He instead joined the Royal Air Force, and was based just outside Blackpool, with Ivor Powell his NCO.[31] He rose to the rank of corporal, though he admitted to being one of the most lenient and easy-going NCOs in the forces.[32] He played 69 Wartime League and Cup games for Stoke, and also made 87 guest appearances for Blackpool.[4] In addition to these, he also played a handful of games for Scottish sides Airdrieonians, Morton and Rangers,[33] where he collected a Charity Cup winners' medal,[34] and also played for Arsenal against FC Dynamo Moscow in extremely thick fog.[35] He also played 29 times for England, though no caps were awarded as these were unofficial games.[4] One of the last games of the period was an FA Cup Sixth Round second-leg tie clash between Stoke and Bolton Wanderers; the match ended in tragedy in what would be known as the Burnden Park disaster – 33 people died and 500 were injured.[36] Matthews sent £30 to the disaster fund and couldn't bring himself to train for several days afterwards.[37] Matthews' father died in 1945.