Cecil Henry Matthews (13 October 1914 – 8 November 1987) was a New Zealand long distance runner from Canterbury, who represented New Zealand at the 1936 Summer Olympics at Berlin and New Zealand at the 1938 British Empire Games at Sydney.

He had tendon problems (like Pat Boot, who also had a disappointing result at Berlin), from running on the decks of the Wanganella.

He then received guidance from the Olympic 1,500 metres winner, Jack Lovelock, and at the 1938 British Empire Games won two gold medals, in the three-mile (5 km) race where he beat Peter Ward, and in the six-mile (10 km) event.

[1] Matthews twice won the New Zealand national 3 miles title, in 1936 and 1938.

[2] He served in the Air Force in World War II, then moved to Auckland where he died.