Sir Stanley Matthews

indeedido said:
Matthews a Port Vale fan growing up.
See also Phil Taylor, Robbie Williams, Lemmy.
The only notable Stoke fan appears to be Julian Clary.
I've had this discussion with one of my best mates a Stokie a few times, always raised by him with a smile.
Click to expand...
Nick Hancock was the only one that came to mind - but that was because I used to watch They think it's all over/

I was living in Stoke for Matthews 80th birthday in Trentham Gardens and Mannion appeared on the TV a lot down there with them praising each other loads
 
indeedido said:
Sir Stanley only actually played 697 league matches in England for Blackpool and Stoke.
That in 25 full seasons.

I remember asking Dad about Matthews and he said he played when he wanted to.
He only played 35 or more league matches in a season 7 times, 5 of those before WW2 when he was just 23.
After the war he played 379 league matches for Blackpool across 15 seasons. 25 matches per season
In total he played 783 matches in English football, mostly top flight.

I am just offering some perspective. He was obviously an excellent player and a biological freak to endure so long.
But a bit like James Milner, who has 868 matches in this his 24th consecutive season (all top flight football inc Europe) he has benefitted from not playing full seasons by a long way.
As a contrast Ryan Giggs played 963 top flight/European matches for Man U across 23 consecutive seasons.
19 of those seasons he played 35 or more matches.
15 of those seasons he played 40 or more matches.

Matthews a Port Vale fan growing up.
See also Phil Taylor, Robbie Williams, Lemmy.
The only notable Stoke fan appears to be Julian Clary.
I've had this discussion with one of my best mates a Stokie a few times, always raised by him with a smile.
Click to expand...
Ha, had no idea about the Julian Clary link. Anthea Turner is a die-hard fan as well apparently, and was present at the Auto Windscreens Trophy final at Wembley in 2001 which Stoke won largely because of Graham Kavanagh.

I didn’t know Matthews played so ‘little’ football actually. Giggs’ record is quite phenomenal in comparison. I think it’s just the idea of a bloke playing on the wing at 49 or 50.

I read he scored for England against Wales at Ayresome Park. And scored the final goal in England’s 10-0(!) win over Portugal in Lisbon in 1947. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1956. And there was 22 years between his first and last goals for England!

I’m definitely going to try and find out the biography on him and have a read. Those old players - Mannion, Lawton, Finney et al - they seem not of this world tbh. I saw a photo of Puskas yesterday and he looked like he had a little beer gut - 624 goals in 626 senior games, and 83 in 84 internationals. That’s absolutely mental.
 
Matthews never ran for the ball - famously wanted the ball always at his feet. Maybe thats why he kept going for as long as he did. That and also most fullbacks in the 50s were donkeys playing on muddy pitches.
 
Chutney said:
Don't think Wilf was quite so complimentary. Thought Matthews was "one dimensional".

This was from an interview he did with Harry Pearson if I'm remembering right, got the impression he didn't much rate anyone apart from Tom Finney. Camsell "couldn't trap a bag of cement" by all accounts. Struggling to find a link, but I'm sure I didn't make this up...
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Read something somewhere once about Tom Finney...he was a huge fan of Wilf.

spartacus-educational.com

Wilf Mannion

A detailed biography of Wilf Mannion that includes images, quotations and the main facts of her life. Key Stage 3 History. GCSE History. Last updated on 16th May, 2023
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