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Notes
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Legendary footballer Stanley Matthews, who began his football career playing for Stoke City in 1932), is shown about to take a kick at a football lying just in front of him. His weight is on his left foot, and his arms are away from his sides. The pose for the slightly smaller than life-size statue was chosen by Sir Stanley, who wanted to catch the moment when he transfixed his footballing opponent before sprinting away with the ball. The statue resulted from a chance meeting between the sculptor and Sir Stanley. It began as a portrait head only but, following favourable comment in the press, the clay head was repositioned on a new metal armature and a full figure developed. Some people complained that he was not depicted in his characteristically baggy shorts, but Stanley Matthews insisted he be shown in the more modern kit he wore when he returned to Stoke City towards the end of his career, in 1961.
Title
Sir Stanley Matthews (1915–2000)
Date
1987
Medium
bronze & yellow brick
Measurements
H 160 x W (?) x D (?) cm;
Plinth: H 180 x W 101 x D 101 cm
Accession number
ST1_IB_S009
Acquisition method
gift from Colin Melbourne, sculptor
Work type
Statue
Owner
Stoke on Trent City Council
Custodian
Stoke on Trent City Council
Work status
extant
Unveiling date
21st October 1987
Access
at all times
Inscription description
on plaques on the front of the pedestal, first plaque: SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS C.B.E. / Born Hanley 1st February 1915. / 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. / SCULPTOR COLIN MELBOURNE; second plaque: Stoke-on-Trent City Council. / This was unveiled by / Sir Stanley Matthews C.B.E. to commemorate / the completion of the Hanley Town Centre / Pedestrianisation on 21st October 1987 / Cllr. G.J. Tuck J.P. / LORD MAYOR / Cllr. R. Southern J.P. / LEADER OF THE CITY COUNCIL / Cllr. J.P. Birkin / CHAIRMAN HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE / C.F. Everitt B.Sc., C.Eng., M.I.C.E., M.I.H.T., M.Inst.W.M., / CITY ENGINEER / Main Contractor. C.J. Pearce & Co. Ltd.
