Stanley Matthews was a true superstar of world football.  The 'Wizard of the Dribble' was the first winner of the Ballon d'Or and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year awards, played 54 times for England, played in two World Cups and was part of the England team which won the British Championship 9 times.  He made 697 appearances for Stoke City and Blackpool, scored 71 goals and carried on playing at the top level until he was 50 years of age. 

 

He was knighted in 1965, the only player to receive a knighthood while still playing professionally.  A lightning quick winger with fantastic dribbling ability, his presence could add an extra 10,000 supporters to any away game in which he played and it was said by Franz Beckenbauer that the speed and skill Matthews possessed meant that "almost no one in the game could stop him"

 

Sir Stanley Matthews' fame and reputation spread worldwide, from Africa to South America to Europe. This praise was based on his sporting prowess, his longevity as a player, and his values as a human being.

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After playing, Sir Stanley coached disadvantaged groups around the world. Most famously, he trained and took teams from Soweto to Brazil, Germany and other countries at the height of apartheid and at considerable personal risk.

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