A Look Into Histories

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THREE

SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS FINAL LEAGUE MATCH AT AGE 50

For this story to unfold it is best to quote some excerpts from the Authorized Biography by David Miller and personally signed by Sir Stanley. “ On February 6th 1965, five days after his fiftieth birthday, Sir Stanley Matthews became the oldest player in history to appear in the First Division when he played in the home match against Fulham. It was his 710th League match and his first for more than twelve months due to a troublesome knee “ Manager of Stoke City, Tony Waddington recalled him due to injuries in the squad and it was no mistake for he “restored their attacking unit and 28,000 were present that day to see him take part in a veterans duel with Jim Langley”. Stoke won 3 1.

Sir Stanley had one final match and that was his testimonial in April 1965 against an International X1 who won 6 4 with 35,000 attending from all over the World.

Back in 1992, Sir Stanley Matthews visited a new Sports shop in Southend and already having the Match Programme of his last game I managed to get him to sign the front cover. It was a very flimsy 6d copy
which welcomed Fulham on the first page, gave appearences and scorers which confirmed that Sir Stanley had not appeared that season. The League table showed Leeds to be top and Stoke 12th with Wolves in last place. A supporters letter followed then the team line-ups with the editor knowing Matthews would play at No 7. Fulham had Johnny Haynes and Bobby Robson playing plus George Cohen who would go on to win the World Cup in 1966. Pen Pictures of Fulham were then completed by the old style half time scoreboard so very surprisingly no official words or Notes 0from the club so, if this Programme had not covered such an historic occasion it would have been forgotten years ago !