SUPPOSE
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1947.
STANLEY MATTHEWS, wizard of dribble, continues
the story of his football life
How a psychiatrist made
an off-colour footballer
would you ridicule a fiction writer who chose a plot in which his hero was a professional foot- baller who had lost this nerve, but as a result of treatment from a psychiatrist went on the field and scored freely?
I would have joined in the -scoffing until I saw this very thing happen to Freddle Steele, Stoke City's centre forward. I shall always regard him as one içaders an of the unluckiest England team ever had.
In 1938-39 season Freddie's spirits had sunk pretty low. An old knee injury was troub- ling him, he was worried about his wife, who was expecting a baby. Altogether seemed black.
A leg injury kept him out of the England XI, against The Rest in the international trial at Burnley on March 17, but in spite of this the. England selectors chose him for the gruelling test against Scotland at Hampden Park the following April.
score
I had, of course, heard about this war-ery of the Scottish football fan, had never previously cx- but pericheed IL Those of you who have never heard the "Roar cannot ap preciate the effect it has on a player, It shook me and my colleagues in
This was a great day for Stoke because Joe Johnson was selected as the outside left, and I was chosen for the right wing-the first time in three the history of our club that players had been chosen for England atainot Scotland, although Rowley, Clare and Underwood, former Stoke the England team. players, had once provided the Eng- land defence against Ireland.
.
again
only twelve minutes remaining the game was as good na over.
4
To make Scotland's win even more
McPhail headed convincing,
the third goal three minutes from end, and so we lost 3-1 after having outplayed the Scots in the
Grat half.
Even Scottish Journalists consider ed England to be a little unlucky, and some declared it was the best England eleven seen at Hampden in
If over a match was won and Inst by a roar it was this game, You There is only one mad twist to this could sense the enthusiasm of the Stoke record, and that is that Eng- land were beaten 3-1 before 149,407 d being transfused into the velns, years.
of the Scottish players. Two the biggest crowd for any football minutes after the second half Franke of match with the possible exception of O'Donnell equalised. The credit the first Cup Final at Wembley be this goal must go to Tommy Walker, West who seized a pass from the wing, tween Bolton Wanderers and
delightful und O'Donnell with a through-pass,
.
last
It was our first win at Hampden .since 1927 and was to be the
official international match between England and Scotland for eight years owing to war.
This time it was England who were a gal down after 20 mlautes. The roar was as great as ever, the bagpipes screamed loudly, and it rained as it has never rained be- fore.
MATTHEWS SPARKLES ON THE WING
Bootland 1 England 2.2
FOR the first time since 1927 the magic of the Hampden.ruar falled, only just. I doubt I have eyer seen a more enthralling game at Hampden Park In all the years I have watched these internationals.ov
Fackend's victory belang nonla kamuun, jolie "b" 2500
teams were:
}
From the Sunday Express, April 16, 1019.
the air in shter exuberance. The lower medical grade, and excused marching, drilling and P. T. duties for four months. Scotland: Dawson (Rangers), And so the speedy young Black- Carabine (Third Lonark), Cummings pool forward ho was playing (Aston Villa); Shanikiy (Preston Inside left at this time-missed the NE), Baxter (Middlesbrough). Me last two month of the 1943-44 sea- Nab (West Bromwich Albion); Mc- son, Spadyen (Partick Thistle), Walker (Hearts), Dougal (Preston N.E.). Venters (Rangers), Milne (Middles- brough).
weeks
д
Cricket helped his knee
and
England: Woodley (Chelsea);
(Ar- DURING the summer he played Morris (Wolves), Hapgood
cricket for Blackpool Services and senal); Willingham (Huddersneld Town), Cullis (Wolves), Mercer impressed as a first-class wicket- (Everton); Matthews (Stoke City), keeper. The continual rising Hall, G. W. ('Spurs), Lawton (Ever bending helped to strengthen the in- 1044-45 football season came rupecialist
Morten- ton), Goulden (West Ham), Beasley Jured knee, and when the
at (Huddersfield Town).
sen consulted another Newcastle, who dashed any hopes Freddle Steele played part of
Stan had, confirming the opinion of But this time nothing could under- season with a loosa cartiloge.
the other doctors that there Was mine our confidence or spirits. The teams that day were:
Well, Stanley Mortensen, the cartilago trouble. Nevertheless, things had not gone
Hls advice to Stan was that he Bcotland: Dowson (Rangers), An-
(Preston too well at the start. Apart from young Blackpool forward, stopped
because he should take a ball out and kick it derson (Hearts), Beattie
a playing for
hard,
That would decide one way. N.E.); Massic (Aston Villa), Simpson the handicap of playing agairat (Rangers), Brown (llangers); De- strong wind that blew the rain into thought he had cartilage trouble, 1. our faces, sometimes blinding our
His "cure" was amazing. It all or the other.
On his first day back at Blackpool (Celile), Walker
Heavision. Jimmy Dougal, the Presion
knee for Blackpool against (Rangers), Duncan (Derby County), centre forward, put Scotland in front be playington injured his right he was walking on the sands where
Male after 20 minutes. English: Woodley ster
Rochdale in 1944. He visited tour a crowd of RAF. boys were kicking
a football.
Stan remembered the advice (Arsenal),
It was a "gift" goal. It had come specialists over a period of (Everton).
consultation had been given and running up, took City); Britton
Young about when the defence passed back weeks, and after each
hall was advised to undergo an operation one great tick. The next moment (Huddersfield Town), Bray (Man- to the gonkeeper, and the
he was doubled in pain, belleving he Dougal, for the removal of a cartilage. Matthews (Stoke
Finally ho visited the M.O. at the had broken his leg. City), Carter (Sunderland), Steele alowed up in the mud, and
Mortensen bos nover heen troubled ing position, nipped in before Wood RAF, camp where he was stationed Johnson (Stoke City).
ley was able to get to the ball,"
as an air-gurner and wireless opera- with that leg since. (Stoke City), Starling (Aston Villa), who did not appear to be in a scor-
The wind and rain abated in the tor. second half.
his world om in 1923 when the crowd broke zig-zagged his why goalwards, and fancy F. (Preston NE.),
In the first half of the season he scored only nine rouls, and Stoke were in a dangerously low position in the League.
in, and anything between 130,000 and 200,000 saw the
Came Jed Scotland 1-0 at half- England time as the result of a gont by Steele five minutes before the interval after Ronnie Starling and Joe Jolinson had irlcked Scotland's defence.
As the match progressed so did the roar become more terrible for us. Il shook our confidence and left our
legs a tile uncertain.
As the roar grow in volume so did Scotland seem to get a stronger grip
on the game.
I knew within myself we could not now win. Our nerves had cracked. McPhail beat Vic and when Bob
The England team played excep half. Every- He was rested, and while tionally well, in this doctors could not decide whether thing had worked to the plan dia- We had been told to swing the ball to recommend an operation for cussed at our hotel after breakfast.
make cartilage it from wing to
wing, and to the removal of a was the opinion of many of his gap down the middle for. Stecte.
Cliffe Britton, of Everton, and Jack friends that the root of the
would be found in Bray, of Manchester City, were the Woodley from Afteen yards out with trouble
ay men behind England's Freddie's mind rather than white Al Young, the Hiddersteld Town "stopper," was to break up the his knee.
attempts of Walleer and McPhail to int Frank O'Donnell through.
in
He had developed an feriority complex, and was so depressed that once or twice he confessed he doubted if he would ever play football again.
McGrory SUR- Eventually Bob
consult gested that Freddle should n.well-known nerve specialist in the
Potteries.
Steele visited the psychiatrist twice A day for several weeks. The treat ment was carried out in the doctor's study.
IL
The room was darkened, Freddle sat on one side of the fireplace while the specialist, who always wore dark suit, sat on the other side.
two All Steelc could see were piercing eyes staring at him, though .occasionally he would catch a glimpse of the features of the doctor in the Alekering Arclight.
I
Plan, worked well
attack.
WAS opposing Andrew Beattie
for the first time. This was Beattie's debut in A Hampden game, and although in the years that followed Andy and I have had some exciting duels, the luck was in my favour on the and Beattle could do little more than chase my shadow.
occasion.
the
With Johnson and Starling sending *Raich" across sweeping passes to Carter and myself, the Scottish de- tence was for ever caught on wrong foot, and we were indeed happy set of boys when we left the fleld at half-time five minutes after Steele had given England the lead.
George Male, the England captain. and Alf Young, were 11ght-hearted during the interval. Alt was de-
things way Steele. lghted at the insisted specialist should talk about his chlidhood, his working out." domestle lite, and his dreams.
The
A footballer's dreams
attention was given to dreams, and Freddie slept with
SPECIAL
his
a pencil and notebook beside bed so that he could jot down in- cidents, no matter how trivial crazy, Immediately he awoke.
Jay after day the voice behind the two piercing eyes assured Lim he That ne was a great footballer. could go out and score goals If he so desired.
showed
was the
The trentiment soon promise of success, because i noticed by Bob McGrory and players that Freddie was far happier than before,
Bome
He arrived at the ground mornings whistling, and was certain- ly more confident. He once admit- ted the nets were looking larger than -ever before.
Stoke decided to give him a run with the first team akainst Hudders- feld, and on the Friday he went off to his specialist. After a long ses- sion the doctor implored him. not to let him down the next day.
were
"Perlups' we were over-confident.- Perhaps we had underestimated the fighting spirit of Scotland.
Perlaps we had not bargained for
lae intensity of the Hampden Roar.
+
O'Donnell,
chrester
Barkna
City);
Luck in my favour
England went on the attnek, but although we were undeniably on top of the Seats, and only the mud- when we laid the Hampden, larking of that wonderful goalkeeper bogey, beating Scotland Jerry Dawson, of Glasgow Rangers,
2-1 with a goal by
kept us out, it was 20 minutes be- Lawton from my
fore we equalised, when Pat Beasley, разя 00
the Huddersfield Town left-winger. second #
from time, playing for Fulham. cracked the
hall past Dawson,
IE only consolation to that
Tdefeat tame 10 Years later,
THE MASTER AT WORK
• Stanley Matthews bamboozles Frank Brennan,
Scotland's contra half.
Family
This goal restored our confidence, and the Scots became a little shaky, but it was not until 30 seconds from the final whistle that we hut de- #nitely smushred the Hampden bogoy.
as
I recall the winning move though it were yesterday. The re- feree was glancing at his waten, and the game looked a certala draw. Then Len Goulden, England's Inside- and the Ack left, darted ncross
1 cut inside slipped the ball to me. and down the wing. I could see the sturdy form of Tommy Lawton cush ing goalwards so I centred.
went
It worked
perfectly. Up Tommy, and that shining black head nodded the ball into the net.
Rome
give The M.O. decided not to Mortensen time off duty for the operation, but Stan was put in
William
Hickey
Sir Stafford spoke
before he saw
WHEN
д
Sir STAFFORD CRIPPS formally declared
open an exhibition of Modern Men's Wear in London recently, he did so before actually in specting the various notions be ing displayed..
It was just as well,
Next Week Black Saturday-the Dalton Disaster
ho
of us share her burning devotion to the Italian people. Recently, at 12 public luncheon, she urged us to try to understand them better, to help them more, to take them again unto our bosoma.
For years Miss Jacob'mado her home in Italy, preferring what she calla her adopted country to this in- calculable bało,
During the absence forced upon her by the circumstances of war, it appears the Germans once threaten- ed to conflacate her villa. At which her loyal servant expressed mast volubly her intention of defending the property with her very life. If be, a gesture so bewilderingly un-Italian as to shock the Nazis into instant retreat.
..
Now Miss Jacob is going back home, to be once again with her own. folks.
* POLITICS Speaking of Italy, our- rent report has it that some odd kind In his speech he declared himself of malds have served FRANCESCO Premier of "all in favour of more colour and SAVERIO NITTI, who was novelty." But had the frugal Cripps Italy in pre-Fascist days,
One of them, Eletra Pollastrim, seen the colourful novelues to which
hls having left Nitti's household, won he was being asked to give Ministerial blessing, the odds are he for herself a seat as a Communist in Assembly. would have frowned on auch wastage the
Constituent un-of time, and returned at top speed They meet regularly in the House but now paintedly look the other to the Board of Trade,
way.
The England team could hardly contain its excitement as we shook hands like school-kids.
Eddle Hapgood; normally demonstrative. danced on the pitch, a few and in the dressing-rooin
Intu minutes later passed his boots
A NEWS-GAME FOR EVERYONE
Double or Quits
WHO ARE THE
EXPERTS
IN YOUR HOME?
of a
zerland?
PEOPLE
VOI mention that the
Italian
talks
At least I hope so.
His present maid used to work for will gather what I mean Nitti's most bitter enemy, the lato
allow
Signor Mussolini. She still included feverishly patterned bench about the Duce with deep respect. shorts lounging pyjamas decorated. "He was always kind to me," she with Zulu warriors, a yellow sult told her new employer, apologetical-" with elbow length sleeves and col- ly. "He only scared me once,
check tweed berets, was when he suddenly entered larless revers, evening
battledress suits, and pale dining-rom dressed as an admiral." lilae dress shirts.
Hendquarters of the
that
tho
None
of these (I think, fortunately) MEDICINE
оссиру may be purchased. None is being British Medical Association
the site in Tavistock-square of the manufactured.
war,
Viewing it simply as an exhibition "house where between 1851 and 1880 "Great showing possibilities rather than CHARLES DICKENS wrote likelihoods, in men's fashions, credit Expectations," "Little Dorrit," "A goes
of course, to its ex-Service. Tale of Two Cities," and designers, many of whose ideas have House,
When adding
a wing to been evolved from the raiment of
building in 1939, there had to bo
"Bicak
their
But I am afraid there are few men removed a mulberry tree, and from 'chairman's with the courage, if one can call it this have been made a that, to wear their creations.
gavel and block.
The B.M.A. Council are handing LITERATURE In the profession of over the Dickens relics, so they may they authorship there are
out be taken to America. There Swit-spoken
or na homespun as Mias will be presented to the American So she will not Medical Association during Its con- NAOMI JACOB. mind a suggestion here that not all tenery at Atlantic City.
few as
he
DAVID LANGDON CARTOON
TOWARDS the end of each 2. How old is Jean Simmons, who to be taking a cure at Karlovy Vary. country's Minister in Berne,
month, the Hongkong Tele- played the part of Estella as a girl Where is the place? In "Great Expectations?" graph presents on this page a
2. Which Dutch town has adopted news-game patterned on the 3. A dlm was shown in Hong-, a proposal forbidding anyone "sitting
1. Which well-known American
hinted that went famous Double-or-Quits radio kong during the month made from or lying in the company Freddle didn't, either. He
Pulitzer prize novel written by a member of the opposite sex on or at politician recently out and scored, and furthermore feature.
Tientsin-born author. What is thon public highway, a dyke, the verge, might form a third party to contest went on to score ten goals in live
name of the picture?
of a road, its slopes or its bottam?” the 1948 presidential elections? League matches.
Here's how you play: For What is even more remarkable is each topic there are five ques- received by the King at Buckingham 4. A veteran actor was recently
9. In which of China's provinces some border the fact that all the time he was
there recently was tions based on this month's Palace, and presented His Majesty playing with a loose cartilage!
He later underwent an operation news as reported in Hongkong with a scroll on behalf of the Brush Aghting after it was reported that
treatment that newsnapera, The success of any
Choose the topic United States Club of Los Angeles. troops of another state had crossed myke a player with cartilage you think you know best. Poli. Who was the actor?
5. Which well-known American
4. Which of the Indian States trouble go out and score goals in bries for Father? Sport for singing star has just algned en have announced that they would not yond all doubt.
Lucky Dip for agreement with J. Arthur Rank to join the Constituent Assembly? I certainly would not believe It Young Tom? to have been possible had I not seen į Mother? Give them their choice, make a film in England this year? it for myself,
can
I said earlier I considered Steele
A correct answer for the first
to be a brilliant centre forward. Of question in each five gets one
cher
Ho
LUCKY DIP
course, I never saw Hughie Golla- | noint. From then on, it's double. 1. What do, the initials UNSCOP
or Dixie Dean at their best or-quils. So a correct answer stand for? forwards go, for though he stands to the second question can be only 5ft. Bins. he is not heavily bullt, worth 2 points, to the
Is. not big fellow as
2
centre
2. Britain has just lodged a with the United vigorous protest third states Government.
did it What
But auch Is his skill, speed and question 4 points, to the fourth concern? shooting powers that he is for ever dangerous to the best defence in the question 8 points.
country.
the frontier?
5. A certain group of islands off the English coast has been likened to a "tropical paradise." What is the name of the group of islands?.
POLITICS
commission
2. The head of a European state celebrated his 80th birthday, this inoath. Who?
3. Who la Menahem Belgin? 4. Naz! SS Colonel Skorzeny, recently arraigned for triet at Dachau and described on the most dangerous man in Europe, was responsible for resering a leading Axla personality from the Allies in September 1944. Who was the mon rescued?
name. of the 5. What is the Secretary of the United States Trea- sury Department?
SPORT
an
started 1. In which country was there a 1. Tudor Minstrel demonstration recently against odds-on favourite for this year's 3. General Elsenhower, who lo United Nations trusteeship?
English Derby, but the race was won ported to be thinking of resigning
by? And the fifth question, if the armed forces at the end of has just concluded its work of ad- ed on June 24. Can you name the
as Chief of Staff of the United 2. An International
2. The home football season end- Chosen when' he
previous four have been an the
elected justing the boundary between two win
winners of the four leagues? swered correctly, is worth 10 side has. Just been was 18
points. The 'real' famlly expert university?
4. Two new Dominions are shortly working as a pot-will get a total of 31 points. to be
be added to the British Com- Now, who's to be Question monwealth. What are they? Master. Fixed that? O.E. Get
& Carlton House Terrace in Lon- don is to be pulled down to make
home of an im way for the new portant government department. Which?
of a university, Which Asiatic countries. What countries 3. Yvon Petro, reigning Wimble-
EDDIE was ter when Stoke discovered him. He was only 18 at the time.
He began scoring regularly. He started.
chosen to lead the Football
League against the Irish League, and found on Page 12. the greatest honour in the game
The correct answers will be
came his way moon afterwards when
bo was plked for England In 1937. ENTERTAINMENT.
He had successful matches against long
PLACES
Wales at Cardiff and Ireland at 1. A famous British actor was 1. Andrel Vyshinsky, Soviet do Stoke,
[kalghted during the mouth. Who? puty foreign commissar, is reported
are concerned?
don title holder, was upset because, 3. Alcide de Gasper! has again instead of being "seeded" No. 1 for become
Premier of Italy. What the current championship, he was party does; he lead?
placed?
4. England beat South Africa in 4. President Truman's veto of a the second Test match at Lord's. By certain legislative measure has re-.
what fcently boen over-ridden by Congress.
What was the measure? ·
This is an easy one. On Thurs- day of this weak the £1,400 - golf tournament at Mere, Cheshire, was Which European country has decided; Was the winner an Eng- had a change of government this shiman Scotsman Irishman, month as a result of its Premier American, Belgian, Frenchman, handing in his resignation to his South African or Australian?
HAPPY HAMPSTEAD?
Blimey, Liz! One of me buttons porn