The footballer Vincent Matthews was born at 48 West Street, Osney, Oxford on 15 January 1896.

Vincent's father George Matthews was born in Linton, Derbyshire in 1870, the son of the wheelwright James Matthews, and in 1891 at the age of 21 he was working as a goods guard on the Great Western Railway and living in Osney, which was then Oxford's railway suburb. Vincent's mother Rosa Baker was born at Paddington in 1872, the daughter of the plumber George Baker, and in 1891 was living at 31 Delaware Terrace there. With Paddington being the GWR destination from Oxford, it can be assumed that they met there, and they were married at Paddington's St Mary Magdalene Church on 16 November 1891.

Vincent's older brother Reginald was born in Osney in 1894, and Vincent himself in 1896, although he was baptised at his mother's church, St Mary Magdalene Church in Paddington, on 14 June 1896.

Railway workers were always on the move, and his younger sister Ivy was born at Par in Cornwall in late 1900. At the time of the 1901 census Vincent (5) was living at Par Green, Tywardreath, Cornwall with his father George (30), who was still a railway guard, his mother Rosa (28), and his siblings Reginald (6) and Ivy (five months).

By 1904 the family had returned to Oxford, and his next three siblings were also born in Osney: Rita Lena Matthews (1904), Douglas Matthews (1910), and Leonard Francis Matthews (1915).

At the time of the 1911 census Vincent (15), who was a general engineer (probably on the railway) was living at 31 South Street, Osney with his parents and his four surviving siblings.

On 14 April 1917 at Ss Philip & James's Church, Oxford, Vincent Matthews married Daisy Annie Hillsdon(born in Garsington on 4 January 1893, the daughter of the labourer Henry Thomas Hillsdon and his wife Emma). They had three children:

• Phyllis J. Matthews (born in Oxford on 31 October 1917)
• Maurice Vincent Matthews (born in Oxford on 17 May 1919)
• Peter Howard Matthews (born in Aylesbury in 1928)

Vincent had been working as a fitter & turner In the First World War but served on HMS Pembroke II from 29 April 1918 to 7 April 1919.

Vincent's career in football started when he joined St Frideswide's Football Club in 1919, and then went on to play for Oxford City Football Club.

The 1921 census shows Matthews (25) described as a fitter and turner in iron for Barlow & Alden at the Crown Yard Works in Cornmarket, living at 2 Norham Mews in Norham Gardens with his wife Daisy (28) and their children Joyce (3) and Maurice (2)

In 1922 Matthews turned professional, and in the next eight years he played for the following:

• 1922–1925: Bolton Wanderers
• 1925–1927: Tranmere Rovers
• 1927–1931:Sheffield United.
  During the 1927/8 season he also earned two caps representing England against France in Paris, and against Belgium in Antwerp.

In 1931 he left Sheffield United and played for Shamrock Rovers in the Irish Free State League, winning two Irish Free State's cup-winner's medals.

In 1935 he returned to English football, finishing his career as player-manager of Oswestry Town, and then joined Shrewsbury Town Football Club in June 1935 until his retirement. .

By 1938 Vincent Matthews had returned to Oxford, and was living at 35 Langley Close in Headington (right).

The 1939 Register shows him here with his wife Daisy, his daughter Phyllis (21), who was a typist, his son Maurice (20), who was a storekeeper, and presumably his son Peter (11), but the entry is blacked out in the record because of his age.

Vincent worked as a fitter & turner at Morris Motors, and during the Second World War he was employed there by the Ministry of Supply (Inspection Fighting Vehicle Department).

Vincent Matthews was still living at 35 Langley Close when he died at the Radcliffe Infirmary age of 54 on 15 November 1950. He was buried in Headington Cemetery (Section S19): see his grave. His executrix was his widow Daisy, and his effects came to £576 4s.

His wife Daisy Annie Matthews died at the age of 77 and was buried with him on 28 June 1971.