<

27th October 2010

News has been received confirming that Jim Matthews, who was a former captain of the Pirates, has passed away. He was aged 76.

Jim, as many people will know, was the club's first schoolboy international, having been first selected at full-back for England under 15s a year young in 1947-48.

He then played again in 1948-49 at wing forward, and was also captain. Indeed, in that same season the Pirates had three England internationals, as Gerald Luke was capped in the same team as Jim, and John Kendall-Carpenter played for the senior side.

Having attended Tolcarne CP School and then the Penzance Grammar School for Boys, Jim, who was a gifted goalkicker, also played for England ATC.

In total, he made 540 senior appearances for the Pirates, mainly at prop but occasionally in the back-row, and he was also a successful club captainin 1958-59.

Working for the GPO, after hanging up his boots Jim became a county selector for five years from 1968, and during the same period he also held the office of Fixture Secretary at the Pirates.

Although a Penzance boy, Jim had lived for a number of years with his wife Pam at Carnon Downs, near Truro.

Condolences are expressed to Jim's family, and his funeral will take place at Frogpool Methodist Church this Saturday 30th October at 2.30pm.