On May 15th 1957, Denmark entertained the English team in Copenhagen, a World Cup qualifier. It was Stanley Matthews' last international, which England won 4-1. At 42 years and 103 days he was the oldest to play for England. Tommy Taylor, a Busby Babe, scored two, with Johnny Haynes and John Ayteo, one each.
A few years earlier, in the summer of 1954, Matthews went into the record books as the oldest outfield player to represent England at the World Cup Finals, though Tom Finney at 36 yrs and 64 days, is England's oldest scorer in a World Cup tournament, having found the USSR net in the 1958 finals-a penalty in a 2-2 draw in Gothenburg. England played three group games that year; drew with USSR, drew with Brazil 0-0, drew with Austria 2-2. Then England lost the Play Off v USSR again 0-1.
Matthews' first cap had been won at 19 years of age against Wales in 1934 and he held a regular place in the England team for 23 years, winning surprisingly only 54 caps- War and England playing fewer internationals in those days, obviously contributed to this.
Only two others have played for England and been older: Peter Shilton (40y 292d) and Alec Morten in the 1873 (reputedly either 40 or 42!), some say he was 41y 113d; both were goalkeepers. We know about Shilton......
Morten was born on 15th November 1831 and played older than any other England (Scottish?) international footballer! Now there's a fact for you! He played for Scotland on March 5th 1870 v England at The Oval.
He played for The NoNames of Kilburn (you should know about this club), The Wanderers, another famous early football club and Crystal Palace FC between 1863-74. He turned out for Scotland once in 1870 in the country's first team and England once as captain in March 1873. He was named as "the best goalkeeper in the World" at the time, playing for London XI v Sheffield in 1874, a prestigious match after which he retired and later sat on the FA Council from 1874-5, appearing as an "Umpire" for later matches. He died on 24th February 1900.
AND just to bring the Spurs into the afternoon's writing, on May 15th 1963, Spurs beat Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the European Cup Winners Cup Final in Rotterdam...but I have mentioned this before!
Assuming the link below works for you, do have a look at this past blog that covers the 1963 ECWC Final, Spurs v Atletico.
btw THE OLDEST player presently playing is Kazuyoshi Miura at 54y 1m 6d!! at Yokohama since 1986, by April 1st 2021 (not a joke) still turning out, having played 37,384 mins of competitive football, scoring 163 goals with 52 assists!! So much for the seafood and noddle diet!!
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