Wizard of Dribble, Matthews, dead

His starring performance was in the FA Cup final when he inspired a stunning Blackpool fightback from 3-1 down against Bolton, setting up three goals for striker Stan Mortenson with his runs and crosses. Blackpool won 4-3 and Matthews, a runner-up in 1948 and 8217;51, finally won his FA Cup medal.

Matthews made his debut for his local club Stoke at the age of 17 and the first of his 54 England appearances at age 19 against Wales in 1934.

Still playing in 1963, he became the oldest player to score in a league game at the age of 48 and was knighted while still active at the age of 50. Matthews made 710 appearances for Stoke and Blackpool.

He was known as The wizard of the dribble8217; and tempted a British record crowd, 149,547, to Hampden Park in Glasgow for a Scotland-England game.

After his retirement, he went to live in South Africa but also became an ambassador for soccer and received a Fifa Gold Merit Order in 1992.