60 years since one of football's greats played to a packed crowd in South Shields - and he loved it!
‘The marvellous people of South Shields love their football and are right behind their club’
A footballing legend had this to say about South Tyneside when he played in front of a 10,000-strong crowd 60 years ago.
“I am amazed that South Shields gets such crowds. Gate wise, they are doing better than many League clubs,” said Sir Stanley Matthews as he turned out for Port Vale in 1966.
A floodlit challenge match was held at Simonside Hall in South Shields and it was Sir Stanley who requested the game as a recognition of the club’s growing reputation.
He wrote a letter to South Shields FC to say: “The marvellous people of South Shields love their football and are right behind their club.”
It was eagerly anticipated and the Shields Gazette said at the time: “Obviously, this is a great scoop for the Shields club.”
It described the forthcoming game as a ‘gala occasion’ which would attract fans from all over the North East.
The prediction was spot on and the spectators were treated to a thriller, especially as Matthews was not the only well known player in the Vale team at the time.
Sir Stanley, then 51 years old, was joined by his right flank partner from his Blackpool days, Jackie Mudie, then Vale’s player manager.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw and Sir Stanley said: “I am amazed that South Shields gets such crowds. Gate wise, they are doing better than many League clubs.”
During the match, he delighted the bumper crowd with flashes of his trademark mazy runs.
A great day for South Shields and another footballer was in the area.
Scottish international Jim Baxter, then playing for Sunderland FC, was in town to open Prince Edward Road’s Youth Club’s new coffee bar.
About 40 youngsters at the club had been working for six months to redecorate the room and they turned out in force to see Jim pour the first cup of coffee.
Another famous visitor to the area was singer Dickie Valentine who was starring at the Latino in Crossgate. He was on twice a night at 8pm and midnight.
In between was a cabaret at 10pm and the Les Bailey girls were also on the bill.
Do you remember Sir Stanley Matthews playing at South Shields? Or have you seen another celebrity grace the South Tyneside area?
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