19 March 1932: Stanley Matthews, 17-year-old winger, makes his debut for Stoke City in a 2-1 league win over Bury at Gigg Lane.
In March 1932 away at Bury, 17 year old Stanley Matthews made his professional debut and he would go on to become one of the greatest players in English football.
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It was at Bury on 19 Match 1932 that Stoke introduced their latest local talent, Stanley Matthews who at the time was described at the time as a 'promising outside right'.
Stoke started the 1932–33 season brilliantly winning 13 from their first 18 matches, with Joe Johnson, Joe Mawson, Robert Liddle and Stanley Matthews in fine form.
Stoke started the 1934–35 season by losing 4–1 at Sheffield Wednesday but then quickly made amends by beating Leeds United 8–1 in their opening home match with Stanley Matthews scoring four goals which earned him his first England call up.
The first goal came after 10 minutes as Steele headed in a Stanley Matthews cross.
The family atmosphere within the club was still thriving, with the directors encouraging players to pay a 'thrift scheme' which would help the club financially but they received a major jolt when Stanley Matthews disputed the level of benefit to which he was entitled at the end of the season.
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However the season was dominated by a contract dispute between the board of directors and that of Stanley Matthews.
The season was expanded until June due to a poor winter weather wise and on the final day of the season Stoke needed to beat Sheffield United to claim their first league title, but with the unhappy Stanley Matthews now moved on to Blackpool, Stoke lost 2–1 and ended up in 4th position.
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By October the saga involving Stanley Matthews and McGrory reared its ugly head again this time after the manager had asked the England winger to 'prove his fitness' in the reserves.
Blackpool, Stanley Matthews et al., were drawn out to host Fenton's Cup heroes.
Subsequently known as "The Matthews Final", Stan Mortensen, Blackpool's top scorer in all competitions that season, scored a hat-trick in the match.
And Waddington pulled off a master stroke after paying £3,000 to Blackpool for the returning 46-year-old Stanley Matthews.
Despite a slow start Stoke went on two fantastic unbeaten runs and although there was a nervy end to the season a Stanley Matthews inspired 2–0 over Luton Town in the final home match secured Stoke both promotion to the First Division and the Second Division title.
The pre-season saw general manager Stanley Matthews injured in a car accident with a National Coal Board lorry on 29 July, Jackie Mudie was also in the car but remained relatively unharmed.
Steve McManaman was awarded man of the match and this match was dubbed by Liverpool fans as "The McManaman Final" due to the nature of his performance, earning plaudits from special guest, Sir Stanley Matthews.
Stanley Matthews was on the Stoke team, and later said he was sickened that the game was allowed to continue.
Keys Park was officially opened by Sir Stanley Matthews later that year in a ceremony that included a friendly against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Keys Park was officially opened by Sir Stanley Matthews later that year, in a ceremony that included a friendly against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In 1962 Moreland had a written guarantee that the great Stanley Matthews would play eight games with the club.
Sir Stanley Matthews was the only footballer to be knighted while still playing.
There are ceramic memorials in the church to many of the great potters of the district and there is a fine modern memorial to the great football player Sir Stanley Matthews.
In April 1962 Pugh organized a tour to Bermuda during which the county played a soccer match against the island team with Stanley Matthews guesting for Gloucestershire.
In one of his last games for Germany, Kohlmeyer faced Stanley Matthews at Wembley on 1 December 1954, in an international friendly between England and West Germany.
He effectively marked English centre forward Ronnie Allen and also helped out covering Stanley Matthews.
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Stanley Matthews was playing his first season for Blackpool and they led the favourites 2-1 only to lose to United, who hadn't appeared in an FA Cup Final for 39 years, won 4–2, with two goals from Jack Rowley and one apiece from Stan Pearson and John Anderson.