1974seasider
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Some names on both sides
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Teamsheet for Stanley Matthews testimonial 1965
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OneStepBeyond
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Score?
This is Ska
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Incredible collection of players
Marcusbeansontoast
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Where was it played?
Tiptree Tangerine
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Love the touch that the Lino's come from Blackpool and Stoke
GrahamwantshisOates
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Copied a nd pasted:-
When the protagonist is carried off the pitch after a testimonial match on the shoulders of legends like Ferenc Puskás and Lev Yashin, one can assume that a very special career has just come to an end. The star of this particular game was Stanley Matthews, the first professional footballer to be knighted while still an active player by Queen Elizabeth II. His testimonial match at Victoria Ground, the stadium of Matthews' home club Stoke City, on the 28th of April 1965 marked the end of a career that had no equal.
It all began when Stanley Matthews, blessed with the talent and absolute will to become a professional footballer, signed his first contract with Stoke City on his 17th birthday. There, the right-winger quickly made a name for himself and two years later "the Wizard of the Dribble” was called up to the England national team. After playing nearly 300 games for Stoke – despite being robbed of what were supposed to be his best years in football by World War II – Matthews transferred to Blackpool FC in 1947 at the age of 32. 14 years and over 400 games later, he returned to Stoke City. He ended his professional career there four years later at the age of 50. For his farewell he invited the who’s who of national and international football. And the stars answered his call.
Sir Stanley Matthews’ XI
Sir Stanley Matthews’ XI, or simply Stan's XI, featured three players who had starred alongside him at Blackpool and Stoke City - Tony Waiters in goal, Jimmy Armfield in defence and substitute John Ritchie. Matthews had hoped that Bobby Charlton and Denis Law would also feature but Manchester United played the last two games of their League campaign that week and both players were unable to make it. Four players from Matthews’ team – Armfield, Georg Cohen, Ron Flowers and Jimmy Greaves, went on to represent England in the 1966 World Cup the next year, winning the first and only title for their country.
28-04-1965, 19:45
SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS XI 4-6 INTERNATIONAL XI
Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent
Attendance: 34,450
Referee: Arthur Ellis; Linesmen: Ken Parr & R Capey
Goals: Douglas (2), Greaves, Ritchie; Puskas (2), Masopust, Kubala, Henderson, Van den Boer
Sir Stanley Matthews XI
Tony Waiters - Jimmy Armfield, George Cohen - Johnny Haynes, Ron Flowers, Jim Baxter - Stanley Matthews, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Gilzean, Bryan Douglas, Cliff Jones
International XI
Lev Yashin - Kai Johanneson, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger - Svatopluk Pluskal, Jan Popluhar, Josef Masopust - Willie Henderson, Raymond Kopa, Alfredo Di Stefano, László Kubala, Ferenc Puskas|
International XI
On the side of the International XI, the starting line-up included Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, who would also reach the World Cup Final a year later. But as a German national player he would not come out as champion. Behind Schnellinger, legendary Russian goalkeeper Lev Yahsin stood between the posts and, according to newspaper reports, showed a strong performance without which his team would probably have lost. The three Czechoslovakian runners-up of the 1962 World Cup, Svatopluk Pluskal, Jan Popluhar and Josef Masopust, played in midfield. The naturalised Spanish trio of Kubala, Puskás and Di Stefano spear-headed the attack with both Puskás and Kubala making the scoresheet. According to Matthews’ autobiography, the International XI also featured the German Hans Schäfer, a 1954 world champion, and Hans Tilkowski, Wolfgang Weber, Wolfgang Overath and Uwe Seeler, four additional future runners-up from 1966.
The star of the game steps down
The two global superstars Ferenc Puskás and Lev Yashin also played a leading role in the emotional climax of the evening. After the game, they made sure Matthews got the exit worthy of a living legend. While the official crowd of almost 35,000 spectators sang "Auld Lang Syne", the two stars lifted Sir Stanley Matthews onto their shoulders and carried him off the pitch. By the way, the game ended 6-4 for the International XI. But at this point, nobody really cared.
When the protagonist is carried off the pitch after a testimonial match on the shoulders of legends like Ferenc Puskás and Lev Yashin, one can assume that a very special career has just come to an end. The star of this particular game was Stanley Matthews, the first professional footballer to be knighted while still an active player by Queen Elizabeth II. His testimonial match at Victoria Ground, the stadium of Matthews' home club Stoke City, on the 28th of April 1965 marked the end of a career that had no equal.
It all began when Stanley Matthews, blessed with the talent and absolute will to become a professional footballer, signed his first contract with Stoke City on his 17th birthday. There, the right-winger quickly made a name for himself and two years later "the Wizard of the Dribble” was called up to the England national team. After playing nearly 300 games for Stoke – despite being robbed of what were supposed to be his best years in football by World War II – Matthews transferred to Blackpool FC in 1947 at the age of 32. 14 years and over 400 games later, he returned to Stoke City. He ended his professional career there four years later at the age of 50. For his farewell he invited the who’s who of national and international football. And the stars answered his call.
Sir Stanley Matthews’ XI, or simply Stan's XI, featured three players who had starred alongside him at Blackpool and Stoke City - Tony Waiters in goal, Jimmy Armfield in defence and substitute John Ritchie. Matthews had hoped that Bobby Charlton and Denis Law would also feature but Manchester United played the last two games of their League campaign that week and both players were unable to make it. Four players from Matthews’ team – Armfield, Georg Cohen, Ron Flowers and Jimmy Greaves, went on to represent England in the 1966 World Cup the next year, winning the first and only title for their country.
28-04-1965, 19:45
SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS XI 4-6 INTERNATIONAL XI
Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent
Attendance: 34,450
Referee: Arthur Ellis; Linesmen: Ken Parr & R Capey
Goals: Douglas (2), Greaves, Ritchie; Puskas (2), Masopust, Kubala, Henderson, Van den Boer
Sir Stanley Matthews XI
Tony Waiters - Jimmy Armfield, George Cohen - Johnny Haynes, Ron Flowers, Jim Baxter - Stanley Matthews, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Gilzean, Bryan Douglas, Cliff Jones
International XI
Lev Yashin - Kai Johanneson, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger - Svatopluk Pluskal, Jan Popluhar, Josef Masopust - Willie Henderson, Raymond Kopa, Alfredo Di Stefano, László Kubala, Ferenc Puskas|
International XI
On the side of the International XI, the starting line-up included Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, who would also reach the World Cup Final a year later. But as a German national player he would not come out as champion. Behind Schnellinger, legendary Russian goalkeeper Lev Yahsin stood between the posts and, according to newspaper reports, showed a strong performance without which his team would probably have lost. The three Czechoslovakian runners-up of the 1962 World Cup, Svatopluk Pluskal, Jan Popluhar and Josef Masopust, played in midfield. The naturalised Spanish trio of Kubala, Puskás and Di Stefano spear-headed the attack with both Puskás and Kubala making the scoresheet. According to Matthews’ autobiography, the International XI also featured the German Hans Schäfer, a 1954 world champion, and Hans Tilkowski, Wolfgang Weber, Wolfgang Overath and Uwe Seeler, four additional future runners-up from 1966.
The two global superstars Ferenc Puskás and Lev Yashin also played a leading role in the emotional climax of the evening. After the game, they made sure Matthews got the exit worthy of a living legend. While the official crowd of almost 35,000 spectators sang "Auld Lang Syne", the two stars lifted Sir Stanley Matthews onto their shoulders and carried him off the pitch. By the way, the game ended 6-4 for the International XI. But at this point, nobody really cared.
Ball on Fire
Well-known member
I went to the game and still have the programme with all the team changes. 17 of these players didn’t play (10 from the International X1 and 7 from Stan’s X1). Manchester United had a very important League game that same night and Liverpool were playing in the Cup Final the following weekend. I think Jimmy Armfield must have been injured as he didn’t play and neither did Denis Law, Bobby Moore, Ray Wilson, Roger Hunt or Bobby Charlton. The missing players from the International X1 included Eusebio, Gento, John Charles, Overath and Seeler. Pele wanted to play but was refused permission by Santos/Brazil. FA.
Ball on Fire
Well-known member
Before the game there was a Post War Favourites game, 20 minutes each way. Bert Trautmann, Tom Finney, Don Revie, Nat Lofthouse. Jimmy Hill and Danny Blanchflower played alongside Blackpool favourites Stan Mortensen, Harry Johnston, Jackie Mudie, Hugh Kelly and Jock Dodds.
Last edited:
Ball on Fire
Well-known member
Jimmy Armfield didn’t play, George Cohen and Bobby Thomson (Wolves) were the full backs for Stan’s X1. Kopa didn’t play for the International X1, Van Den Boer (Belgium) took his place. Both teams used 1 sub. Nine of the 5 German players listed in Stan’s autobiography played — Schaefer, Tilkowski, Weber, Overath & Seeler.Copied a nd pasted:-
When the protagonist is carried off the pitch after a testimonial match on the shoulders of legends like Ferenc Puskás and Lev Yashin, one can assume that a very special career has just come to an end. The star of this particular game was Stanley Matthews, the first professional footballer to be knighted while still an active player by Queen Elizabeth II. His testimonial match at Victoria Ground, the stadium of Matthews' home club Stoke City, on the 28th of April 1965 marked the end of a career that had no equal.
It all began when Stanley Matthews, blessed with the talent and absolute will to become a professional footballer, signed his first contract with Stoke City on his 17th birthday. There, the right-winger quickly made a name for himself and two years later "the Wizard of the Dribble” was called up to the England national team. After playing nearly 300 games for Stoke – despite being robbed of what were supposed to be his best years in football by World War II – Matthews transferred to Blackpool FC in 1947 at the age of 32. 14 years and over 400 games later, he returned to Stoke City. He ended his professional career there four years later at the age of 50. For his farewell he invited the who’s who of national and international football. And the stars answered his call.
Sir Stanley Matthews’ XI
Sir Stanley Matthews’ XI, or simply Stan's XI, featured three players who had starred alongside him at Blackpool and Stoke City - Tony Waiters in goal, Jimmy Armfield in defence and substitute John Ritchie. Matthews had hoped that Bobby Charlton and Denis Law would also feature but Manchester United played the last two games of their League campaign that week and both players were unable to make it. Four players from Matthews’ team – Armfield, Georg Cohen, Ron Flowers and Jimmy Greaves, went on to represent England in the 1966 World Cup the next year, winning the first and only title for their country.
28-04-1965, 19:45
SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS XI 4-6 INTERNATIONAL XI
Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent
Attendance: 34,450
Referee: Arthur Ellis; Linesmen: Ken Parr & R Capey
Goals: Douglas (2), Greaves, Ritchie; Puskas (2), Masopust, Kubala, Henderson, Van den Boer
Sir Stanley Matthews XI
Tony Waiters - Jimmy Armfield, George Cohen - Johnny Haynes, Ron Flowers, Jim Baxter - Stanley Matthews, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Gilzean, Bryan Douglas, Cliff Jones
International XI
Lev Yashin - Kai Johanneson, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger - Svatopluk Pluskal, Jan Popluhar, Josef Masopust - Willie Henderson, Raymond Kopa, Alfredo Di Stefano, László Kubala, Ferenc Puskas|
International XI
On the side of the International XI, the starting line-up included Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, who would also reach the World Cup Final a year later. But as a German national player he would not come out as champion. Behind Schnellinger, legendary Russian goalkeeper Lev Yahsin stood between the posts and, according to newspaper reports, showed a strong performance without which his team would probably have lost. The three Czechoslovakian runners-up of the 1962 World Cup, Svatopluk Pluskal, Jan Popluhar and Josef Masopust, played in midfield. The naturalised Spanish trio of Kubala, Puskás and Di Stefano spear-headed the attack with both Puskás and Kubala making the scoresheet. According to Matthews’ autobiography, the International XI also featured the German Hans Schäfer, a 1954 world champion, and Hans Tilkowski, Wolfgang Weber, Wolfgang Overath and Uwe Seeler, four additional future runners-up from 1966.
The star of the game steps down
The two global superstars Ferenc Puskás and Lev Yashin also played a leading role in the emotional climax of the evening. After the game, they made sure Matthews got the exit worthy of a living legend. While the official crowd of almost 35,000 spectators sang "Auld Lang Syne", the two stars lifted Sir Stanley Matthews onto their shoulders and carried him off the pitch. By the way, the game ended 6-4 for the International XI. But at this point, nobody really cared.
Ball on Fire
Well-known member
He certainly did. I remember going to games with my Dad in the late 1950s, mainly home games but a few away games in Lancashire as well. The teams would be read out about half an hour before Kick Off and the loudest cheer of the day was reserved for Matthews if he was confirmed as playing. Blackpool are still the only team in the whole history of English football to attract over 1 million fans to their away games, This was achieved in the 1950/51 season (21 games, average attendance per game was over 47,000) and this record will surely never be beaten.