BEFORE Sir Stanley Matthews returned to Stoke City League gates at the Victoria Ground were down to 4,000.

But after signing, screened live on Sportsnight, from Blackpool back in October, 1961, his first game attracted more than 35,000.

Such was the pulling power of the 46-year-old wing wizard.

The return of the prodigal son, who had started his career at Stoke before finding FA Cup glory at Blackpool, was down mainly to Albert Henshall, the Stoke City vice-chairman of the day.

He had been visiting Blackpool when he spotted a story in the evening paper reporting Matthews had been dropped and had asked for a meeting with the Blackpool directors.

New Blackpool boss Ronnie Stuart was prepared to let the England international go for £3,500.

Sir Stanley recalls: "I couldn't believe the Blackpool chairman refused to waive the fee after I had given 14 years to the club.

"My knee had been painful for a couple of years but I don't think Stoke knew about it.

"Blackpool did and they evidently thought the money would be more useful.''

By chance the two clubs stayed in the same London hotel while preparing for a game.

Stoke manager Tony Waddington seized the opportunity and made an approach.

Sir Stan said: "I talked with Tony Waddington for an hour and asked him to make me an offer.

"He suggested £50 a week with £25 appearance money and a two-year contract.

"I suggested a year because I felt two years might boomerang on the club.

"I had been in Toronto the previous summer playing with people like Danny Blanchflower and Jimmy Hill. I was getting £100 a week so maybe I was worth more than I asked from Stoke.

"Yet my motivation for going was not for money, I just wanted to keep playing the game I loved.''

When he joined City were 19th in the Second Division.

They finished the season eighth and were Division Two champions the following year.

He played in 35 of the 42 games to collect his second division championship medal.

And in true Roy of the Rovers fashion scored the second goal in the 2-0 home win over Luton in the game which clinched the title.

Sir Stan said: "I was happy to go back. It was where I started. The same wooden floor in the dressing room, the same boot room where I cleaned boots.

"Yet I was so nervous. It was the first time I had evidence that I had such drawing power.''

Tony Waddington earlier said: "His arrival was like a fairy-tale.

"He rekindled the atmosphere in the dressing room and the city.

"I sensed the difference in the players who suddenly oozed confidence and he was instrumental in the signing of Dennis Violett and Jimmy McIlroy.''

And gates of 4,000 at Stoke were not to be seen again in his playing days.

First Published: March 3 2000