The Way It Was

Stanley Matthews was the most popular footballer of his era, the man who epitomized a generation of legendary players: Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse, Billy Wright, and many more. He was the first footballer ever to be knighted, the first European Footballer of the Year (at 41), and he played in the top division until he was 50. He will be forever remembered for his performance in the Matthews FA Cup final of 1953, when he inspired Blackpool to victory over Bolton. The Way It Was is the fascinating memoir of a great footballer and the remarkable story of an extraordinary life, written in the last months of his life.

Stanley Matthews was born in 1915 and began his career at Stoke City. He made his England debut in 1934 and went on to win 54 caps by 1957. He retired from the game in 1965, when he was knighted, then travelling the world as a football ambassador. He died in Newcastle-under-Lyme in February 2000.