Sir Stanley Matthews made two visits to the Spencer Stadium in the course of seven weeks during October and November of 1966. The first occasion was the official opening of United’s new floodlights on Tuesday 4th October 1966 as Sir Stanley was at the time General Manager at Port Vale and had agreed to send down a Vale side for the occasion. Though he was no longer playing competitively he had willingly agreed to turn out for this game but unfortunately had been injured in a car crash earlier on in that season and was on the night not yet recovered sufficiently to play. The match had come about as he was an old friend, and playing colleague in the pre-war England team, of Len Goulden the then Banbury United manager. However, Sir Stan was so keen that he should not let Len down that he promised to return with a team a few weeks later and play himself.

“The wizard of dribble” was a term used to describe Stanley Matthews who was the first professional footballer to receive a knighthood. He was the son of a professional boxer and began his football career with his local club Stoke City. He was transferred to Blackpool in 1947 for £11,500 and after getting two FA Cup Final runners-up medals finally got a winner’s medal when helping Blackpool beat Bolton Wanderers 4-3 in the 1953 Final, a match which to this day is referred to as “The Matthews Final”. Stanley returned to Stoke City in 1961 and helped them get back into the First Division and then remarkably played in that division past his 50th birthday! He made his England debut against Wales in 1934 notching up 54 international appearances with his last being against Denmark in 1957. Stanley died in 2000 at the age of 85.

2,107 spectators turned up for the floodlight opening game, braving atrocious wet conditions to watch United draw 1-1 with a Port Vale side containing a sprinkling of first teamers including player-manager Jackie Mudie. After a goalless 70 minutes, United took the lead when Tony Jacques netted. Cyril Green took a corner on the left which was punched back to him by Vale’s Irish international keeper Jimmy O’Neill. The left winger hit the ball hard into the goalmouth and Jacques stabbed it into the net from four yards out. Five minutes from the end Vale equalised when Stuart Chapman deceived United keeper Dave McArthur with a dipping 25-yard shot.

Banbury Line Up: Dave McArthur, Ken Kibble, Paddy Page, Pete Svenson, Roger Darvell, Keith Bush, Jim Cassidy, Keith Eatwell, Tony Jacques, Barry Sansom, Cyril Green

Port Vale Line Up: Jimmy O’Neill, Gordon Logan, Ron Wilson, Mel Lintern, John Dickson, John James, Alan Johnson, Roddie Georgeson, Ian Lawson, Jackie Mudie (Stuart Chapman), Malcolm McKenzie.

The two photos below show Sir Stanley presenting the player of the year trophy to United full back Paddy Page with local referee Dick Bartlett in the background and then greeting United captain Roger Darvell prior to the game, the other person in the second photo is United manager Len Goulden.
.

.

.
The second match against Port Vale took place on Tuesday 22nd November 1966 and, in front of a crowd of 1,467, Sir Stanley did indeed play and for the whole of the 90 minutes. What is more United manager Len Goulden played the first half so it was indeed a nostalgic evening with the two of them, 106 years and over 90 England appearances between them, purveying their own special brew of football at the Spencer Stadium! United were 2-0 down at half time through goals from Jackie Mudie and Ian Lawson but with 20 minutes left the scores had been levelled after Tony Jacques netted twice. Port Vale regained their lead through Brian Taylor then Banbury hit back with three goals in four minutes. Jacques scored with a left foot shot from the edge of the area to get his hat-trick and then Peter Slade tapped in a Jim Cassidy cross and then Jacques brought his tally to four with a low shot into the corner of the net to make the final score 5-3.

Banbury United Line Up: Dave McArthur, Ken Kibble, Paddy Page, Pete Svenson, Colin Darvell, Peter Slade, Jim Cassidy, Kevin Cornwell, Tony Jacques, Len Goulden (Mick Burgess), Cyril Green

Port Vale Line Up: Jimmy O’Neill, Carter, Ron Wilson, Harry Poole, Malcolm Bailey, Roger Stote, Stanley Matthews, Jackie Mudie, Ian Lawson, Brian Taylor, Barker

Prior to the game, the Port Vale side had stopped off at Wincott’s cake shop in Bridge Street for afternoon tea. The first photo below shows Sir Stanley being presented with three cartons of Banbury Cakes by Mrs Wincott. The second photo shows Sir Stanley in action at the Spencer Stadium later that evening.
.

.

.
Finally, 4-page programmes were produced for the two games. These are reproduced below:
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.