A tribute PROSE in RIME

A cool Autumn morning we caught the bus,off at eleven without much fuss.One and half return from Croft to Leigh a birthday treat from Dad to me.Hopped on a tram to Burden park to see Stan Mathews make his mark.Through the turnstile into the town end,crushed and crammed like cattle penned. Mathews, Mortenson versus Nathaniel Lofthouse,a match for connoisseurs to watch. Wembly star Stan playing on at thirty eight still making inch perfect crosses on a plate. Shimmy,side-step,feint and dazzle,leaving the defenders in a right frazzle. Our ageing hero displayed all his twinkling skills,the complete pro without modern-day frills.Most pundits considered Stan an aged has-been but no better talent had ever been seen.