Brazil kick their World Cup campaign off this evening in Qatar.

The Samba stars take on Serbia at 7pm.

So what better time to look at when the Brazil team stayed in Lymm and the now demolished Lymm Hotel.

By December, a major development of 45 retirement apartments, a 66-bed care home and a children's nursery on Whitbarrow Road in Lymm is due to be complete.

The land was formerly occupied by Lymm Hotel, which closed in June 2019, but has a rich history in hosting Pele and the Brazil national football team during the 1966 World Cup.

Warrington Guardian: The Brazil national football team at Lymm Hotel for the 1966 World Cup (Image: Eddie Whitham)The Brazil national football team at Lymm Hotel for the 1966 World Cup (Image: Eddie Whitham)

These recently rediscovered photos taken and shared by local photographer Eddie Whitham show the sporting superstars enjoying their time at the hotel.

The Brazil team were hot favourites to win the competition when they stayed in Lymm, but they surprisingly crashed out at the group stage.

As we all know, England memorably went on to win the tournament – the country’s last major international trophy.

Warrington Guardian: BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme interviews Pele at Lymm Hotel for the 1966 World Cup (Image: Eddie Whitham)BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme interviews Pele at Lymm Hotel for the 1966 World Cup (Image: Eddie Whitham)

Pele said in his autobiography that he enjoyed his stay in Warrington, but also that some of the players were woken up by trains due to a line that used to pass the hotel.

Do you have any memories of the Brazil team in Lymm? Let us know by emailing newsdesk@guardiangrp.co.uk