| The wizard of the dribble |
Born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Sir Stanley Matthews attended Wellington Road School where his skills at football led to an appearance for England at the age of 14. He turned professional aged 17, for a salary of £5 per week during the playing season with a £1 bonus for a win. His debut was for Stoke City was against Bury but he did not win a regular first team place until 1933. He won his first full England cap at 19 against Wales and was to go on to win a total of 84. In 1947 he joined Blackpool for whom in 1953 he played in what was to be known as the 'Matthews Final' when his skills won his team the coveted FA Cup. Moving back to Stoke City in 1961 he inspired a revival at the club until his retirement in 1965 in which year he was knighted. Enjoying a spell at Port Vale as general manager, and despite later commitments in South Africa, Matthews continued to live in the city and maintained close links with its people until his death.
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| Growing up in Nottingham in the 60s, I went to see Forest v Stoke several times to watch the great man in action at the end of his career. He was always on the team sheet, and this attracted a large crowd - but as far as I remember he never actually came on the field. This was always disappointing, but I suppose it was a great marketing ploy to boost ticket sales... |
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