Boots fit for a legend...and made in Leeds

But decades after they were last seen, a collection of framed photographs, including one of Sir Stanley collecting a pair of specially designed ultra lightweight boots which were custom made for him at the site, has been discovered at the former Co-operative Boot and Shoe Works.

Other images among the collection date back to the 1920s and 1930s, featuring the local fire brigade.

The photographs are thought to have been deliberately hidden in the ceiling of the building, which originally was a cinema and ballroom for Co-op staff, and is now owned by McCarthy's Business Centre and rented as office space.

Barbara Brazil, centre manager at McCarthy', said the company plans to put the pictures on display and appealed for anyone with similar images to come forward.

"The pictures were hidden in the ceiling, someone had clearly done it on purpose hoping that they would be found," she said.

"They also had their own fire brigade here and there are pictures of the fireman winning local competitions, most of the photos are dated from the 1920s and 1930s.

"We are going to get them cleaned up and restored.

"Discovering the photos was a really great surprise, we will put them on display in the building and we are asking for anyone who has any of their own, or any information about them, to get in touch with us."

The Boot and Shoe Works were the home of Goliath Footwear which famously made lightweight football boots for Sir Stanley, who played for Blackpool, Stoke City and England.

One of the most famous players of his generation, Sir Stanley represented his country 54 times and became the first player to be knighted in 1964. He died in 2000 aged 85.

He made several visits to the factory and put his name to a brand of boots.

In February this year, a pair of boots worn by the winger in the 1953 FA Cup final were sold at auction for 38,400.

Sir Stanley helped Blackpool to a 4-3 victory over Bolton Wanderers in the match which is considered one of the most famous finals of all time after, with his side trailing 1-3, Sir Stanley inspired a great comeback, setting up the last-minute goal that clinched victory.

Since then it has been known as "the Matthews final".

The boots were specially designed at the Co-op, who paid Sir Stanley what was considered an extremely lucrative sponsorship deal of 20 per week, doubling his wages at a time when players' salaries were capped.

Staff from the factory weighed every component part of the boots, describing them as more like "foot gloves" as they offered little protection and simply covered his feet to give him the maximum speed.

Over time, he reduced the weight of the boot from 1lb 9oz to 1lb 6oz and others quickly followed his example – between 1950 and 1958, the Co-op is said to have sold half-a-million Matthews-style boots.

The pictures of firefighters may well be due to the fact that Goliath specialised in durable work boots.

The company was a major supplier to British industry, with clients such as British Aerospace, the Ministry of Defence, Rolls Royce, and the Coal Board.

Goliath Footwear was founded in 1880 by the Co-op in Heckmondwike where they eventually employed between 300 and 400 people.

Ms Brazil said the building where the McCarthy's Business Centre is based and where the pictures were found was purpose built for the Co-op in 1911.

She said: "We are located in what was originally the cinema and ballroom for the staff – how times have changed.

"When the builders started to strip out the upstairs they found the old photographs dating back to the 20s and 30s, and include one of the legendary Sir Stanley with a pair of boots which had been manufactured on this site specially for him."

ONE OF THE GREATEST

Sir Stanley Matthews was one of English football's first superstars and is the only player to have been knighted while still playing.

A vegetarian teetotaller, he kept fit enough to play at the top level until he was 50. He was also the oldest player ever to play in England's top division, the oldest player ever to represent his country and his England career is the longest of any player ever to play for the side, stretching from his debut on September 29, 1934, to his last appearance on May 15, 1957, almost 23 years later.

Brazilian legend Pele described him as "the man who taught us the way football should be played".

Sir Stanley died on February 23, 2000. His ashes are buried beneath the centre circle of Stoke City's Britannia Stadium, which he officially opened in August 1997.