Full name:Stanley Matthews
Position:Outside right
Date of Birth:1 February 1915
Place of Birth:Hanley, England
Height:5’10”
Weight:158 lbs

Playing career:

SeasonTeamGpdGls
1947-1948Blackpool
1948-1949Blackpool
1949-1950Blackpool
1950-1951Blackpool
1951-1952Blackpool
1952-1953Blackpool
1953-1954Blackpool
1954-1955Blackpool
1955-1956Blackpool
1956-1957Blackpool
1957-1955Blackpool
1958-1959Blackpool
1959-1960Blackpool
1959-1960Blackpool
1960-1961Blackpool
1961Toronto City
1961-1962Blackpool
1961-1962Stoke City
1962-1963Stoke City
1963-1964Stoke City
1964-1965Stoke City
1965Toronto City
1965-1966

Bio:

Joined local club Stoke City in September 1930. Made his debut in March 1932.

Transferred to Blackpool in May 1947 for £11,500.

1940-1945:

“Guested ” with several Scottish clubs during the war, including Morton.

1950:

Toured Canada with the English Football Association international team.

1960-1961:

Played in 29 of Blackpools 42 First Division games in the 1960-61 season. Suffered an injury in January that kept him out of several games.

1961:

Signed for Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League club Toronto City in April 1961.

Scheduled to arrive on 3 May 1961. Flew from London on arrived at Dorval Airport in Montreal on 4 May on a T.C.A. plane. Greeted at the airport by a lagre group of journalists that included many from Toronto, including Ed Waring of the Globe and Mail.

Said to have signed a $100 per week contract, but rumored to receive between $600 and $800 per game for Toronto City due to fringe benefits. This included living expenses and $250 per game.

Made his ECPSL debut for Toronto City against Toronto Italia on 20 May. A cheering crowd of 16,509 saw the Italia win 3-2. Stan had one assist for Toronto City.

On 24 May he scored one goal and had one assist as Toronto City beat Montreal Cantalia 5-1 at Varsity Stadium in front of 7,515 fans. Matthews scored direct from a 40-yard free-kick.

On Thursday June 29 Toronto City travelled to Vancouver.

Played his last game for Toronto City on Wednesday 9 August when City defeated Toronto Italia 3-1. Left Toronto for England after the game.

1961-1962:

Returned to Blackpool when he went back from Canada to England. Moved to his first club Stoke City in October 1961. Helped the club to promotion from the Second to the First Division.

1962:

1964-1965:

Played his last game for Stoke City on 31 March 1965. On 28 April Stoke City held a benefit game for him.

1965:

On Wednesday 14 April 1965 Toronto City president Steve Stavro announced that Matthews had signed a contract. The contract said that he would play for Toronto City for six weeks in May and June.

Arrived in Toronto on Monday 11 May 1965 accompanied by his wife Lady Elizabeth. Attended the Toronto Inter-Roma versus Montreal game at Varsity Stadium on 13 May.

On Saturday 15 May he played in his first game for Toronto Cit as they lost to Montreal Italica before a crowd of 6,567 at Varsity Stadium. He failed to appear the next day for the reverse game in Montreal as he had suffered a slight back injury on the Saturday.

On Thursday 20 May he went to New York to take part in a television program called “Tell The Truth”.

Played his last game for Toronto City on Saturday 19 June against Hamilton Primo in Toronto. The visitors won 4-2.