I read a book review this morning: "The Wizard: The Life of Stanley Matthews", and it made a point - that, if you think Giggsy is old at 39, then think again. Matthews was 'still playing at 50; still scoring in the FA Cup at 49; still winning England caps at 42; still doing his bit to help Stoke win promotion at 48 when he'd first done it 30 years previously....' But what I want to know is this: did he ever play at Fer Ark with either Blackpool or Stoke? Some old-timers might know..... .....or Craig?
Dad says he did.In a friendly against Blackpool. Stan Mortenson got him to play,and the score was 5-5 He's wealth of information,is my owl man.
It's his 80th birthday this month,22nd. He's a fooking nightmare,at games. I have to keep a close eye on him,so he doesn't fall down the steps. He stares at girls too,that's quite embarrassing. But hey,he took me to city,all my life,i'll take him for the rest of his
I watched Mathews play in the friendly at Bootmerry Park and he was outshone in the game by the Tigers winger Ray Smith (if my memory serves me)who had a blinder.Smith was a junior who normally played in the reserves at Inside Forward but he was given the chance in the starting eleven on the wing.Strangely we didn't keep him and he went to Peterboro at the end of '56. Mathews was almost unplayable in the '53 Cup Final against Bolton he beat his full back so badly he looked as though he was in a trance when Mathews drifted past him.
This is a slice from the review: "In later years, Matthews was said to be picky about which matches he played in, steering clear of would-be cloggers. Opponents who went in hard were criticised even by their own fans. And referees took pains to protect him:the England full-back Ray Wilson said you only had to cough in his vicinity and the whistle would blow. By the time he played his last match he had added a knighthood to his CBE; perhaps that was why the Fulham full-back that day deferentially waved him past rather than risk damaging an icon."
