Game mourns loss of one of its great names

Sir Stanley Matthews, one of England's greatest players and twice European footballer of the year, has died aged 85.

Matthews, who turned professional with Stoke at the age of 17, was capped 54 times for England and made 710 Football League appearances for Stoke and Blackpool.

Matthews, who was knighted in 1965, made his last Football League appearance in the same year at the record-breaking age of 50 years and five days.

In his retirement, Matthews became an ambassador for football and received a FIFA Gold Merit Order in 1992.

Matthews rewrote many record books with his feats, but his shining moment came in the 1953 FA Cup final. Twice a losing finalist with Blackpool in 1948 and 1951, Matthews stood 20 minutes away from a third defeat with his team 3-1 down to Bolton. Then his dazzling footwork carved out the last two goals of a hat-trick for Stan Mortensen, and Matthews went on to set up the winner for Bill Perry with 20 seconds left.

Despite Mortensen's treble, it was a game which would always be remembered as "the Matthews final".

Matthews was born in Hanley on February 1st, 1915, the third of four sons. He joined Stoke in 1929 at the age of 14 as an apprentice and spent his time cleaning boots and sweeping out the dressing-rooms.

Within five years, Matthews won his first England cap against Wales while still a teenager. And in 1937, he hit his only international hat-trick in a 5-4 win over Czechoslovakia.

At Matthews's 80th birthday celebrations, former England captain Jimmy Armfield praised his skills and sportsmanship. "You could kick him and do anything with him and he would never retaliate," said Armfield. "He was the perfect example of self-discipline. I never remember a referee speaking to him once - and he didn't speak to them either."

Matthews, known as "the Wizard of the Dribble", was a crowd-pleaser to generations and tempted a British record crowd of 149,547 to Hampden Park in Glasgow. But he never earned more than £50 a week, plus £25a-game bonus.

On the announcement of his death last night the tributes to Matthews came flooding in.

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson, who was told the news upon his arrival at Wembley for last night's England friendly against Argentina, described his immediate reaction as one of "grief".

Robson, who described himself as a "close friend" of Matthews, said: "He was one of, easily, our greatest, greatest players. He would have played in today's game, he would have adapted - don't you worry about that.

"He had immense skill - great skill off the ball, a beautiful dribbler. I'm very sad at the news."

Matthews died at North Staffordshire Nuffield Hospital following a short illness, the hospital said.

A spokesman for the private hospital in Newcastle under Lyme said: "Sir Stanley Matthews died peacefully this evening after a short illness related to health problems that had first seriously affected him three years ago.

"We have no further statement at this time."

David Davies, executive director of the Football Association, described Matthews as "a legend who did not disappoint.

"He was a great, great player. As a child, I was thrilled when I watched him. I knew then he was a legend and I was lucky later in life to meet him and unlike some legends, he did not disappoint when you met him.

"He was a great ambassador and served football all over the world long after many players have packed it in. Our country should be very proud of him and very sad tonight."

Asked if the new Wembley Stadium might include a monument in memory of Matthews, Davies said: "He will be remembered in a proper way - he was a legend worldwide".

Tom Finney, one of Matthews's England team-mates, said 1st night: "I've so many memories of Stan and he was the greatest in my era in terms of close control. In those days you weren't expected to go back and tackle and his game was attacking the fullback.

"I can recall on so many occasions him having great games for England."

Former Germany manager and defender Berti Vogts said: "It's a very sad day for world football.

"Unfortunately I only ever saw Sir Stanley Matthews play on television but you could see what a fantastic player he was.

"They called him the wizard of dribble and he was well respected throughout the entire world of football which has lost one of its great names."