Born
in in Hanley, Stoke -On-Trent on the 1st February 1915 Stanley
Matthews became the greatest footballer ever. At the age of
15 he joined the groundstaff at Stoke City and made his league
debut in 1932 at the age of 17.
He made his England debut on the 29th September 1934 against
Wales and became the oldest player to appear in the top division
of English football.
Stan
made 697 league appearances, spanning a record of 33 years and
played his last game in Brazil at the age of 70. He
carried on playing, at the very top, until he was 50 - another
record - before becoming the first footballer to be knighted,
in 1965. His 33-year career remains the longest of any professional
footballer.
He
completed more than 1800 matches and has been one of the very
few that was never cautioned or sent off.
He
died peacefully on the 23rd February 2000 aged 85.
Click
here to view clips of the minutes silence for Stanley Matthews
Listen
to the Boothen End chant his name
