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Stanley Harding Mortensen (26 May 1921 – 22 May 1991) was an English professional footballer, most famous for his part in the 1953 FA Cup Final (subsequently known as the "Matthews Final"), in which he became the only player ever to score a hat-trick in a Wembley FA Cup Final.[1] He was also both the first player to score for England in a FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and the first England player to score in the tournament proper.

Stan Mortensen

Personal information
Full name	Stanley Harding Mortensen
Date of birth	(1921-05-26)26 May 1921
Place of birth	South Shields, County Durham, England
Date of death	22 May 1991(1991-05-22) (aged 69)
Position(s)	Centre forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1941–1955	Blackpool	317	(197)
1955–1957	Hull City	42	(18)
1957–1958	Southport	36	(10)
1958–1959	Bath City	45	(27)
1960–1962	Lancaster City
Total		440	(252)
International career
1947–1953	England	25	(23)
Management career
1967–1969	Blackpool
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Wartime career

South Shields-born Mortensen went to war in 1939 as a teenage wireless operator and overcame an injury – sustained when his RAF bomber crashed, leaving him as the only survivor – to be signed by Blackpool in 1941.[2] While stationed at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, he played several unofficial matches for Aberdeen,[3] also turning out as a guest for Arsenal with an impressive scoring record (25 goals in 19 appearances).

During the war, he scored dozens of goals before making a strange piece of history by switching teams to play for Wales when they needed a reserve during a game against England on 25 September 1943.[4] Wales' Ivor Powell was injured and had to leave the field and, as England's reserve, Mortensen took his place in the Welsh side. Wales lost 8–3, and Stanley Matthews later wrote of the game: "Nobody in the 80,000 crowd had any idea that Mortensen was going to change. When, a quarter of an hour later, the player in the red jersey returned to the field, a cheer went up from the crowd, who — not knowing the seriousness of Powell's injury — were under the impression the injured Welsh wing half was returning. Even when "Powell" went to inside-left, the onlookers did not suspect anything unusual, as team switches are often necessary after a player has been injured. Even some of the England players did not know that Mortensen was playing on the other side, and the football reporters, whose headquarters at Wembley are at the top of the main stand, did not know of the change until after half-time."[5]

Post-war club career

In a playing career spent mostly with Blackpool, Mortensen scored 197 league goals in 317 games.[6]

Between 1945 and 1950, Mortensen scored in twelve consecutive rounds of the FA Cup, including in defeat in the 1948 FA Cup Final.[6] He also scored in 15 consecutive First Division games in 1950–51, although he missed two games due to injury during the span.[6] Mortensen topped the First Division goalscoring charts in 1950–51, with 30 goals. His most famous performance occurred two years later in the 1953 FA Cup Final, when he helped Blackpool to a 4–3 win against Bolton Wanderers, after being 3–1 down, by scoring a hat-trick.[7] Mortensen's third goal came with just a minute left in the game, and Bill Perry's injury-time goal sealed the victory.[8]

After nine years with Blackpool, Mortensen went on to play for Hull City, Southport, Bath City and, after coming out of retirement, Lancaster City.

After joining Southport, Mortensen announced his retirement from playing on 24 April 1958, at the age of 37. "I have been having trouble with my knee and have had several injections," he said, after deciding against renewing his contract. "Making the decision was not easy."[5] Despite the announcement, he went on to play for two more non-League clubs over four years.

International career

On 25 May 1947, Mortensen made his full England debut against Portugal and immediately announced himself on the scene by scoring four goals in a 10–0 win.[9]

In 1948, Mortensen played all six England internationals and scored seven goals, including a hat-trick against Sweden.

He was also a member of the England team that lost 6–3 to Hungary in the Match of the Century on 25 November 1953.[10]

By the end of his career, he had played twenty-five times for England and scored 23 goals.[6]

Post-retirement

After retiring for good, Mortensen returned to Blackpool as manager between 1967 and 1969, when he was sacked. He also auctioned his football medals in order to help Blackpool through a tough spell.

On 20 October 1983, at the Blackpool supporters' annual general meeting, Mortensen was voted vice-president.[5]

On 18 November 1989, Mortensen led the Blackpool team out onto the Bloomfield Road pitch for their FA Cup first-round tie with Bolton Wanderers. Former Bolton Wanderers forward Nat Lofthouse, who faced Mortensen and Blackpool in the 1953 FA Cup Final, led the visitors out.

Twelve days later, on 30 November, a tribute dinner for Mortensen was held at Blackpool's Savoy Hotel. Attended by many former Blackpool players, the event was arranged to honour Morty's fifty years of service to both Blackpool Football Club and the town.[5]

Death and legacy

Mortensen died four days before his 70th birthday, on 22 May 1991, the day Blackpool reached Wembley for the first time since 1953. They had beaten Scunthorpe United 3–2 on aggregate to reach the Fourth Division play-off final. A minute's silence was held before the final against Torquay United.

On his death, it was said, "They'll probably call it the Matthews funeral,"[11] in reference to Mortensen's overshadowing by Stanley Matthews after the 1953 FA Cup Final. His funeral was held at St John's parish church, Blackpool, and he was cremated at Carleton Crematorium in Carleton, Lancashire.

The month of May became associated with much of his life. During May, he was born, signed professionally, made his England debut, won the FA Cup, and died.[12]

Mortensen is mentioned with admiration in the song "1966 and All That" on the 1986 vinyl EP The Trumpton Riots (incorporated into the 2003 CD re-release of the 1985 album Back in the DHSS) by the indie band Half Man Half Biscuit, who call him "The Tangerine Wizard"[Note 1] and "The Jesus Christ of Bloomfield Road".[13][14][15]

In 2003, Mortensen was posthumously inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his talent and achievements.

On 23 August 2005, a statue of Mortensen was unveiled by his widow, Jean, and former Blackpool teammate Jimmy Armfield in front of Bloomfield Road's new North Stand, which now bears his name.[16] "Of all the honours that Stan won in football, he would think this was top of the league. He was so very proud of playing for Blackpool and loved everything about the town. Nothing was ever too much trouble for him when the club or town came knocking. For him to be remembered in a statue, he would think it was the creme de la creme. A massive thank-you has to go to the generous people of Blackpool, who have dug deep to raise money for this. Stan would have been really proud."[5] Jean Mortensen died in July 2009 at the age of 88.[17]

In the 2005 film The Game of Their Lives he is portrayed by Gavin Rossdale of Bush fame. The BBC notes that some viewers may be amused by the fact that "Mortensen – a working class Geordie – [is] portrayed [in the film] as [a] sneering toff," suggesting that the American film stereotyped English players in a "wooden and clichéd" manner.[18]

Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame

Mortensen was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006.[19] Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Mortensen is in the 1950s.[20]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[21]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Blackpool	1945–46	—	—		5	4	0	0	5	4
	1946–47	First Division	38	28	1	1	0	0	39	29
	1947–48		34	21	6	10	0	0	40	31
	1948–49		34	18	3	2	0	0	37	20
	1949–50		37	22	5	3	0	0	42	25
	1950–51		35	30	8	5	0	0	43	35
	1951–52		35	26	1	0	0	0	36	26
	1952–53		34	15	2	3	0	0	36	18
	1953–54		31	21	2	1	1[lower-alpha 1]	1	34	23
	1954–55		28	11	1	0	0	0	29	11
	1955–56		11	5	0	0	0	0	11	5
	Total		317	197	34	29	1	1	352	227
Hull City	1955–56	Second Division	21	8	2	0	0	0	23	8
	1956–57	Third Division	21	10	2	2	0	0	23	12
	Total		42	18	4	2	0	0	46	20
Southport	1956–57	Third Division	11	5	0	0	0	0	11	5
	1957–58		25	5	1	0	0	0	26	5
	Total		36	10	1	0	0	0	37	10
Bath City	1958–59	Southern League	45	27	?	?	?	?	45	27
Career total			440	252	39	31	1	1	480	284

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[22]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
England	1947	5	9
	1948	4	5
	1949	6	3
	1950	6	3
	1951	2	1
	1953	2	2
Total		25	23

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mortensen goal.

Stats taken from England national football team results (1930–59).

List of international goals scored by Stan Mortensen

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Cap	Score	Result	Competition
1	25 May 1947	Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal	Portugal	1	2–0	10–0	Friendly
2					6–0
3					8–0
4					9–0
5	21 September 1947	Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Belgium	2	2–0	5–2	Friendly
6	18 October 1947	Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales	Wales	3	2–0	3–0	1948 British Home Championship
7	9 November 1947	Highbury, London, England	Sweden	5	1–0	4–2	Friendly
8					3–1
9					4–2
10	10 April 1948	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Scotland	6	2–0	2–0	1948 British Home Championship
11	16 May 1948	Stadio Comunale, Turin, Italy	Italy	7	1–0	4–0	Friendly
12	9 October 1948	Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland	Ireland	8	2–1	6–2	1949 British Home Championship
13					4–1
14					5–1
15	15 October 1949	Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales	Wales	13	1–0	4–1	1950 British Home Championship 1950 FIFA World Cup qualification - Group 1
16	6 November 1949	Maine Road, Manchester, England	Ireland	14	4–0	9–2	1950 British Home Championship 1950 FIFA World Cup qualification - Group 1
17					6–0
18	14 May 1950	National Stadium, Lisbon, Portugal	Portugal	17	2–0	5–3	Friendly
19	18 May 1950	Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Belgium	18	2–1	4–1	Friendly
20	25 June 1950	Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Chile	19	1–0	2–0	1950 FIFA World Cup - Group 2
21	9 May 1951	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Argentina	23	1–1	2–1	Friendly
22	21 November 1953	Wembley Stadium, London, England	The Rest of Europe	24	1–1	4–4	Friendly
23	25 November 1953	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Hungary	25	2–4	3–6	Friendly

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure[21]

Team	From	To	Record
			P	W	D	L	Win %
Blackpool	1 February 1967	1 April 1969	105	43	27	35	041.0
Total			105	43	27	35	041.0

Honours

Blackpool

• FA Cup: 1952–53;[6] runner-up: 1947–48,[6] 1950–51[23]

Footnotes

See also

• List of men's footballers with 500 or more goals

References

Further reading

• Calley, Roy (20 October 1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.
• Singleton, Steve, ed. (2007). Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC (1 ed.). Blackpool: Blackpool Gazette. ISBN 978-1-84547-182-8.

External links

• Profile at Blackpool F.C.'s official website
• Playing profile at Soccerbase
• Managerial profile at Soccerbase
• England profile at the FA's official website
• Appearances and goals record for England
• Mortensen in the Blackpool Supporters Association Hall of Fame

На других языках

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[de] Stan Mortensen

Stanley „Stan“ Harding Mortensen (* 26. Mai 1921 in South Shields, England; † 22. Mai 1991 ebenda) war ein englischer Fußballspieler und erlangte vor allem durch seine Teilnahme am FA-Cup-Endspiel im Jahre 1953, dem sogenannten „Matthews-Finale“ (benannt nach Stanley Matthews, dem Sturmpartner Mortensens) größere Bekanntheit, als er einen bis heute einmaligen Rekord für ein FA Cup-Finale von drei Toren im Wembley-Stadion erzielen konnte.

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- [en] Stan Mortensen

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[es] Stan Mortensen

Stanley Harding Mortensen (South Shields, Condado de Durham, Inglaterra, 26 de mayo de 1921-22 de mayo de 1991) fue un futbolista inglés, famoso por ser parte de la final de la FA Cup de 1953 (conocida como «la final de Matthews»), en donde anotó un hat-trick en Wembley, siendo el único jugador en la historia en realizar esta hazaña. Fue además el primer jugador en anotar un gol por la selección de Inglaterra en la clasificación a la Copa Mundial de Fútbol y en la Copa como tal.[1]

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[fr] Stan Mortensen

Stanley Harding Mortensen, plus connu sous le nom de Stan Mortensen (né le 26 mai 1921 à South Shields ; décédé le 22 mai 1991), était un footballeur puis entraîneur de football anglais.

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[it] Stan Mortensen

Stanley Harding Mortensen – detto Morty – (South Shields, 26 maggio 1921 – South Shields, 22 maggio 1991) è stato un calciatore e allenatore di calcio inglese, di ruolo attaccante.

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[ru] Мортенсен, Стэн

Стэ́нли Ха́рдинг Мо́ртенсен (англ. Stanley Harding Mortensen; 26 мая 1921, Саут-Шилдс, Англия — 22 мая 1991) — английский футболист, наиболее известный по своим выступлениям за «Блэкпул». В финале Кубка Англии 1953 года сделал хет-трик, став первым и единственным на данный момент футболистом, забивавшим три гола в финале Кубка Англии на «Уэмбли». Также Мортенсен является первым игроком, забившим гол за сборную Англии в отборочных турнирах к чемпионату мира и автором первого гола англичан в истории чемпионатов мира.

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