SIR STANLEY Matthews has been named Stoke-on-Trent’s Citizen of the Century.

The Wizard of Dribble was awarded the title during a glittering celebration to mark 100 years since the the federation of the Six Towns.

Stoke City and England football icon Sir Stan had been short-listed along with 11 other notable names from the city.

The panel of judges who decided on the winner was made up of Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Ross Irving, managing editor of BBC Radio Stoke Sue Owen, Sentinel newspaper columnist Martin Tideswell, local historian Fred Hughes and vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University Christine King.

Other nominees were politician Jack Ashley; footballer Gordon Banks; novelist Arnold Bennett; politician Doug Brown; ceramic industrial artist Clarice Cliff; scientist and inventor Sir Oliver Lodge; Victoria Cross holder John Baskeyfield; Spitfire inventor Reginald Mitchell; social reformer Lady Millicent, Duchess of Sutherland; darts ace Phil Taylor and pop star Robbie Williams.

Sir Stan was named the winner in front of 300 people at the King’s Hall, in Stoke.

The audience was made up of the great and the good including armed forces personnel, politicians, businessmen, charity workers and sporting stars.

Sir Stan’s daughter Jean Gough, who accepted the award on his behalf, said: “I know if Stan was here he would say ‘look at all these wonderful heroes here’ and for him to be among them is such a great honour.

"To have this accolade I think would be one of the best accolades he has ever had because, to him, the city of Stoke-on-Trent was so important.

“The people of Stoke-on-Trent loved him, and he loved them.”

To qualify for Citizen of the Century, each nominee had to have either been born, educated, lived or worked in the city in the past 100 years.

They also had to have made a difference in their chosen field, achieving recognition nationally or internationally for their work.

Sir Stan was the only footballer to have been knighted while still playing and was the oldest player to ever play in England’s top division.

More than 100,000 people lined the streets of Stoke-on-Trent to pay tribute to him when he died three weeks after his 85th birthday in February 2000.

His name was put forward for the title of Citizen of the Century by a panel of judges.

Readers of The Sentinel were also asked to put forward other names for the short list, and nominate people to attend the dinner.

The event was compered by Sentinel columnist Martin Tideswell and among those awarded a place at the dinner was champion fund-raiser John Leese.

The 84-year-old, who is better known as the Tin Can Man, has raised more than £350,000 for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice during the past 17 years.

John said: “I feel very honoured to be invited and to be part of the event.

“It is a wonderful thing, and with the city getting some publicity, hopefully it will make people realise Stoke-on-Trent is about six towns, not just Hanley.”

Councillor Jean Bowers, Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, said: “This event aims to give the city recognition for what it is good for and that is its people.

“When you look at the people nominated for Citizen of the Century and the amount of people who could have been, it really shows that the Potteries can be proud of its citizens.

“People should be proud the federation has stayed together 100 years and proud of all that it has achieved.

“This is the first day of the rest of the federation year and I hope people will take part in the events being organised.”