TAILORED MADE FOR FOOTBALL

Tomorrow would have been Stanley Matthews' birthday; he would have been a 100. Matthews was regarded as one of the great post War players and he played at Stoke City (born there), then Blackpool where he helped his side win an FA Cup final after three attempts between 1948 and 1953. Matthews returned to Stoke in the early 1960s, playing his last game, as a professional, at the age of 53. He was remarkably fit and often made his right back colleague, in those days, Jimmy Armfield, a very good player because he was so industrious. When the Blackpool manager called Jimmy into his office to break the news that he had been selected to play for England, he was told to make sure he thanked Stanley for making him look so good. This is Sir Stanley at Stoke in his '50s.

On the other hand there is Reece Oxford who is on the bench today for West Ham United and at 16 years and 46 days, if he makes an appearance, he will be the youngest to play in the Premier League.

Today, I was measured for a suit and my better half insisted on Huddersfield Cloth, so we went to Owen Scott-Bespoke Tailor in 'Town and looked at some his kit. I noticed a couple of blue and white footballs in the shop and this morning Huddersfield were at home to Leeds-where better to be when there is THE West Yorkshire derby- in 'Town- and it was great to have a conversation topic, while I was being told I need a 36” not a 34” waist. WHOOPS.

Owen Scott is a very cool dude, who still plays “a bit”and I would urge you to look at his website which has photos of local sports' stars who wear his successful cloth. I won't spoil the surprise for you-LOOK!

His assistant is a student at the local uni who is doing some work experience, on his Business Studies course. Joshua Lockwood comes from a well known and historic local family. Joshua plays football and once we got chatting, it turned out he had played football for his old school, Queen Ethelburger's from York at my old place, Charterhouse, in the ISFA Cup. He remembered the school vividly, for its architecture and especially it's pitch, looked after by David Roberts and Jason Hunter, the two very knowledgeable groundsman at the school. David was the “curator” at Southampton FC before he transferred to Charterhouse to nurture one of the best playing surfaces in the country-go and SEE.