Tributes have poured in following the death of Christopher ‘Stan’ Matthews, a prominent and widely respected figure in Bahrain’s rugby community and, above all, a devoted family man.
Mr Matthews, who lived in Bahrain for more than 30 years, died at the age of 60 after suffering from a suspected heart attack while cycling with friends in France on April 2. He leaves behind wife, Gail, and their two sons Callum, 24, and Finley, 23.
Friends and former teammates have since shared heartfelt tributes, recalling the remarkable influence he had both on and off the pitch.
One of his closest friends, Robert Phillips, reflected on his impact after he joined Bahrain Rugby Football Club in 1987, describing him as the ‘most decorated player that has ever played for the club’.
He proudly represented the club both in the sevens and the fifteens team. He also competed at international level in both formats for the Arabian Gulf, a representative team that brought together players from across the region, before individual national teams were formally established in 2010.
One of the highlights of his career was a photograph taken with His Majesty King Hamad during a match organised in 1999 against the Bahrain Defence Force. “His impact was second to none,” Mr Phillips told the GDN. “He served as vice-captain from 1992 to 2006, officially becoming captain from 1994 to 1995, but stood in on multiple occasions.”
Beyond his achievements on the field, Mr Phillips spoke warmly of his character, describing Chris as his ‘best mate’ and the ‘life of the party, once you got to know him’.
“He was always the first guy to stand in line to raise money for the club,” he said. “But he never sought the spotlight. He contributed so much, yet never acted like it.”
Mr Matthews also served as a committee member and played a key role in developing the club’s facilities, including its restaurants and pool area. The Bahrain Rugby Club paid a heartfelt tribute to Mr Matthews, honouring his life and the lasting legacy he leaves behind within the club.
Another close friend, Jonty Crosse, reflected on their first meeting in the late 1980s, when Mr Matthews arrived in Bahrain as a young man in his early twenties to work as a money broker during the kingdom’s growing financial boom.
“From those early days, we became good friends,” he told the GDN. “His exceptional rugby talent has been well documented, but he had many other interests that blossomed over time.
“He was naturally quiet, but always gave his all. His early acting appearance (with massive reluctance from himself) in the Arabvision Revues was extremely well received.”
He added that it was Chris’s relationship with his beloved wife Gail of more than 25 years that truly defined him.
“She saw the depth in him and encouraged him to explore new passions,” he said. “He developed a love for music across many genres, became a regular at lively festivals, appeared as an extra in plays and films and was a determined fisherman, often found catching pike in the river near his home in Cambridgeshire.
“Chris embraced fancy dress – probably not as enthusiastically as Gail – and above all cherished his family and friends,” he said.
Most importantly, he was a devoted father to his two sons.
“It is just awful to hear this news,” Mr Crosse added. “What a wonderful friend, father and husband. Life can be very unfair!”
Former colleague and friend Nader Shaheen told the GDN he first began working with Mr Matthews at Tullet and Tokyo as a broker in 1993, although the pair had known each other since meeting at the rugby club, as far back as 1989.
He recalled one boating trip where the pair would swim near the Alba jetty, jumping from a 20-foot metal marker into the water. “I struggled to muster the courage to jump, but he would perform a flawless one-and-a-half pike somersault, barely making a ripple when he hit the water,” he said.
Mr Shaheen said few could make him laugh the way Mr Matthews did, praising his ability to tell jokes with perfect timing and expression. “I’m smiling as I am thinking about the last joke he told me which involved cooling someone while wafting a towel, I couldn’t possibly share the punchline,” he said, adding that his humour and good nature were infectious. “He saw positivity everywhere and would mock my morose predictions – more often than not, he was right.”
He described Mr Matthews as widely read, often with more than one book on the go, and said that despite first impressions of his Essex accent, he was ‘extremely sharp, insightful, wise and fiercely intelligent’.
Mr Shaheen also reflected on Mr Matthews strong marriage to Gail, recalling how well matched they were and how they would sing together with brilliant energy, ending in a ‘brilliant crescendo and a fabulous hug’.
He added that Mr Matthews was a devoted father to his sons, fully engaging in their lives from the moment they were born. “He certainly saw it as his duty but the bonus was that he enjoyed it too,” he said.
“It hurts to know I won’t see him again but I can’t imagine the excruciating pain his family is suffering and my heart goes out to them. An exceptionally kind man, gone way too soon. Rest in peace brother.”
William Wood said the world feels a little less bright following the loss of his friend, and that he is struggling to come to terms with the news. “Chris was many things – a husband, father, brother, son and friend,” he said. “Chris told me many times his greatest achievements was marrying Gail and being the father of his two boys. My heart breaks for the massive hole in their ‘new normal’.”
He recalled arriving in the kingdom two months after Chris in 1987. “I immediately knew this guy from Essex was going to be a huge part of my life and we became the best of friends. I was honoured to be his best man at his wedding. To me Chris was simply one of my best and most reliable friends, and I love and miss him more than I can say. It’s all about your mates.”
His funeral date will be announced shortly, the family said.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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