A SILVER BUST OF FOOTBALL LEGEND SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS (1915-...

Hammer

£1,700

A SILVER BUST OF FOOTBALL LEGEND SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS (1915-2000)

by Asprey, London 2001, realistically cast portrait bust, head looking slightly to dexter, finely chased hair and features, plain polished and mounted on a tapering black lacquer plinth, a plain silver plaque to the front. 37cm high overall, 98 troy ounces gross

By repute, the silver bust of Sir Stanley Matthews was a bespoke order placed with Asprey and replicated just three or four times (including this one) for a charity event. It was designed to be presented as an award at a sports industry function. This limited edition model was purportedly bought directly from Asprey and then passed down by descent to the present owner.

Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE (1915–2000) was born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, the Lionel Messi of his day. Winner of the first Ballon d'Or award in 1956, he was twice voted Footballer of the Year, played 54 times for England (scoring 11 goals and tearing Brazil apart at Wembley in the process), played in two World Cups and was part of the England team which won the British Championship 9 times. He made 697 appearances for Stoke City and Blackpool, scored 71 goals and played at the top level until he was 50.

He was knighted in 1965, the only player to receive a knighthood while still playing professionally. A lightning-quick winger with fantastic dribbling ability, his presence could add an extra 10,000 supporters to any away game in which he played. Franz Beckenbauer said that the speed and skill Matthews possessed meant that "almost no one in the game could stop him."

On his retirement from playing, Stan had a brief spell in management before turning to coaching young players, famously ignoring the South African apartheid regime to found a team of black players in Soweto, taking them to play in a tournament in Rio.

Stan passed away in 2000, aged 85. As his funeral wound through Stoke, 100,000 people lined the streets to pay respects to one of England's greatest footballing sons.

"Stanley Matthews taught us the way football should be played." - Pele
"I grew up in an era when he was a god to those of us who aspired to play the game. He was a true gentleman, and we shall never see his like again." - Brian Clough