Sports History

A plaque marks the birthplace of Sir Stanley Matthews in Stoke-on-Trent.

BBC Radio Stoke and the pottery manufacturers, Wedgwood organised the honour to be placed on the house in Seymour Street in Hanley.

James Ramsden, a breakfast show producer at BBC Radio Stoke at the time, explained:   "We ran a story on the house when it came up for sale some years ago. In an offhand way, I asked the estate agent if there had been a plaque erected there.  He said 'No', and so I suggested we get one".

Tom Finney

Sir Tom Finney, the Preston and England player who was a colleague and friend of Sir Stan, was there for the ceremony.

Tom was joined by other friends and family which included Jean Gough (Sir Stanley Matthews’ daughter), former Stoke City legend Terry Conroy and Cameron Gough aged 4 (Sir Stanley Matthews’ Great Grandson).
Other guests included BBC Radio Stoke's Nigel Johnson and the then city Mayor, Mike Wolfe.

The plaque was fixed to the wall of 89 Seymour Street, the place where Sir Stanley, who played 54 times for England, was born in 1915.

Sir Stanley was one of the most famous footballers of his generation and in 1964 became the first player to be knighted. He died in 2000

'Footballer and gentleman'

Of course, to Stoke City fans, his footballing achievements need little introduction but his football skills really were admired world-wide.

Furthermore he was highly regarded for his character off the field. The plaque testifies to this fact honouring him as both 'footballer and gentleman'.

His daughter Jean Gough said she was delighted that people remembered him.
"I've been very lucky to meet people that have lived here for years and they have fond memories of him," she told BBC Midlands Today.
The terraced home was offered for use as a museum at one time, but there has so far been little interest in the idea.