A winger of superb trickery and skill, Matthews' majestic performance on the wing in the 1953 FA Cup Final led for the match to be dubbed 'The Matthews Final', so great was his contribution. He was the first footballer to be knighted, he played the game until he was 50 years old, and was an England international for a record 22 years.
He is a legend both at Stoke City and at Blackpool, where he served with distinction on both wings as the archetypal attacking winger.
Outside the Britannia Stadium in Stoke is a statue of the great man which reads "His name is symbolic of the beauty of the game, his fame timeless and international, his sportsmanship and modesty universally acclaimed. A magical player, of the people, for the people."
That tells you everything you ever need to know about one of English football's greatest players.