:Stan Mortensen

{{Short description|English footballer and football manager}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{use British English|date=June 2015}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Stan Mortensen

| image = Stan Mortensen.jpg

| caption =

| fullname = Stanley Harding Mortensen

| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|5|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = South Shields, County Durham, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1991|5|22|1921|5|26|df=y}}

| height =

| position = Centre forward

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1941–1955

| clubs1 = Blackpool

| caps1 = 317

| goals1 = 197

| years2 = 1955–1957

| clubs2 = Hull City

| caps2 = 42

| goals2 = 18

| years3 = 1957–1958

| clubs3 = Southport

| caps3 = 36

| goals3 = 10

| years4 = 1958–1959

| clubs4 = Bath City

| caps4 = 45

| goals4 = 27

| years5 = 1960–1962

| clubs5 = Lancaster City

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| totalcaps = 440

| totalgoals = 252

| nationalyears1 = 1947–1953

| nationalteam1 = England

| nationalcaps1 = 25

| nationalgoals1 = 23

| medaltemplates =

| manageryears1 = 1967–1969

| managerclubs1 = Blackpool

}}

Stanley Harding Mortensen (26 May 1921 – 22 May 1991) was an English professional footballer, notable 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2019/may/mortensens-hat-trick-record-remains/|title=Mortensen's Hat-Trick Record Remains|website=Blackpool|date=19 May 2019|accessdate=2 June 2021}} 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.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2013/blackpool-4-3-bolton-wanderers-the-matthews-fa-cup-final-classic-clashes/|title=Blackpool 4-3 Bolton Wanderers : The Matthews FA Cup Final (Classic Clashes) |last= Sengupta|first=Somnath|date=14 November 2013|access-date=12 January 2018|publisher=The Hard Tackle}} While stationed at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, he scored 13 times in 12{{ cite web | url = https://www.afc.co.uk/2020/03/18/season-1939-1940/ | title = 1940: When The Football Stopped |last= Panton | first=Malcolm | date= 18 March 2020 |access-date=12 January 2023 | publisher = Aberdeen FC }} unofficial matches for Aberdeen,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nRMjAwAAQBAJ&q=Mortensen&pg=PT19|last=Miller|author-link=Willie Miller|first=Willie|title=Willie Miller's Aberdeen Dream Team|year=2011|publisher=Black & White Publishing|isbn=9781845024031}} also turning out as a guest for Arsenal with an scoring record of 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.[http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHist/TrivPlyrsOtherNatTeams.html Guest Player for Wales] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831072229/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHist/TrivPlyrsOtherNatTeams.html |date=31 August 2011 }} 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."

Post-war club career

In a playing career spent mostly with Blackpool, Mortensen scored 197 league goals in 317 games. His 197 goals for Blackpool, all in the top flight, ranks him as the 33rd-highest goalscorer in history. He is the second-highest top scorer for Blackpool, behind Jimmy Hampson.{{Cite web |title=Stan Mortensen Hall of Fame profile |url=https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/stan-mortensen/ |access-date=2023-01-24 |language=en-US}}

Mortensen holds the record of scoring in the most consecutive league matches, with 15. Another record he still holds today is that he scored in twelve consecutive rounds of the FA Cup, including the defeat in the 1948 FA Cup Final. In the FA Cup semi-final of 1947–48, Tottenham Hotspur were leading 1–0 with four minutes remaining when Mortensen equalised from a cross from Stanley Matthews. Mortensen scored two more goals in extra-time as Blackpool reached the final of the FA Cup for the first time. Mortensen had scored in every round thus far, seven goals in total. In the final, Blackpool took an early lead from a penalty against Manchester United before Jack Rowley equalised. Mortensen scored before half time to make it 2–1, becoming the first player in history to score in every round of the FA Cup in one season. Rowley scored again in the second half, before two goals in the last ten minutes secured a 4–2 win for United.{{Cite web |title=Blackpool match record: FA Cup 1948 |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/blackpool/tab/matches/season/1948/comp/7/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.11v11.com}}

Blackpool were back at Wembley for the 1951 FA Cup final. Mortensen had scored five goals during the competition, but could not add to his tally as Blackpool suffered disappointment again. A second-half brace from Jackie Milburn secured a 2–0 win for Newcastle United.{{Cite web |title=Blackpool match record: FA Cup 1951 |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/blackpool/tab/matches/season/1951/comp/7/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.11v11.com}}

It was third time lucky for Mortensen and Blackpool as they reached their third final in five years in the 1952–53 season. Mortensen wrote himself into the record books, although the final is commonly referred to as the "Matthews Final". A 2–1 victory against Tottenham took them to their third Wembley final, with Bolton Wanderers their opponents. Nat Lofthouse gave Bolton a second-minute lead, before a Mortensen shot was deflected in for the equaliser. Bolton eventually led 3–1, before Matthews set up Mortensen who made it 3–2. With two minutes, remaining Mortensen scored a twenty-yard free kick to bring the scores level at 3–3, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a FA Cup final at Wembley.{{cite web |date=22 February 2018 |title=1953 FA Cup final hat-trick football sells for £5,250 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-43149941 |accessdate=2 June 2021 |website=BBC}} In injury time, Bill Perry converted a Matthews cross to seal a 4–3 win for Blackpool.{{Cite web |title=1953 FA Cup Final Match {{!}} Blackpool vs Bolton Wanderers |url=https://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1953.htm |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk}}

Mortensen's hat-trick became a fact retrospectively: his first goal was widely considered an own goal by Harold Hassell at the time. Kenneth Wolstenholme, the BBC commentator, attributed the goal to Hassell, as did the Sunday newspapers the following morning. In the book The Great English Final, author David Tossell states that only since the publication of the FA Yearbook two months later, which awarded Mortensen with all three goals, that the hat-trick became accepted as fact.{{Cite web |last=D |first=Rob |date=2018-05-02 |title=Blackpool's Other Stanley – The Stan Mortensen Story |url=https://beyondthelastman.com/2018/05/02/blackpools-other-stanley-the-stan-mortensen-story/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Beyond The Last Man |language=en}} In the Charity Shield match at Highbury against Arsenal,  Mortensen put the FA Cup winners ahead. However, Tommy Lawton, and a brace from Doug Lishman, resulted in a 3–1 for Arsenal.

The 1950–51 league season saw Mortensen break the record of scoring in the most consecutive matches, a record set by Irishman Jimmy Dunne twenty years earlier. Although missing two games through injury during the span, Mortensen scored in 15-consecutive matches before a blank, but scored again for 16 goals in 17 matches.{{Cite web |title=Jamie Vardy still some way off Lionel Messi's best La Liga scoring streak |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/10085190/jamie-vardy-still-some-way-off-lionel-messis-best-la-liga-scoring-streak |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}} He scored 25 goals in 22 games from December as he finished that season with 30 league goals. He was top scorer every season during his time at the club. He started his tenth season with the club before being transferred to Second Division Hull 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."{{cite book|last=Gillatt|first=Peter|title=Blackpool FC on This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year |publisher=Pitch Publishing Ltd|date=30 November 2009|isbn=978-1-905411-50-4}} Despite the announcement, he went on to play for non-League clubs Bath City and Lancaster City.

International career

Mortensen won his first international cap for England in a friendly international against Portugal on 25 May 1947. He scored four goals as England won 10–0.[http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/matchstats.html?m=234 TheFA.com – Match Statistics] His first competitive match came in October, a British home championship match against Wales at Ninian Park. He was on target as England won 3–0. In a friendly the following month against Sweden he hit a hat-trick in a 4–2 win at Highbury. He scored another hat-trick, this time in a 1948 British home championship match as England beat Ireland 6–2 at Windsor Park, Belfast.{{Cite web |title=England Players - Stan Mortensen |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersM/BioMortensenSH.html |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.englandfootballonline.com}}

On 25 June 1950, Mortensen scored England's first goal at a World Cup tournament, as England beat Chile 2–0 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mortensen won his last international cap for England against Hungary on 25 November 1953. In a fixture dubbed Match of the Century, England lost their long unbeaten home record against foreign opposition. The score was 6–3, with Mortensen scoring before half-time after England went 4–1 down.{{cite web |title=The brains behind the Magical Magyars |url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/news/newsid%3D510979.html |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115075922/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/news/newsid%3D510979.html |archive-date=15 January 2011 |access-date=11 April 2011}}

Mortensen scored 23 goals in 25 appearances, but a series of knee injuries restricted his appearances. He was also eligible to play for Norway, due to his grandfather Hans, who emigrated to South Shields.

Post-retirement

After retiring, 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.

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.

Death and legacy

File:Stan Mortensen statue 2024.jpg

Mortensen died, aged 69, 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,"{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/they-dont-make-em-like-stan-any-more-625527.html|title=They don't make 'em like Stan any more|last=Maume|first=Chris|date=12 April 2000|access-date=9 June 2008|work=The Independent}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} 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.[http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/?pf=p&i=1429&ap=p&searchname=morten TheFA.com – Archive]

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"Blackpool F.C. are nicknamed "The Tangerines". and "The Jesus Christ of Bloomfield Road".{{cite web |url=http://www.chrisrand.com/hmhb/back-in-the-dhss/1966-and-all-that/ |website=The Half Man Half Biscuit Lyrics Project |title=1966 And All That |access-date=3 June 2015 }}{{AllMusic |class=song |id=1966-and-all-that-mt0020184178 |label=Half Man Half Biscuit: 1966 and All That |access-date=3 June 2015 }}{{discogs master |master=36956 |type=album |name=Half Man Half Biscuit{{snd}}The Trumpton Riots E.P. |accessdate=3 June 2015 }}

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.[https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/archive/2005/8/23/868495.html/ Legend 'Morty' remembered] "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." Jean Mortensen died in July 2009 at the age of 88.{{cite news |url=http://www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-news/widow-of-seasiders-cup-hero-dies-at-88-1-381841 |newspaper=Clitheroe Advertiser and Times |title=Widow of Seasiders' Cup hero dies at 88 |date=24 July 2009 }}

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.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/africa/10200154.stm "World Cup: US v England match recalls 1950 upset"], BBC, 2 June 2010

Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame

Mortensen was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by Jimmy Armfield in April 2006.{{cite book|title=Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC|editor=Singleton, Steve|publisher=Blackpool Gazette|location=Blackpool|year=2007|pages=20|edition=1|isbn=978-1-84547-182-8}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.bsaweb.info/HOFp50.aspx|title=The Hall Of Fame – 1950s|publisher=Blackpool Supporters Association|access-date=29 November 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612154347/http://www.bsaweb.info/HOFp50.aspx|archive-date=12 June 2010}}

Career statistics

=Club=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{ENFA}}

!rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!rowspan="2"|Division

!colspan="2"|League

!colspan="2"|FA Cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

rowspan="12"|Blackpool

|1945–46

|—

|colspan="2"|—

540054
1946–47

|First Division

|38

2811003929
1947–48

|First Division

|34

21610004031
1948–49

|First Division

|34

1832003720
1949–50

|First Division

|37

2253004225
1950–51

|First Division

|35

3085004335
1951–52

|First Division

|35

2610003626
1952–53

|First Division

|34

1523003618
1953–54

|First Division

|31

21211Appearance in FA Charity Shield13423
1954–55

|First Division

|28

1110002911
1955–56

|First Division

|11

50000115
colspan="2"|Total

!317

197342911352227
rowspan="3"|Hull City

|1955–56

|Second Division

|21

82000238
1956–57

|Third Division

|21

1022002312
colspan="2"|Total

!42

1842004620
rowspan="3"|Southport

|1956–57

|Third Division

|11

50000115
1957–58

|Third Division

|25

51000265
colspan="2"|Total

!36

1010003710
Bath City

|1958–59

|Southern League

|45

27????4527
colspan="3"|Career total

!440

252393111480284

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

=International=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT player|19600|name=Mortensen, Stan|accessdate=13 September 2020}}

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="7"|England

|1947

59
194845
194963
195063
195121
195200
195322
colspan="2"|Total2523

: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).

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Stan Mortensen

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Cap

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1rowspan="4"|25 May 1947rowspan="4"|Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugalrowspan="4"|{{fb|POR}}rowspan="4" align="center"|1align="center"|2–0rowspan="4" align="center"|10–0rowspan="4"|Friendly
align="center"|2align="center"|6–0
align="center"|3align="center"|8–0
align="center"|4align="center"|9–0
align="center"|521 September 1947Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium{{fb|BEL}}align="center"|2align="center"|2–0align="center"|5–2Friendly
align="center"|618 October 1947Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales{{fb|WAL|1807}}align="center"|3align="center"|2–0align="center"|3–01948 British Home Championship
align="center"|7rowspan="3"|9 November 1947rowspan="3"|Highbury, London, Englandrowspan="3"|{{fb|SWE}}

| rowspan="3" align="center"|5

align="center"|1–0rowspan="3" align="center"|4–2rowspan="3"|Friendly
align="center"|8align="center"|3–1
align="center"|9align="center"|4–2
align="center"|1010 April 1948Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland{{fb|SCO}}align="center"|6align="center"|2–0align="center"|2–01948 British Home Championship
align="center"|1116 May 1948Stadio Comunale, Turin, Italy{{fb|ITA}}align="center"|7align="center"|1–0align="center"|4–0Friendly
align="center"|12rowspan="3"|9 October 1948rowspan="3"|Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Irelandrowspan="3"|{{fb|IRE}}

| rowspan="3" align="center"|8

align="center"|2–1rowspan="3" align="center"|6–2rowspan="3"|1949 British Home Championship
align="center"|13align="center"|4–1
align="center"|14align="center"|5–1
align="center"|1515 October 1949Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales{{fb|WAL|1807}}align="center"|13align="center"|1–0align="center"|4–11950 British Home Championship
1950 FIFA World Cup qualification 1950 FIFA World Cup qualification#Group 1
Group 1
align="center"|16rowspan="2"|6 November 1949rowspan="2"|Maine Road, Manchester, Englandrowspan="2"|{{fb|IRE}}

| rowspan="2" align="center"|14

align="center"|4–0rowspan="2" align="center"|9–2rowspan="2"|1950 British Home Championship
1950 FIFA World Cup qualification - Group 1
align="center"|17align="center"|6–0
align="center"|1814 May 1950National Stadium, Lisbon, Portugal{{fb|POR}}align="center"|17align="center"|2–0align="center"|5–3Friendly
align="center"|1918 May 1950Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium{{fb|BEL}}align="center"|18align="center"|2–1align="center"|4–1Friendly
align="center"|2025 June 1950Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil{{fb|CHI}}align="center"|19align="center"|1–0align="center"|2–01950 FIFA World Cup 1950 FIFA World Cup#Group 2
Group 2
align="center"|219 May 1951Wembley Stadium, London, England{{fb|ARG}}align="center"|23align="center"|1–1align="center"|2–1Friendly
align="center"|2221 November 1953Wembley Stadium, London, England{{flagicon|Europe}} The Rest of Europealign="center"|24align="center"|1–1align="center"|4–4Friendly
align="center"|2325 November 1953Wembley Stadium, London, England{{fb|HUN|1949}}align="center"|25align="center"|2–4align="center"|3–6Friendly

=Managerial statistics=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan=2|Team

!rowspan=2|From

!rowspan=2|To

!colspan=5|Record

{{abbr|P|Matches played}}{{abbr|W|Matches won}}{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
align=left|Blackpool

|align=left|1 February 1967

|align=left|1 April 1969

{{WDL|105|43|27|35|decimals=1}}

colspan=3|Total

{{WDLtot|105|43|27|35|decimals=1}}

Honours

Blackpool

  • FA Cup: 1952–53;{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/stan-mortensen/|title=Stan Mortensen Hall of Fame profile|website=National Football Museum|accessdate=2 June 2021}} runner-up: 1947–48, 1950–51{{cite web|url=http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1951.htm|title=FA Cup Final 1951|website=FA Cup Finals|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523234626/http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1951.htm|accessdate=2 June 2021|archive-date=23 May 2008}}

Footnotes

{{Reflist|group=Note}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • {{cite book|last=Calley|first=Roy|title=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992|publisher=Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd|date=20 October 1992|isbn=1-873626-07-X}}
  • {{cite book|title=Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC|editor=Singleton, Steve|publisher=Blackpool Gazette|location=Blackpool|year=2007|edition=1|isbn=978-1-84547-182-8}}