[jambutty]

For me it has to be the 1953 FA Cup Final between Blackpool and Bolton played at Wembley on the 2nd May 1953. What came to be known as the Matthews Final. Why? Because at that time Stanley Matthews had won every football medal that is was possible to win in England except a Cup Final Winners medal. It was reckoned that at 38 years of age it was his last chance to win it after missing out in 1948 and 1951.

As a small aside, in the first round proper Accrington Stanley won 2 – 1 away to Horden CW (who?) but then lost 2 – 0 at home to Mansfield.

Bolton’s route to Wembley was by beating Fulham at home 3 – 1 in the 3rd round proper, then 1 – 0 at home to Notts County in the 4th round, then beating Luton 1 – 0 away. In the Quarter Final Bolton went to Gateshead and won 1 – 0 and demolished Everton 4 – 3 in the semi.

Blackpool’s trip was a bit harder. They beat Sheffield Wednesday 2 – 1 away, then Huddersfield 1 – 0 at home. In the fifth round Blackpool could only draw 1 – 1 with Southampton at home but won the replay 2 – 1. In the Quarter Final Blackpool beat Arsenal 2 – 1 away and Tottenham Hotspurs 2 – 1 in the semis.

My employer Uni-Relay on Abbey Street had set up what was then a large TV (17/19 inch?) in a room upstairs so that the employees could watch the final.

With George Farm in goal Blackpool lined up with No 2 Eddie Shimwell at right back, No 3 Tom Garrett at left back, No 4 Ewan Fenton at right half, No 5 Harry Johnston at centre half and No 6 Cyril Robinson at left half. The formidable forward line had No 7 Stanley Matthews at outside right, No 8 Ernie Taylor at inside right, No 9 Stan Mortensen at centre forward, No 10 Jackie Mudie at inside left and No 11 Bill Perry at outside left.

With Stan Hanson in goal Bolton lined up with No 2 John Ball at right back, No 3 Ralph Banks at left back, No 4 Johnny Wheeler at right half, No 5 Malcolm Barrass at centre half and No 6 Eric Bell at left half. The forward line had No 7 Doug Holden at outside right, No 8 Willie Moir at inside right, No 9 Nat Lofthouse at centre forward, No 10 Harold Hassall at inside left and No 11 Bobby Langton at outside left.

Strange positional names for the modern person but in those days football teams lined up 2 – 3 – 5.

100,000 spectators (plus goodness knows how many watching on TV and even listening to the commentary on the wireless) roared as the match kicked off. Within two minutes Nat Lofthouse maintained his record of scoring in every round so far by opening the scoring for Bolton. I sat glumly in my seat whilst others in the room leaped around cheering.

I was supporting Blackpool because Stanley Matthews was my footballing hero and during the war I lived on Bloomfield Road in Blackpool right across the road from the football ground.

30 minutes of cut and thrust football saw neither team gain an advantage until Mortensen equalised with a deflected shot. My joy was short lived when with just five minutes to go to half time Moir scored for Bolton. Shortly after the re-start Bell added a third for Bolton and for me the writing was on the wall as I sat crestfallen in my seat deaf to all the cheering around me.

Suddenly with some 20 minutes left to play Matthews and Blackpool galvanised into action. Time and time again Taylor whipped the ball out to Matthews who turned Banks, the left back, inside out and left him either sat on the floor mesmerised or floundering in his wake. A perfect cross saw the Bolton keeper fumble the ball and Mortensen pushed the ball home.

The next fifteen minutes was frantic action in the Bolton goalmouth as Blackpool strived for the equaliser. Perry missed a sitter and I groaned with disbelief only to see Mudie do the same, then Hanson saved point blank from Mortensen.

Just as I was beginning to resign myself to Blackpool losing 3 – 2 they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Mortensen stepped up and crashed the ball into the net. 3 – 3 and game on.

With mere seconds to go, once again Taylor swung the ball out to Matthews on the wing and yet again he bamboozled the unfortunate Banks and centred a cross that was behind Mortensen but Bill Perry was following up and he lashed the ball into the net.

Bolton barely had time to take the kick off before the referee Mr. M Griffiths (Newport) brought the proceeding to an enjoyable end - for me and the supporters of Blackpool FC. To be fair though the Bolton supporters were magnanimous in their defeat and were pleased that Stanley Matthews had finally got his FA Cup Winners Medal.

How could I have remembered all the details? Well I haven’t but I have just bought a DVD of the 1953 FA Cup Final from Amazon for under £15. Other finals are available.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Matthews
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Matthews#Playing_career

There will never be another footballer like Stanley Matthews.