Thank You Stan – A Tribute to Stanley Matthews
In a cynical age where so many feature films, including animated ones, are sequels, reboots or re-imaginings, it’s refreshing to see an ambitious project that clearly comes from the heart. Tony White’s short film Thank You Stan, a tribute to the great footballer Stanley Matthews, is a film about one master craftsman, made by another.
Feb 1st marks the late Sir Stanley’s 100th birthday, and Tony’s film is online for that day only, prior to touring the festivals. Watch the film on the website here
Tony White
In a professional career spanning over thirty years, Sir Stanley spent nineteen with Stoke City. In an article for that club’s fanzine, Tony says “When I was just a small lad I remember my dad telling me about the great Stanley Matthews. He said he was the greatest player in the world but it was many years later that I began to understand what that meant. Sadly I never saw Stan play in the flesh but I did see him many times on TV, running rings around the opposition, even when 50 years of age!
About two years ago I realized that on February 1st, 2015 it would be Stan’s 100th birthday. I felt passionately that I had to pay tribute to the great man by way of an animated tribute.”
Tony is currently developing a full-length movie about Stan called Spirit of the Game. It would be fantastic to see this come to fruition. Even to a football philistine like me, Stan’s balletic footwork is amazing to watch and would make a wonderful challenge for animation. Also, as one who never got booked by a referee in his long career, he’s a great reminder for what sportsmanship is – or should be – all about.
Watch the film (Sunday February 1st only) and keep up to date with the films progress on the website here