Stanley Matthews was the greatest British player of his generation – and the first recipient of the European footballer of the year award . . . aged 42.
During a 33-year career “The Wizard of Dribble”, as he was affectionately nicknamed, was the greatest British player of his generation and the first recipient of the European footballer of the year award . . . aged 42.
He only quit the top flight after turning 50.
Born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, in 1915, Stanley Matthews was encouraged to keep fit by his father Jack, a notable featherweight boxer.
Hard physical training would be the cornerstone of Matthews’ long career.
His talent for football was quickly realised – he once scored a dozen goals in a schoolboy fixture – and by 1932 he was playing for Stoke City, helping them to the Second Division championship a year later.
At 19, Matthews was awarded his first England cap. After an indifferent start to his international career, he quickly became England’s chief tormentor of defences.
Against Czechoslovakia in 1937, he galvanised an injury reduced ten-man team with three goals that transformed the match and helped England to win 5-4, thus maintaining their unbeaten home record against foreign teams.
Two years later Matthews turned in one of his finest performances for his country, running rings around the German defence and contributing to a 6-3 mauling.
After the war, Matthews formed an irresistible partnership with another legendary winger, Preston North End’s Tom Finney.
Although a small and sickly child, Finney was offered a contract by Preston at 14 and stayed loyal to them throughout his career, making 433 appearances and scoring 187 goals from 1946 to 1960.
In 1947 they played together for England for the first time, Matthews on the right and the two-footed Finney on the left, helping England to a 10-0 victory against Portugal.
When the two teams met again in 1950 Finney scored four times in a 5-3 victory.
Matthews’ quick feet and genuine pace intimidated a generation of left-backs. His great trick was to run directly towards a defender, shape as if to go inside, then flick the ball outside, giving him space in which to deliver a cross.
In 1947 Matthews joined Blackpool for £11,500, helping them reach the FA Cup final in 1948, 1951 and 1953.
Yet Matthews collected a winner’s medal only at the third attempt. The 1953 final against Bolton was considered the 38-year-old’s last chance, but with 20 minutes to go Blackpool looked beaten, trailing Bolton 3-1.
Matthews came alive, weaving his magic down the wing and delivering a cross which Stan Mortensen met and hit home.
After Mortensen had levelled the scores with a free-kick, Matthews embarked on another mazy run and delivered a perfect cross to Bill Perry on the far post who fired home to win the match 4-3.
Finney looked set to emulate Matthews’ fairytale when Preston met West Bromwich Albion in the final the next season.
It was not to be.
Preston lost 3-2 and Finney retired six years later without a major winner’s medal.
Matthews rejoined Stoke in 1961 and two years later helped them to the Division Two title and was named Footballer of the Year for the second time. Five days after his 50th birthday, the newly-knighted Sir Stanley Matthews ended his remarkable career.
After 710 games for Stoke and Blackpool and 54 England caps, his last game was a league match against Fulham on 6th February 1965. Matthews set up Stoke’s only goal in a 1-1 draw.
He later said he had retired too soon.
