1915: Born Hanley, February 1st. Third of four sons of Jack Matthews, "The Fighting Barber".

1929: Joined Stoke at age of 14, sweeping dressing rooms and charged with cleaning 46 pairs of boots.

1932: Turned professional and made Football League debut aged 17 at Bury.

1933: Helps Stoke to second division championship.

1934: First England cap against Wales, aged 19 years and 240 days.

1936: Stoke finish fourth in division one - still their best performance.

1937: Only England hat-trick against Czechoslovakia.

1939-46: Plays in 30 wartime internationals.

1948: Footballer of the Year; transferred to Blackpool for £11,500.

1948: Lost 4-2 to Manchester United in FA Cup final.

1951: Second Wembley defeat, 2-0 against Newcastle.

1953: The Matthews Final: Blackpool beat Bolton 4-3.

1954: Aptly listed as St Matthews in programme during World Cup in Switzerland.

1956: European Footballer of the Year.

1957: Wins 54th and final England cap against Denmark in World Cup qualifier in Copenhagen, aged 42 years and 103 days; European Footballer of the Year; awarded CBE.

1961: Returns to Stoke in £2,500 deal.

1963: Footballer of the Year again; Stoke promoted; oldest player to score in a league game, aged 48.

1964: Oldest player to score in the FA Cup, aged 49.

1965: Awarded a knighthood while still active; plays against Fulham aged 50 years and five days then retires after 710 league games for Stoke and Blackpool - later says he quit too soon. Becomes manager of Port Vale.

1967: Decides management is not for him and embarks on lifelong role as roving ambassador for football.

1987: PFA merit award.

1992: FIFA Gold Merit Order.

1995: February 1st - 80th birthday.

2000: February 23rd - News of his death is announced at the age of 85.