THE MAESTRO AT BOOTHFERRY PARK

COLIN ALLAN UNCOVERS ALL THE INFO ABOUT STANLEY MATTHEWS APPEARANCE AT HULL CITY IN 1956

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I HAVE long regarded Stanley Matthews as England's greatest-ever footballer (apologies to Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore fans).

Although I never saw him play in person, I have watched his finest game - the 1953 FA Cup final - many times on DVD. The way he mesmerised Bolton's defenders in the last 20 minutes of that epic match was truly amazing.

Blackpool won that iconic encounter 4-3 and it is remembered as the Matthews Final, even though his team-mate Stan Mortensen was credited with a hat-trick of goals.

Considering my admiration for 'The Maestro', imagine my interest when a friend recently told me that he had seen Matthews play at Hull City's Boothferry Park.

Unfortunately, my chum couldn't remember the date, apart from it being in the 1950s. However, he did recall that it was a high-scoring game.

Knowing that my hero had played on the hallowed turf of my once-beloved Boothferry Park was enough for me to launch into frenzied football research.

I knew that Matthews had played for Blackpool throughout the 1950s. But there was no record of a league match between the two clubs.

So, did they meet in the FA Cup? Again, I drew a blank. Then, surely, it was a testimonial match for a long-serving player? That would account for a high-scoring game as such matches often lack a true competitive spirit and afford more freedom for attackers.

Unfortunately, there was no record of Stanley Matthews playing in a testimonial match in Hull.