One of the Potteries greatest sportsmen. Stanley Matthews was born on February 1^st 1915 in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

Matthew's began his professional career in 1931 He made his debut at the age of 17 for the local First Division professional team Stoke City.

His subtle body swerves, acceleration and superb ball control unsettled virtually every defender he faced. At the age of 41, Matthews won the first-ever European Player of the Year award. In 1965 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first active football player ever to receive the honour.

Sir Stanley Matthews CBE
1915-2000
Footballer and Gentleman
Born here 1st Feb 1915

89, Seymour Street

birthplace of the famous footballer Stanley Matthews

Statue of the footballer Stanley Matthews
located at the Britannia Stadium - the Stoke City football ground

The three nine-foot statues were made by local artists, showing Sir Stanley at different stages of his career, which spanned more than 30 years.
The final resting place for the statues was Stoke City's new home Britannia Stadium. However, the statues point towards the club's old Victoria Ground, where Sir Stanley played.

St. Peter's community mosaic bench

Seat / Bench at St Peter's Close, centre of churchyard of St Peter's, close to the remains of the original Saxon Church and between the graves of Josiah Wedgwood and Josiah Spode 
 

The left hand end of the bench commemorates Stanley Matthews and looks forward to the future.
Below two roundels of the footballer, one showing him playing and the other featuring a head and shoulders of him as a young man.

Children have produced several designs featuring spacecraft and robotic dogs.  Flanking these are plaques commemorating modern industries in the area, including Michelin and Caudwell Communication, which produces mobile phones.