Sports fans are being urged to play their part in the creation of a new `football museum' paying homage to the legendary Sir Stanley Matthews.

The former Internationals Suite here at the Britannia Stadium is being revamped and renamed The Sir Stanley Matthews Lounge ahead of the start of the club's debut season in the Premier League in August.

The Lounge will become a tribute to one of the world's most famous footballing names, featuring artefacts and memorabilia from the career of the former Potters and England winger.

The Sir Stanley Matthews Foundation - the charity set up in Sir Stan's name after his death eight years ago to raise money to help youngsters involved in sport - is the driving force behind the exciting project.

"The great story of one of the world's finest-ever footballers and sporting ambassadors will be told in one room," says Foundation chairman Nigel Johnson.

"It will be a unique display, the only one of it's kind in the world, and it is going to be based in Stoke-on-Trent - Sir Stan's home city.

"Some of the memorabilia we already have is superb, but we are keen to hear from anyone who feels they may be able to contribute, and they will be suitably credited when items go on display."

The Foundation is currently negotiating with potential sponsors to help meet the cost of building and installing the security cabinets for some of the exhibits which will be on view.

Many of the items- including Sir Stan's CBE medal, an England cap, the 1963 Footballer of the Year Trophy, plus a FIFA Order of Merit medal - are being loaned by his daughter Jean Gough, the patron of the Matthews Foundation.

She said: "The Lounge will be a superb tribute to my father's career and I am delighted we are going to be able to put on display all these things for people to enjoy.

"It is very fitting that it should be based in Stoke-on-Trent, the city where my father was born and raised and returned to live his final years. Wherever he travelled in the world he always thought of Stoke-on-Trent as home and there can be no finer place in which to tell his life story."

Newly-promoted Stoke- where Sir Stan began his career as an apprentice and made his Football League debut as a 17-year-old in 1932 - are also playing a major part.

Said club spokesman Steve Buxton: "It is fantastic to be honouring Sir Stan in this way.

"Everyone knows he was one of Stoke-On-Trent's greatest sons and we feel that by revamping the suite and renaming it, his legacy will continue to burn strong in Stoke-On-Trent."

It's the second large project undertaken by the Foundation, which eight years ago commissioned the magnificent Sir Stanley Matthews statue which stands adjacent to the Britannia Stadium.

The Foundation now provides grant assistance to sporting youngsters of all abilities, as well as supporting a unique and hugely-successful scheme run in tandem with Stoke-on-Trent College to provide free sports coaching for children at local schools.

Anyone who may have suitable items to loan to the Sir Stanley Matthews Lounge should contact the Foundation via its official website -  www.ssmf.co.uk - or via e-mail at enquiries@sirstanleymattthewsfoundation.com or by telephoning (01782) 636345.