SSFC V Altrincham NPL 05 10 68 69-01
Image details
| OCR |
continued from page 4 THIS IS GREATNESS ing over the controversial transfer . However , Sir Stanley moved to Black pool , and in his very first season , he helped them to the Wembley F.A. Cup Final where they lost 4-2 to Manchester United . But during his stay at Blackpool , he helped them to three Wembley Finals all fold , indeed , three finals in the space of six years . In 1950-51 they lost 2-0 to Newcastle United , but in 1952-53 came that long - awaited moment for Sir Stanley he collected his first Cup winners ' medal after scheming his side's dramatic 4-3 victory over Bolton Wanderers . The world once again , saluted him as the greatest player of all time , and labelled the Bolton game as " The Matthews ' Final . " It was glory all the way for Sir Stanley but possibly his greatest personal glories were yet to come . For in October , 1961 he retraced his steps and rejoined an ailing Stoke City for the give - away transfer fee of £ 2,500 . If I were asked which transfer the history of football has proved to be the biggest bargain , this must surely be it . When he rejoined Stoke , City's average gate was a poverty - stricken 9,000 which wasn't enough for the club to pay it's weekly way . Stoke were sliding helter - skelter for the Third Division when the " Old Maestro " came back ... but his very first game attracted 40,000 worship ping spectators who gave Sir Stanley a welcome he will never forget . The average attendance had doubled by the end of the season , and Stoke sold more season tickets than at any time in their history . Stoke also had an overdraft of £ 80,000 when Matthews returned to them ! What did Matthews mean to them ? First of all , the club had a resur gence of support ; their Supporters ' Club was galvanised into a machine raising more than £ 3,000 a month . The overdraft was slashed by more than half and plans were drawn up for offices , dressing rooms and a new stand at a cost of £ 150.000 . The club was able to spend £ 27,000 on Jimmy McIlroy and £ 50,000 on such players as Dennis Viollet , Eddie Clamp and Eddie Stuart . All this for a paltry investment of £ 2,500 . There could surely be no greater tribute to any man than that . Now Sir Stanley is general mana ger of tonight's visitors . Port Vale , and I , for one , am wondering what he will do for THIS club . What a man he is . Capped 54 times for England ; twice named Foot baller of the Year ; awarded the accolade of knighthood : awarded the C.B.E. There are also other awards , too . He is a Companion Rat in the Grand Order of Water Rats , the famous show business organisation ; in 1957 the then Gold Coast Commissioner presented him with a West African Chief's Stool , a symbol of chieftain ship in West Africa ... and dozens more . This , then , is the man , we will see tonight . Simonside Hall will never be quite the same again for tonight , on this glittering gala occasion , Simonside , Hall is for a few hours the very heartbeat of world football because Sir Stanley Matthews , C.B.E. , is with us . Sir , you are our honoured guest . A souvenir programme covering all the matches to be played in the final competition of the World Cup next July is being produced . The programme will cost 2s . 6d . and the packing and postage charged on a single copy will be 9d .; on 12 copies 3s . 6d . , on 50 copies 7s . 6d . , and each additional 50 , 7s . 6d . It is hoped that copies will be available for despatch by July 11 , the opening day of the tournament . Orders should now be sent to The Football Associa tion , 22 Lancaster Gate , London , W.2 . The Northern Press Ltd. , South Shields and Alnwick No 000389 SOUTH SHIELDS FOOTBALL CLUB PROUDLY PROCLAIMS WELCOME SIR STANLEY ON THE OCCASION OF HIS HISTORIC VISIT TO SIMONSIDE HALL MONDAY , APRIL 25th 1966 South Shields V. Port Vale XI CHALLENGE MATCH Kick - off 7.15 p.m. SUPPORT THE MARINERS W SOUVENIR PROGRAMME PRICE 6d . A great moment for a great man . Sir Stanley Matthews , C.B.E. , is joyously carried shoulder high by brilliant Russian goalkeeper , Lev Yashin ( left ) and Hungarian inside forward wizard Ferenc Puskas ( right ) . The occasion : April , 1965 , when the world's soccer stars gathered for Sir Stanley's testimonial game at Stoke . CALLING ALL SOUVENIR - HUNTERS ... THE ABOVE SPACE IS YOURS FOR SIR STANLEY'S AUTOGRAPH |
|---|