A city mourned. Thousands lined the streets for Stoke legend Sir Stanley Matthews’ funeral on March 3, 2000.
Big names attended the service, including Sir Bobby Charlton and Gordon Banks. Sir Tom Finney and Nat Lofthouse were also there, alongside sports minister Kate Hoey. Comedian Nick Hancock joined them at St Peter’s Church, with Jack Charlton, Adrian Heath, and former defender Denis Smith also paying their respects.
The route went through familiar streets, streets Sir Stan walked as a boy and as a Stoke City star. The cortege passed his statue in Hanley.
It started at the Britannia Stadium. The procession paused at St Luke’s School, where pupils and staff stood silently amidst red and white decorations. Kids wore carnations matching Stoke’s colors. The cortege also stopped at the old Victoria Ground’s entrance and paused at Sir Stan’s statue too.
Over 400 kids stood outside St Luke’s Primary, where he attended from 1920 to 1929. He once scored 11 goals in one game. Louise Crane was just 11 that day.
She said that it wasn’t just about football, but that Sir Stan was good to everyone. The attention on his school felt strange, but behind everything was a lovely man, whose absence felt sad to many.
Ronald Holmes met Sir Stan as a boy and again at his 80th birthday. He called Sir Stan an incredible man. A pupil met Sir Stan and got promised souvenirs. Two weeks later, he got badges and a signed menu featuring big names like Sir Bobby Charlton. Sir Stan visited the school and greeted the pupil, Shaun. That’s the sort of man that he was.
Michael Hampton said Sir Stan never forgot his school. He always visited when he could. The headteacher said they were all sad at his loss, and Hampton felt they should celebrate his life.
It rained as the procession stopped at his home. Crowds stood under gloomy skies moments before. One person said it was “tears from Heaven.”
Glyn Evans said it sent a shiver through him. Sunshine reappeared ten minutes later, and he thought the house should be a shrine. Norman Harrison laid flowers earlier, saying it felt very emotional in Penkhull and he was happy the cortege stopped there.
People saw him regularly in Penkhull. He’d walk to the shops, and Kenneth Pattinson often walked with him. He said he was fast, even in his 80s.
Stan moved there to see the Victoria Ground, surprising many. Mr. Pattinson’s son asked what to call him, and he said: “Just Stan.”
Lillian Morris wore red and white. She and her husband once got offered tickets from their neighbor, Sir Stan. Mrs. Morris already had a season ticket. He offered them a ride to the stadium, a ride Mrs. Morris still treasures. She thought the turnout was excellent and called him a great man.
The atmosphere felt like a matchday. The streets were filled with red and white near the old Victoria Ground. Karen Boswell wanted to pay respects there.
John Price felt the passion at the ground. He thought of Stanley Matthews and said that the atmosphere was electric. He called Sir Stan the most fantastic player and believed Stoke was in his blood. There was nothing like watching him play, and he said it was sad to lose him and the stadium.
Sir Stan’s funeral drew huge crowds in Stoke, rivaling the Santa parade and even a royal visit. The service was shown at his statue. Mavis Mayer summed it up perfectly, saying she felt proud to be there and proud to be from Stoke.