The Way It Was

My Autobiography

The classic football memoir, now available as an ebook

‘An absolute magical player. I loved him’ Sir Bobby Charlton

‘A god to those of us who aspired to play the game’ Brian Clough

‘The man who taught us the way football should be played’ Pelé

Sir Stanley Matthews was the most popular footballer of his era and the game’s first global superstar. He was the first footballer to be knighted, the first European Footballer of the Year (aged 41), and he played in the top division until he was 50. His performance in the ‘Matthews final’ of 1953, when he inspired Blackpool to victory over Bolton, is widely considered the finest in FA Cup history.

Here, in his own words, and showcasing his unique humour, is a sporting gentleman who epitomised a generation of legendary players: Sir Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse, Billy Wright and many more. The Way It Was: My Autobiography is filled with characters, camaraderie, drama and insight, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how football, and society, have changed over the last century. It is a fascinating memoir of a great footballer, and the remarkable story of an extraordinary life.

Praise for The Way it Was

‘A ticket to a different era, when the game wasn't saturated with money and men like Sir Stanley upheld sporting ideals’ The Times

‘There is a heartfelt, elegiac quality [to] The Way It Was… it is only a pity he is not here to see it published’ Independent

‘Brings vividly to life some of the greatest games of the time and features his perceptive analysis of the characters who illuminated the age’ Independent

‘A gracefully crafted autobiography filled with entertaining anecdotes reflecting an age when the game was uncorrupted by greed’ Birmingham Post

‘A fascinating and amusing insight into the inner workings of football during its golden era’ Daily Telegraph

‘It is impossible to imagine any of today’s football stars ever producing a memoir half so interesting’ Mail on Sunday