having played against the great Brazilian footballer Pele - and never having been on the losing side.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Lemon had played for Dundela, Larne, Linfield and Glenavon in his homeland before visiting the States to see his brother in 1975.

While he was there he had a week-long trial with Philadelphia Atoms in the North American Soccer League (NASL). It did not go to plan, Lemon admits he was "useless", and nothing came of the experience until about a week later.

His brother read in the newspaper that another side in the league, Chicago Sting, had a player who broke his leg and they needed a replacement. In the second trial the Belfast-born midfielder could not put a foot wrong. The Sting got in touch with Linfield and paid a "nominal fee" for his contract.

At the same time, Pele was making his move to the New York Cosmos.

Lemon told STV News: "Pele joined the league to try and boost things, and obviously being the big star that he was it certainly helped figures around the league when he came to town.

"When he played in New York there were always big crowds. They were trying to make the game more pleasant or whatever for the American supporters.

"I can remember watching old grainy television pictures of him scoring his hat-trick in the World Cup at 17 in Sweden (1958) and watching him getting kicked out of the World Cup in 66 in England.

"You don't become the greatest footballer in the world just by chance or just because people like you - he was obviously a fantastic footballer with a great brain."

On two occasions in 1977 Lemon would get to test his own ability - hoping he would fare better than his trial with Philadelphia - against the man he had watched on television tearing teams apart at a World Cup.

Despite the might of the soccer squad and the presence of Pele there was a Sting in the tale for the Cosmos both times. Not that Lemon let the either of those instances get to his head.

He said: "I'm very blasé about things and never really thought about it until after. I was really more concerned about how my own game would go rather than thinking about Pele. They used to announce you out singly and both teams were out - then they announced Pele and of course he came out to a great roar, and wandered around the pitch to wave at people before we could get the game started.

"It was a great honour to play against somebody of that stature. People can say today 'I played against Messi', and it's the same sort of thing. It's something I'm very proud of to have on my CV. There's not too many can say they played against him twice and was never on the losing side. That's quite the record to have to your name.

"It was a great moment in my life really to be able to say I've played against Pele. And I've dined out on that a lot of times, let me tell you!"

Despite having another year of his contract Lemon had to move back to Britain after his first wife's breast cancer diagnosis returned, and she passed away five months later. He returned to the States for another three years in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

He laments the problems with the league, which he says expanded too far too quickly, and it caused the end of the North American Soccer League until its return in this decade. The New York Cosmos also returned in 2010 with the number ten shirt retired in honour of Pele who was installed as their honorary president.

While the Brazilian playmaker went on to become known as one of the greats in the game, Lemon took up his trade full time upon coming back to Britain from America.

The initial journey was fraught, with the removal company losing many of his possessions including photographs of him with Pele.

However, it does not stop Lemon sharing his experiences as he splits his time between Scotland and Northern Ireland with his stories shining a particular light on his other profession from the past.

"People will bring up football wherever you go, and generally in conversation there'll be some football thing that comes up," he says, "talking about playing against different teams and such.

"Obviously I would use it to my benefit because people like to hear things like that. What has happened now is that the guys I work with now will be talking about football to somebody and they will mention it.

"Then those people will come to me and ask 'Is that right? Did you play against Pele?'. So of course the whole story gets told over and over."

Pele will have a number of his own stories as well with many of them being told at the Crown Plaza on Friday evening as part of a UK tour he is taking on at the age of 75.

Despite having to pull out of the Olympic opening ceremony in Rio last month the football legend is well enough to travel to Britain where he will also visit Bolton, Leeds and Cannock.

In a statement the soccer star said: "I didn't see much of Scotland on my previous visit - mainly just training then the match itself.

"I'm looking forward to meeting the Scottish football supporters who are known worldwide for their reputation as passionate football fans.

"Football is a way of life in Scotland and Brazil."