Sir Stanley Matthews: a blue England continental tour cap 1938 England's continental tour of 1938 was played out against a backdrop of political inst

Sir Stanley Matthews: a blue England continental tour cap 1938 England's continental tour of 1938 was played out against a backdrop of political instability and the storm clouds of war. It commenced with the infamous match against Germany played in the Olympic Stadium, Berlin, on 14th May. Against the wishes of the England players, but on the insistence of the British Ambassador, the team reluctantly complies to give the Nazi salute before the match witnessed by 110,000 spectators. Happily, there followed a vintage display by the England team as they romped to a 6-3 victory. Matthews had ran the German defence ragged all afternoon and capped one of his most famous games for England with a mazy, dribbling run before delivering a flighted cross for Len Goulden to strike a 25 yard volley screaming into the net. England lost their form in the follow-up match against Switzerland, played in Zurich on 21st May, losing 2-1. However, they impressed again in Paris on 26th May beating France 4-2. Stanley Matthews received this one cap from the Football Association representing all three games he played in during the tour. These were his 8th, 9th & 10th England appearances. Previously sold by Stanley Matthews Junior at Sotheby's Olympia 21st September 2001 as lot 93.