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SSFC V Bangor City NPL 10 10 69-70-05

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OCR	By ALF McMICHAEL ( MANAGER , SOUTH SHIELDS A.F.C. ) Capped 39 times at left back for Northern Ireland , 20 times as captain , and 13 years a Newcastle United star . UP AGAINST SIR STAN - AT 16 ! HO is the greatest winger you ever played against ? " If I had a penny for every time that question has been thrown at me , I could afford to have the Blarney Stone shipped to South Shields tomorrow .. Seriously though - and no Blarney ! -- my answer has always been this : Sir Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney were the two finest wingers I ever came up against . But if I were pressed to name the greatest , then Matthews the incomparable would be my choice . I feel the world will never again see another player quite like Sir Stanley . He had a style all his own ; a style that gave left backs sleep less nights ; a style which made him the world's soccer idol . I shall never forget my first introduction to him - for I was only 16 when I first played against him ! The Football League were due to meet the Irish League at Liverpool's Anfield ground , and both teams were named some time before . The stage was all set . Selected at left back for the Irish League was my old friend , Bud A'Hearne , skipper of Belfast Celtic , who was later to be transferred to Luton Town . However , a day or two before the game Bud had to cry off through injury . . . and I was pushed in at the deep - end . Can you imagine it ? A raw kid with a heart full of ambition , against the mighty Matthews . Nervous ? I may have been , but I felt great just to be sharing the same pitch as the " Maestro " . The Football League attack included such names as Matthews , Mannion , Lawton and Kippax , and we part - timers from the Irish League knew we were in for a tough afternoon . The result : We lost 4-2 , but after the game Sir Stanley stated to the Irish Press : " I think McMichael will make the grade . " I have never forgotten those remarks , and I was fortunate enough to later spend 13 exciting seasons with Newcastle United while playing 39 times for Northern Ireland , 20 as skipper . Every footballer needs a " push off " when he launches into a profes sional career , and I shall be forever grateful to Sir Stanley for those en continued on page 7 By Mr. Jack Leighton ( Chairman , South Shields A.F.C. T is my pleasure and my I privilege sincere welcome to Simonside Hall to Sir Stanley Matthews , C.B.E the most distinguished visitor in the history of our ground . I feel his very presence is a tremendous prestige boost for our club which , I am certain , will one day gain membership of the Football League . Sir Stanley comes not only to our club , but to our town and I know all our supporters will give him the manner of welcome for which we in the North - east are noted . No man has done more for soccer than Sir Stanley . He has been this country's perfect am bassador to almost every country in the world , and where ever his travels have taken him he has been greeted by the cheers of millions ; the admiration of the opposition ; and by the love of everyone . It is an honour to welcome this First Gentleman of football to South Shields an occasion which maintains and symbolises the great resurgence of spirit within our club . Sir Stanley , our town says : " Welcome . Make yourself at home . " continued from page 6 couraging remarks about a 16 - year - old whose heart almost burst with pride at the privilege of playing against him . All told , I played against Sir Stanley about 14 times at international and club level and each time was an unforgettable experience . How did I do against him ? Well , let's say I always enjoyed the challenge his magnificent ability posed me . This I will say : Never once in all our meetings on the field was a deliberate foul committed either way . Sir Stanley was always the perfect gentleman on the field ; a man who relied purely upon his un believable skill to beat a man - and that was pretty frequent . He was not a man to resort to seamy ankle taps or trips . He was above that and all the world knew it . His greatest asset ? Everything he did ! But no full back ever really saw through his fabulous repertoire . He would bring the ball to you ; even show you the lace holes ; and as soon as you moved to tackle he would be gone at lightning speed . and you hadn't a hope of catching him . He was so light on his feet , you didn't even hear him as he disappeared behind you like a ghost . Sir Stanley has received every honour football can offer . No tribute of mine could match those that have been paid him over the years , but Yes , Sir ! I still say he was the greatest footballer I have ever seen .

OCR

By ALF McMICHAEL
( MANAGER , SOUTH SHIELDS A.F.C. ) Capped 39 times at left back for Northern Ireland , 20 times as captain , and 13 years a Newcastle United star .
UP AGAINST SIR STAN - AT 16 !
HO is the greatest winger you ever played against ? " If I had a penny for every time that question has been thrown at me , I could afford to have the Blarney Stone shipped to South Shields tomorrow ..
Seriously though - and no Blarney ! -- my answer has always been this : Sir Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney were the two finest wingers I ever came up against . But if I were pressed to name the greatest , then Matthews the incomparable would be my choice .
I feel the world will never again see another player quite like Sir Stanley . He had a style all his own ; a style that gave left backs sleep less nights ; a style which made him the world's soccer idol .
I shall never forget my first introduction to him - for I was only 16 when I first played against him ! The Football League were due to meet the Irish League at Liverpool's Anfield ground , and both teams were named some time before . The stage was all set .
Selected at left back for the Irish League was my old friend , Bud A'Hearne , skipper of Belfast Celtic , who was later to be transferred to Luton Town . However , a day or two before the game Bud had to cry off through injury . . . and I was pushed in at the deep - end .
Can you imagine it ? A raw kid with a heart full of ambition , against the mighty Matthews . Nervous ? I may have been , but I felt great just to be sharing the same pitch as the " Maestro " .
The Football League attack included such names as Matthews , Mannion , Lawton and Kippax , and we part - timers from the Irish League knew we were in for a tough afternoon . The result : We lost 4-2 , but after the game Sir Stanley stated to the Irish Press : " I think McMichael will make the grade . "
I have never forgotten those remarks , and I was fortunate enough to later spend 13 exciting seasons with Newcastle United while playing 39 times for Northern Ireland , 20 as skipper .
Every footballer needs a " push off " when he launches into a profes sional career , and I shall be forever grateful to Sir Stanley for those en
continued on page 7
By Mr. Jack Leighton
( Chairman , South Shields A.F.C.
T is my pleasure and my
I privilege
sincere welcome to Simonside Hall to Sir Stanley Matthews , C.B.E the most distinguished visitor in the history of our ground .
I feel his very presence is a tremendous prestige boost for our club which , I am certain , will one day gain membership of the Football League . Sir Stanley comes not only to our club , but to our town and I know all our supporters will give him the manner of welcome for which we in the North - east are noted .
No man has done more for soccer than Sir Stanley . He has been this country's perfect am bassador to almost every country in the world , and where ever his travels have taken him he has been greeted by the cheers of millions ; the admiration of the opposition ; and by the love of everyone . It is an honour to welcome this First Gentleman of football to South Shields an occasion which maintains and symbolises the great resurgence of spirit within our club . Sir Stanley , our town says : " Welcome . Make yourself at home . "
continued from page 6
couraging remarks about a 16 - year - old whose heart almost burst with pride at the privilege of playing against him .
All told , I played against Sir Stanley about 14 times at international and club level and each time was an unforgettable experience . How did I do against him ? Well , let's say I always enjoyed the challenge his magnificent ability posed me .
This I will say : Never once in all our meetings on the field was a deliberate foul committed either way . Sir Stanley was always the perfect gentleman on the field ; a man who relied purely upon his un believable skill to beat a man - and that was pretty frequent . He was not a man to resort to seamy ankle taps or trips . He was above that and all the world knew it .
His greatest asset ? Everything he did ! But no full back ever really saw through his fabulous repertoire . He would bring the ball to you ; even show you the lace holes ; and as soon as you moved to tackle he would be gone at lightning speed . and you hadn't a hope of catching
him .
He was so light on his feet , you didn't even hear him as he disappeared behind you like a ghost .
Sir Stanley has received every honour football can offer . No tribute of mine could match those that have been paid him over the years , but Yes , Sir ! I still say he was the greatest footballer I have ever seen .