The Way It Was

Stanley Matthews was the most popular footballer of his era, the man who epitomised a generation of legendary players: Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse, Billy Wright and many more. He was the first footballer ever to be knighted, the first European Footballer of the Year (at 41), and he played in the top division until he was 50 - and he will be forever remembered for his performance in the Matthews FA Cup final of 1953, when he inspired Blackpool to victory over Bolton. THE WAY IT WAS is a the fascinating memoir of a great footballer and the remarkable story of an extraordinary life, written in the last months of his life.

“THE WAY IT WAS is a ticket to a different era, when the game wasn't saturated with money and men like Sir Stanley upheld sporting ideals”

'...both a fascinating personal story and an evocation of a sporting world that has gone forever.' W Magazine

There is a heartfelt, elegiac quality [to] THE WAY IT WAS ... It is only a pity he is not here to see it published - Chris Maume, Independent

'A first summary of the life, on and off the pitch of England's greatest player' Express

The book is an appropriate and nearly always engrossing chronicle of an illustrious career, and good to have - Ian Hamilton, Sunday Telegraph

'his engrossing autobiography' Times

'impossible to imagine any of today's football stars ever producing a memoir half so interesting' Mail on Sunday

Especially rewarding, though, are Stan's descriptions of his technical perfectionism - Brian Glanville, Sunday Times

A fascinating and amusing insight into the inner workings of football during its golden era - Saul David, Daily Telegraph

- Mike Pattenden, Times

Stanley Matthews was born in 1915 and began his career at Stoke City. He made his England debut in 1934 and went on to win 54 caps by 1957. He retired from the game in 1965, when he was knighted, then travelling the world as a football ambassador. He died in Newcastle-under-Lyme in February 2000.

"This translation of one of Rodolfo Kusch's most important works marks a significant step in the energetic conversation that has emerged over the last decade among postcolonial, indigenous, and Latin American studies. A translation of Kusch's work has been sorely needed, both to complement the writing of scholars including Walter D. Mignolo, who have drawn from and discussed Kusch, and to stand alongside translations of books by other Latin American and Caribbean intellectuals including

Stanley Matthews was the most popular footballer of his era, the man who epitomised a generation of legendary players: Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse, Billy Wright and many more. He was the first footballer ever to be knighted, the first European Footballer of the Year (at 41), and he played in the top division until he was 50 - and he will be forever remembered for his performance in the Matthews FA Cup final of 1953, when he inspired Blackpool to victory over Bolton. THE WAY IT WAS is a the fascinating memoir of a great footballer and the remarkable story of an extraordinary life, written in the last months of his life.

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