Playing career Stanley Matthews

1 playing career

1.1 stoke city
1.2 blackpool
1.3 return stoke
1.4 england international career

playing career
stoke city

wolverhampton wanderers, birmingham city, aston villa , west bromwich albion rumoured interested in matthews in wake of appearance england schoolboys. stoke city manager tom mather persuaded matthews father allow stanley join club s staff office boy on 15th birthday pay of £1 week. matthews played stoke s reserve team during 1930–31 season, coming first against burnley. after game father gave usual realist assessment: ve seen play better , ve seen play worse .

matthews played 22 reserve games in 1931–32, shunning social scene focus on improving game. in 1 of these games, against manchester city, attempted run @ left-back , take him on deft swerve defender committed himself challenge, rather follow accepted wisdom of day first wait defender run @ attacker – new technique worked treat . national press predicting bright future teenager, , though have joined club in country, signed professional stoke on 17th birthday. paid maximum wage of £5 week (£3 in summer break), on same wage seasoned professionals before kicked ball. despite father insisted matthews save money, , spend winning bonus money earned. made first team debut against bury @ gigg lane on 19 march 1932; potters won game 1–0 , matthews learned how physical , dirty opponents – , away it.

after spending 1932–33 pre-season training intensely himself (as opposed playing golf teammates), mather selected matthews in 15 games, enough earn him in winners medal after stoke crowned second division champions, 1 point ahead of tottenham hotspur. on 4 march 1933 scored first senior goal in 3–1 win on local rivals port vale @ old recreation ground.

he played 29 first division games in 1933–34, stoke secured top-flight status 12th-place finish. continued progress in 1934–35 campaign, , selected football league inter-league game irish league @ oval, finished 6–1 english. england debut followed, , did further game football league against scottish league. stoke finished season in 10th place.

in 1935–36 matthews continued improve, , added double body swerve technique increasing arsenal of tricks. largely out of international picture, put in 45 games potters stoke finished fourth under bob mcgrory – club s best ever finish. played 42 games in 1936–37, including club s record 10–3 win on west brom @ victoria ground. @ end of season paid loyalty bonus of £650, though stoke board insisted due £500 had spent first 2 years @ club amateur – attitude left sour taste in matthew s mouth.

stoke slipped down league in extremely tight 1937–38 season, and, annoyed rumours circulating city of resentment in dressing room against him england success, matthews requested transfer in february; request denied. request became public knowledge, and, disturbed attention , harassment receiving stoke supporters urging him stay, matthews decided take few days off club relax in blackpool. finding no peace there either, stoke chairman albert booth told matthews not allowed leave club, , 3,000 city supporters organized meeting make feelings known – demanded stay. touched strength of feeling , worn out attention receiving, matthews agreed stay. despite playing regularly national side, matthews put in 38 games stoke in 1938–39, helping them seventh-place finish – there not full season of football league action until 1946.

the war cost matthews professional career age of 24 age of 30. instead joined royal air force, , based outside blackpool, ivor powell nco. rose rank of corporal, though admitted being 1 of lenient , easy-going ncos in forces. played 69 wartime league , cup games stoke, , made 87 guest appearances blackpool. in addition these, played handful of games scottish sides airdrieonians, morton , rangers, , played arsenal against fc dynamo moscow in extremely thick fog. played 29 times england, though no caps awarded these unofficial games. 1 of last games of period fa cup sixth round second-leg tie clash between stoke , bolton wanderers; match ended in tragedy in known burnden park disaster – 33 people died , 500 injured. matthews sent £30 disaster fund , couldn t bring himself train several days afterwards. matthews father died in 1945. deathbed made son promise him 2 things: after mother, , win fa cup final.

the regular football league returned in time 1946–47 season, during matthews played 23 league games , major contributor 30 of club s 41 league goals. stoke matched record finish of fourth in league, finishing 2 points shy of champions liverpool after losing sheffield united on final day of season. however, in february matthews returning knee injury when manager mcgrory told him not in first xi game against arsenal; press reported bust-up. relations between mcgrory, stoke city board, , matthews had indeed been sour – though once again story players sided against matthews untrue. recalled against brentford, after game did find out because last-minute replacement injured bert mitchell. matthews put in second transfer request, stoke board accepted. selected blackpool next club still lived in area following service in raf; stoke board sanctioned move on condition deal remain secret until end of season, not disrupt club s title bid. secret revealed in matter of hours, unknown person informed press.

blackpool

on 10 may 1947, after great britain versus rest of europe match in glasgow (britain won 6–1), made move £11,500, @ age of 32. match raised £30,000 4 home nations football associations, , since eleven british players received £14 each, matthews questioned money ended – doubted of ended funding grass-roots football.

re 32, think can make couple of years? – blackpool manager joe smith in 1947.

smith told matthews there no shackles here ... express yourself ... play own game , whatever on pitch, in knowledge have full support. assembled talented frontline in matthews, stan mortensen, jimmy mcintosh, , alex munro; emphasis on entertaining football. seasiders finished in ninth place , reached 1948 fa cup final. on 23 april 1948, eve of final, matthews won inaugural football writers association footballer of year award. despite taking lead twice in match, blackpool lost out 4–2 matt busby s manchester united in final, matthews assisting mortensen blackpool s second.

injury limited him 28 appearances in 1948–49, blackpool struggled 16th-place finish. spent summer touring theatres in variety act brother ronnie, though troubled ankle injury picked in charity game. blackpool finished seventh in 1949–50, , though never title contenders vast crowds still turned out home , away witness entertaining football displayed. @ time received maximum wage allowed professional player – £12 week.

in 1950–51 blackpool stormed third-place finish, , matthews played 44 games in league , cup. cited highlights of season 2–0 win @ sunderland, 4–4 draw @ arsenal, , 4–2 defeat @ newcastle united. reached 1951 fa cup final, favourites beat opponents newcastle; matthews ended second runners-up medal brace jackie milburn.

after picking ankle injury in november, missed of 1951–52 campaign, , forced instead spent of time working @ hotel , wife ran. during time cut red meat diet begin new near-vegetarian diet. @ point new stoke manager frank taylor enquired whether might bring matthews club; parties agreed idea in principle until joe smith put foot down ensure stayed, inspirational speech promised matthews fa cup winners medal still possible, telling him lot of people think m mad, though re 37, believe best football still come.

despite spending 3 months of season out muscle injury, 1952–53 campaign proved smith s words accurate, 38-year-old matthews won fa cup winners medal in match was, despite mortensen s hat-trick, subsequently dubbed matthews final . bolton leading 3–1 35 minutes go, matthews had game of life in greatest ever fa cup final , spurred team on last gasp 4–3 victory. credited team , mortensen victory, , never accepted nickname of matthews final .

he helped tangerines record sixth-place finish in 1953–54, though hopes of retaining fa cup title ended defeat port vale @ vale park in fifth round. matthews missed 8 league games in 1954–55, though journalists keen write him off every occasional off-performance , missed game – balderdash , replied. despite age, , more pertinently media s constant references age, arsenal manager tom whittaker tried, unsuccessfully, lure matthews highbury lucrative, if illegal approach.

as smith began establish new side talents such jackie mudie , jimmy armfield, blackpool posted second-place finish in 1955–56, though ended 11 points behind champions manchester united. matthews believed performance gave in 3–1 win on arsenal on opening day of season finest ever gave. @ end of campaign matthews made inaugural winner of european footballer of year award, having narrowly defeated alfredo di stéfano 47 44 in poll.

remaining key first team member in 1956–57, injury restricted him 25 league appearances, though blackpool claimed creditable fourth-place finish. matthews scored 18th , final goal blackpool in 4–1 league victory on tottenham hotspur @ bloomfield road on 3 september 1956. blackpool finished seventh in 1957–58, after joe smith left club.

smith s replacement ron suart, wanted matthews stay out wide, , did not value contribution in way smith had done. suart limited matthews 19 league appearances in 1958–59. matthews used 15 times in 1959–60, suart signed arthur kaye take place, , local lad steve hill vied outside-right position. enjoyed more games in 1960–61, playing 27 league games club narrowly avoiding relegation odd point.

he started 1961–62 season behind hill in pecking order, getting place in time 4–0 win on chelsea after hill picked injury. made 440th , final appearance in blackpool shirt in 3–0 defeat @ arsenal on 7 october 1961. fitting final bow enjoyed playing against arsenal, , had many wonderful memories @ highbury. former teammate , close friend jackie mudie @ stoke city, , tony waddington keen welcome matthews victoria ground, return home-town club sealed. matthews not impressed when blackpool board demanded £3,500 transfer fee, 1 director being bold tell him forget. player, made you. having kept secret stoke niggling knee injury matthews had been carrying, blackpool got £3,500 player.

return stoke

at stoke, matthews found himself playing second division football first time in 28 years. despite stoke being strapped cash, tony waddington gave him two-year contract @ £50 week – double wages received @ blackpool. signing broadcast live on sportsweek, waddington whispered in ear welcome home, stan. years club has been going nowhere. re on our way . waddington delayed return debut until 24 october 1961, when stoke played huddersfield town @ victoria ground, attendance 35,974 – more treble previous home game – , matthews set 1 of city s goals in 3–0 win. went on score 3 goals in 21 games in rest of 1961–62 campaign.

waddington signed hardman eddie clamp protect matthews in 1962–63 season, , 2 become close friends off pitch. along veteran teammates jackie mudie, jimmy o neill, eddie stuart, don ratcliffe, dennis viollet, , jimmy mcilroy, stoke had oldest team in football league. matthews scored goal of season in final home game of campaign, luton town beaten 2–0, result ensured stoke gained promotion top flight. stoke went second division champions, , matthews voted fwa footballer of year second time in career, 15 years after made inaugural winner of award.

after picking injury, missed january onwards of 1963–64 campaign, , thereby missed 1964 football league cup final defeat leicester city. discovering niggling injuries have cost him 1 day out of action required more 2 weeks worth of rest recover from, matthews decided retire after 1 more season.

he spent 1964–65 season playing reserve side. on 1 january 1965 became footballer ever knighted (for services football) whilst still active professional player; though never thought himself worthy of such honour. first team appearance of season last football league game of career; came on 6 february 1965, after 50th birthday, , necessitated injuries both peter dobing , gerry bridgwood. opponents day fulham, , stoke won game 3–1. though felt had retired early, , have carried on playing 2 years, brought end 35-year professional career.

stoke city arranged testimonial match in honour of matthews; needed had spent of career constricted tight maximum wage had been enforced upon english game. game played @ victoria ground on 28 april 1965, time matthews had decided retire player, , pre-match entertainment consisted of match of 2 veteran teams featuring many legends of game. harry johnston led out team consisting of bert trautmann, tim ward, george hardwick, jimmy hill, neil franklin, don revie, stan mortensen, nat lofthouse, jimmy hagan, tom finney , frank bowyer (reserve). walley barnes led out opposing team consisting of jimmy o neill, jimmy scoular, danny blanchflower, jimmy dickinson, hughie kelly, bill mcgarry, jackie mudie, jackie milburn, jock dodds, ken barnes, , arthur rowley (reserve).

in main game itself, 2 teams of legends formed, stan s xi (consisting of football league players) , international xi. international side won 6–4, , matthews carried shoulder-high field @ full time puskás , yashin.

england international career

after playing england schoolboys, playing in trial @ roker park in front of england selectors, , representing football league, matthews given england debut @ ninian park in 1934. matthews scored third goal england beat welsh 4–0. second game infamous battle of highbury, set eric brook first goal of 3–2 win on world champions italy. italians turned match bloodbath , , ended violent match matthews ever involved in.

his third cap came in 3–0 on germany @ white hart lane on 4 december 1935, after ralph birkett unable play due injury; matthews outplayed opposite number reinhold münzenberg in both attack , defence. matthews jeered england supporters , condemned press.

he have wait until 17 april 1937 chance in england shirt, when selected play in front of 149,000 spectators against auld enemy @ scotland s hampden park. physically sick before match, before big game. hampden roar big factor, scots won 3–1 despite english performance. after game against wales, matthews scored hat-trick in 5–4 win against czechoslovakia.

in 1938 played 8 games england, starting defeat scotland team containing young bill shankly. travelled berlin encounter münzenberg, pre-match witnessed first hand foreboding devotion people showed führer when motorcade drove past café england team dining in. game became infamous fa, under instruction british government, informed england team had perform nazi salute part of strategy of appeasement. england won 6–3 matthews himself getting on scoreboard having got better of münzenberg time. next game shock 2–1 defeat switzerland, in turn followed 4–2 win on france in paris. following conclusion of summer tour of continent, matthews scored in 4–2 defeat wales in cardiff, , played in england s 3–0 win on europe xi @ highbury, 4–0 win on norway in newcastle, , 7–0 win on ireland @ old trafford.

on 15 april 1939, returned muddy hampden park england claim 2–1 victory in front of 142,000 rain-soaked supporters; set tommy lawton winner seconds spare. summer last time england tour europe before hitler s nazis defeated. first game against italy, gave english warm reception despite benito mussolini s breast-beating , bad blood of 5 years previous. again world champions, italians managed salvage 2–2 draw @ san siro after scoring clear handball; time matthews left field chipped hip bone efforts. next game 2–1 loss yugoslavia, matthews , captain eddie hapgood passengers in game after picking injuries; injury forced him sit out following encounter romania.

following war, return england came against scotland on 12 april 1947 @ wembley, in match finished 1–1 draw. in summer took part in england s tour of switzerland , portugal. following surprise defeat swiss, england cantered 10–0 win on portuguese, matthews scoring 10th. in september, put in 1 of finest performances in england shirt set of england s 5 goals in 5–2 victory on belgium.

in april 1948 once again travelled england hampden park, helping country 2–0 victory; after match subject of fa inquiry after claimed tea , scones on expenses (at cost of sixpence). regardless of treatment fa, next month helped england record 4–0 victory on italy in turin. folklore told beat alberto eliani have audacity pull comb shorts pocket , comb hair; reality used hand wipe sweating brow in beating italian sun. legend follow him around world in later life, , spectators in crowd convinced had witnessed it. later in year played in goalless draw denmark, 6–2 win on northern ireland, 1–0 win on wales, , 6–0 triumph on switzerland.

manager walter winterbottom began more defensive winger, , used matthews once in 1949 – 3–1 defeat scotland in british home championship. after impressing in fa tour of canada was named last minute inclusion in england squad 1950 fifa world cup in brazil. did not play in win on chile or in infamous defeat united states, played once, in 1–0 defeat spain @ estádio maracanã. preparation not ideal fa did not take competition seriously, , hotel had unpalatable food , no training facilities.

after playing in 2 further games, 4–4 draw europe xi , 3–1 win on northern ireland, found himself in international scene following heroics in 1953 fa cup final. selected play hungary s golden team on 25 november 1953, in 6–3 defeat became known match of century . blamed fa , selectors heavy loss, though had great admiration hungarians, particularly ferenc puskás.

he did not play in england s 7–1 defeat hungary in budapest in may 1954. in squad 1954 fifa world cup in switzerland. matthews helped england 4–4 draw belgium, though left out of win on switzerland, before returned first xi england crashed out of competition 4–2 defeat uruguay @ st. jakob stadium after mistakes goalkeeper gil merrick. third match of year 2–0 win on northern ireland @ windsor park in 1955 british home championship, though on pitch did not gel don revie. matthews put in superb in 2–0 win on welsh, before helped england record 3–1 victory on world champions west germany, though 3 of germans used @ wembley had been in first xi in world cup final.

england beat scotland 7–2 in april 1955, , time matthews linked better revie, , 40-year-old matthews largely credited outstanding margin of victory. in game duncan edwards making england debut; when matthews made his, edwards had not been born. matthews went on england s unsuccessful tour of continent in 1955, selectors erratic choices helped ensure 1–0 defeat france, 1–1 draw spain, , 3–1 defeat portugal. left out against denmark, in team in october 1–1 draw wales.

having been awarded inaugural ballon d or in 1956, may recalled england front line encounter brazil; brazil go on lift world cup in 1958, matthews helped english record 4–2 victory. refused take part in summer s european tour, having committed himself second summer of coaching in south africa. in next international game, against northern ireland on 6 october 1956, aged 41 years , 248 days, became oldest england player ever score international goal.

he played 3 of england 4 qualification games 1958 fifa world cup: 5–1 victory on republic of ireland, , 5–2 , 4–1 wins on denmark. on 15 may 1957, matthews became oldest player ever represent england, when @ 42 years , 104 days old turned out victory on danes in copenhagen. despite calls press him included in 1958 world cup squad, time selectors did not bow pressure. yet @ 23 years, nobody ever enjoy longer career england team.

he subject of life in 1956 when surprised eamonn andrews @ bbc television theatre.