Staff at The Sentinel worked through the night to produce a 64-page special about Stoke’s most famous son, soccer legend Stanley Matthews, within 12 hours of his death.

The paper learned of Matthews’ death at about 6.30 last night. The 50p special was printed at 6am today and 60,000 copies hit the shops at the same time as the nationals.

Fifteen staff worked through the night on the newsdesk-sportsdesk collaboration, which combined file photographs with a high proportion of text, much of it “live”.

“We had an obit’ already written but the rest, including a lot of tributes, was pulled together overnight,” said assistant editor Joanne Goodwin, who was in charge of the editorial operation.

The Sentinel also produced an eight-page wrap-round in time for today’s seven editions.

Ms Goodwin added: “Quite a few of the people who worked through the night had worked a full day yesterday and have then stayed on to produce today’s paper. We’ve bought them a bacon sandwich!”

Matthews (85), the wing wizard who made more than 700 League appearances for Stoke City and Blackpool, was born in Hanley, Staffs, and died in a private hospital in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

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