From 1957 Matthews worked as an electrician at a local power plant at Hams Hall near Sutton Coldfield and had to take a paid leave for competitions.

He was the only one of the four gold medallists from Great Britain who was not appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) soon afterwards in recognition of his achievement.

[2] In 2007, he was the guest of honour at Hawarden High School for the Year 11 Record Of Achievement.

[citation needed] In 2011, he was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame.

An inquest concluded in early January 2020 that his death was the result of an unknown allergic reaction.