 England
Football Online |
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Players
Index |
Page Last Updated
21 August 2022 |
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Stan
Matthews |
Stoke City FC,
Blackpool FC
54 appearances,
10 goals
P 54 W 32 D
8 L 14 F 158: A 83
67% successful
1934-57
captain: none
minutes played: 4890 |
 |
|
Timeline |
| |
Sir Stanley Matthews CBE |
|
Birth |
1 February 1915 at 63 Seymour Street,
Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire [registered in
Stoke-upon-Trent, March 1915]. Third of four sons to John
William, a hairdresser, and Ada Hewitt.
Attended Wellington Road School,
Hanley. |
|
|
According to the
1911
census, John and Ada Matthews are married with two sons, John and Arthur,
living at 48 Trinity Street in Hanley. John is a hairdresser. |
|
First marriage |
to Elizabeth Vallance
(b.17 September 1912),
at Bonnytown Golf Club, in Glasgow, Lanarkshire
[registered in June 1934], divorcing in 1967 |
|
|
According to the 1939 register, Stanley is now married
to Elizabeth, and are living at 4 Rowan Avenue in Stoke-upon-Trent.
He is listed as being an assistant inspector at the local Brass Foundary.
According to Passenger Lists, Stan Matthews was one of numerous
professional footballers (The FA Tourists of Canada) leaving the port of
Liverpool on 9 May 1950, bound for Montréal, Québec on board the Empress
of Scotland. Matthews did not make the return journey on 30 June, as he
was summoned to Brazil. His address at this time was the Romford Hotel, on
the New South Promenade in Blackpool. |
|
Second marriage |
to Mila Winters, in Malta, 1968. |
|
Death |
23 February 2000 in Hanley,
aged
85 years 22 days
[registered in Newcastle-under-Lyme, February 2000]. Cremation was
in Stoke, 3 March. His ashes are buried beneath the centre-circle at Stoke
City's Britannia Stadium. |
|
Source |
 Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & |
|
Biographies |
The Way it
Was - Stanley Matthews & Les Scott (Headline,
2000) |
| |
x.
- A Football Compendium, Peter J. Seddon (1999). |
|
Club Career |
,%20Stan.jpg) |
Started playing football with his school team,
as well as Hanley Schools, which got him noticed by the England Schoolboy
selectors. He joined the groundstaff at Stoke City AFC as a fifteen
year-old in 1930, despite interest from top clubs, including West Bromwich
Albion FC, Wolverhampton Wanderes FC, Aston Villa FC and Birmingham FC. He
became an amateur football for Stoke in September of the same year. He
turned out for St. Peter's (Stoke) FC also, before he signed professional
forms with Stoke on 1 February 1932. But not before Evrton FC attempted to
sign the starlet. Then there was continued interest and
financial incentives from the previously mentioned clubs as well as
Leicester City FC, Bolton Wanderers FC, Huddersfield Town AFC and
Newcastle United FC.
Undeterred by the outbreak of war, Matthews
played for Rangers FC in March 1940 (also in June 1941) and Aidrieonians
FC the following month (they also attempted to sign him in March 1941) and
Wrexham AFC in the December. Nottingham Forest FC played Matthews in
February 1941, and then Blackpool FC for the 1941-42 season, and Stoke
City FC the following seasons, as well as Greenock Morton in March 1943.
He guested for Arsenal FC in January 1945, and in another match against Dynamo
Moscow FC, in November that year. Throughout the war, he represented the
RAF.
After 259 league appearances, in which he scored 51 goals,
and following very public falling-outs with his manager, Bob McGrory,
Matthews joined Blackpool FC, whom he had trained with for numerous years, in a permanent deal
on 10 May 1947 for a
£11,500 fee. Another 379 league matches followed and seventeen
goals were scored. He spent the summer of 1961 playing for Toronto
City FC in Canada. He returned to Stoke City AFC on 18 October 1961,
when his hometown club paid £3500 for the forty-six year old. He
made the signing in front of the BBC Sportsview camaras. He still
made another 59 league appearances and three goals. He retired
from league football in 1965, at the glorious age of fifty! |
|
Club honours |
Football League Division Two winners 1932-33, 1962-63;
FA Cup runners-up 1947-48, 1950-51, winners
1952-53; Football League runners-up 1955-56; |
|
Individual honours |
Football League (13 appearances, two
goals);
FWA Footballer
of the Year winner 1947-48, 1962-63,
third 1954-55, fifth 1956-57;
Ballon d'Or winner 1956 (by three votes), =seventeenth 1957; |
|
Distinctions |
Appeared on BBC's This Is Your Life
12 February 1956, the second 'victim' of the
long-running programme;
The only player to receive a knighthood for his
services to football in 1965, as well as being the first, in 1957, to
receive the CBE. Received an honorary degree at
Keele University in June 1987. |
|
Height/Weight |
5'
9", 11st.
0lbs
[1937],
5'
10", 11st.
8lbs [1949]. |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
|
Management Career |
|
Club(s) |
After eventually retiring from playing, Matthews became the
general manager for the Stoke rival club, Port Vale FC, from July 1965
until July 1968, and thereafter as an advisor. He set up in Malta after
his second marriage and he coached the Maltese side, Hibernian FC in April
1970. He then took his coaching skills into South Africa and the Soweto
from 1974-76. |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
One of six who became the 600th players
(603) to appear
for England. |
|
Position(s) |
Outside-right |
|
First match |
No. 194,
29 September
1934,
Wales
0
England
4, a British Championship
match at
Ninian Park, Sloper Road, Cardiff, aged
19 years
240 days.
 |
|
Last match |
No. 313, 15 May 1957,
Denmark
1
England 4,
a World Cup qualification match at
Idrætsparken, København, aged
42 years 103 days. |
|
Major tournaments |
World Cup Finals 1950, 1954;
British Championship 1934-35, 1936-37, 1937-38, 1938-39,
1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1950-51, 1953-54, 1954-55, 1955-56, 1956-57; |
|
Team honours |
British Championship shared 1934-35,
1938-39, 1955-56; winners 1937-38,
1946-47, 1947-48, 1953-54, 1954-55, 1956-57; |
|
Individual honours |
England Schoolboy (one
appearance, 1929). England war-time (29
appearances, two goals), Great Britain (two appearances).
England's Top Goalscorer 1937-38 (5); |
|
Distinctions |
He was the youngest player to score on his debut, 19
years, 240 days (breaking Nevil Cobbold's
57-year old record), a record he held for four years.
Also became the oldest goalscorer at 41 years and 248 days, in
October 1956.
The oldest player to appear for England, at 42 years and
103 days.
Died 25 days after George Eastham and 24 days after Bert
Sproston. |
|
notes |
What was deemed to be his tenth England goal, in October 1948, was
actually a Billy Smyth own goal. Hence, Matthews has ten goals, not
eleven. |
|
Beyond England |
|
Had lived in Malta and Canada since 1969,
until he returned to Stoke in 1989. He
spent his summers in the late fifties and early sixties in South Africa,
coaching. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.169/70. |
|
The Numbers |
|
parties |
Apps |
comp. apps |
minutes |
|
goals ave.min |
comp. goals |
 |
 |
|
53 |
54 |
30 |
4890 |
10 |
489
min |
5 |
postwar
25 |
none |
|
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors. |
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
54 |
32 |
8 |
14 |
158 |
83 |
+75 |
5 |
14 |
2.926 |
1.537 |
66.7 |
+18 |
Venue Record
|
Venue |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
Home |
26 |
18 |
3 |
4 |
85 |
40 |
+45 |
1 |
7 |
3.269 |
1.538 |
75.0 |
+14 |
|
Away |
25 |
13 |
4 |
8 |
67 |
34 |
+33 |
3 |
7 |
2.68 |
1.36 |
60.0 |
+5 |
|
Neutral |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
9 |
-3 |
1 |
0 |
2.00 |
3.00 |
16.7 |
-2 |
Shirt Record
|
Colour |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
White |
52 |
30 |
8 |
14 |
152 |
82 |
+70 |
5 |
13 |
2.923 |
1.577 |
65.4 |
+16 |
|
Blue |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
+3 |
0 |
1 |
3.00 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
|
Red |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
+2 |
0 |
0 |
3.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+2 |
Competition Record
|
Competition |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
WCP |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
5 |
+12 |
0 |
0 |
4.25 |
1.25 |
100.0 |
+4 |
|
WCF |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
-1 |
1 |
0 |
2.333 |
2.667 |
16.7 |
-2 |
| World Cup |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
24 |
13 |
+11 |
1 |
0 |
3.429 |
1.857 |
64.3 |
+2 |
|
British Championship |
24 |
15 |
3 |
6 |
62 |
32 |
+30 |
1 |
6 |
2.583 |
1.333 |
68.8 |
+9 |
|
The 1953-54 records of the World Cup preliminaries and British Championship are
duplicated, and one set is deducted from the grand total. |
| Friendly |
24 |
14 |
4 |
6 |
76 |
38 |
+38 |
3 |
8 |
3.167 |
1.583 |
66.7 |
+8 |
Tournament Record
|
World Cup Preliminary
Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
| WCP/BC
1953-54 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
+2 |
0 |
0 |
3.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
|
WCP 1956-58 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
4 |
+10 |
0 |
0 |
4.667 |
1.333 |
100.0 |
+3 |
|
WCP
All |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
5 |
+12 |
0 |
0 |
4.25 |
1.25 |
100.0 |
+4 |
|
World Cup Final
Tournaments |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
| WCF 1950 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
-1 |
1 |
0 |
0.00 |
1.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
| WCF 1954 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
8 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
3.00 |
4.00 |
25.0 |
-1 |
|
WCF
All |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
-1 |
1 |
0 |
2.333 |
2.667 |
16.7 |
-2 |
|
World Cup |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
| WC 1948-50 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
-1 |
1 |
0 |
0.00 |
1.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
| WC/BC
1952-54 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
9 |
=0 |
0 |
0 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
| WC 1956-58 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
4 |
+10 |
0 |
0 |
4.667 |
1.333 |
100.0 |
+3 |
|
WC
All |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
24 |
13 |
+11 |
1 |
0 |
3.429 |
1.857 |
64.3 |
+2 |
|
British Championship Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
| BC
1934-35 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
+4 |
0 |
1 |
4.00 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
| BC
1936-37 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
3.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
| BC
1937-38 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
=0 |
1 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
| BC
1938-39 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
11 |
5 |
+6 |
0 |
1 |
3.67 |
1.667 |
66.7 |
+1 |
| BC
1946-47 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
=0 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
| BC
1947-48 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
+5 |
0 |
2 |
2.333 |
0.667 |
83.3 |
+2 |
| BC
1948-49 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
5 |
+3 |
0 |
1 |
2.667 |
1.667 |
66.7 |
+1 |
| BC
1950-51 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
+2 |
0 |
0 |
3.00 |
2.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
| BC/WCP
1953-54 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
+2 |
0 |
0 |
3.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
| BC
1954-55 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
4 |
+8 |
0 |
1 |
4.00 |
1.333 |
100.0 |
+3 |
| BC
1955-56 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
| BC
1956-57 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
3 |
+3 |
0 |
0 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
83.3 |
+2 |
|
BC
All |
24 |
15 |
3 |
6 |
62 |
32 |
+30 |
1 |
6 |
2.583 |
1.333 |
68.8 |
+9 |
|
All Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
| WC |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
24 |
13 |
+11 |
1 |
0 |
3.429 |
1.857 |
64.3 |
+2 |
| BC |
24 |
15 |
3 |
6 |
62 |
32 |
+30 |
1 |
6 |
2.583 |
1.333 |
68.8 |
+9 |
The 1953-54 records of the World
Cup Preliminaries and British Championship are duplicated, and one set
is deducted from the grand total.
|
30 |
18 |
4 |
8 |
83 |
44 |
+39 |
2 |
6 |
2.767 |
1.467 |
66.7 |
+10 |
Match History
|
Club:
Stoke City F.C. - 18 full
appearances (1620 min) 8ᵍ |
F.A. International Select Committee - 17 full appearances (1530 min) 8ᵍx
|
|
apps |
match |
pic |
match details |
comp |
res. |
rundown |
shirt |
|
|
manager: Walter
Winterbottom
- 37 full appearances (3360 min) 2ᵍx
|
|
7 years
and 329 days after his last
England appearance |
|
Age
38 |
|
277 |
17 May 1953 - Argentina
0 England 0, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires |
tour |
Aab |
late and then, withdrawn
party member |
|
278 |
24 May 1953 -
Chile
1 England 2, Estadio Nacional
de Chile, Santiago |
AW |
|
279 |
31 May 1953 - Uruguay 2 England 1, Estadio Centenario, Montevideo |
AL |
|
280 |
8 June 1953 - United States 3 England 6,
Yankee Stadium, New York
|
AW |
|
|
|
34 |
282 |
21
October 1953 - England 4 Rest of the World 4
Empire Stadium, Wembley |
Fr |
HD |
|
7 |
|
35 |
283 |
11 November 1953 - England
3 Ireland 1
Goodison Park, Liverpool |
BC/
WCP |
HW |
|
7 |
|
36 |
284 |
25 November 1953 - England 3 Hungary
6
Empire Stadium, Wembley |
Fr |
HL |
|
7 |
|
|
|
At some point, Stan Matthews became
England's oldest
player, and until we get
Alec Morten's date of birth, we
are hard-pressed to know which match. Without any doubt,
he is England's oldest outfield player from the 1954 World
Cup Finals |
,%20Stan.jpg) ,%20Stan.jpg)
|
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cg |
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