Legend isn't a word I like to use but this man deserves it. I never saw him play, just old footage but my dad had the pleasure and said the man was amazing. He was also a gentleman off the pitch.
Was earning about £17 a week at Preston and seemingly an Italian club offered him £100 a week a house and a car. He turned it down he loved Preston North End. RIP.
Saw this yesterday, he really was a legend in the days when England had a great football team and were respected throughout the world. Very well thought of on and off the field.
If you ever get to go to a game at Preston they've got a great Tom Finney exhibition showing the England caps that he won and loads of photo's of him playing for both Preston and England. I saw some cups there that I hadn't even heard of before. Well worth a visit.
Ultimate one club man, was there from leaving school until the day he died. Will never have the likes of him again.
My dad used to talk about him whenever anyone raved about Sir Stanley Matthews and he used to quote an old footballer (I don't recall which one) who said something along the lines of: Stanley Matthews could beat the defender and put the ball right on the centre forward's head from any angle. But Tom Finney could beat his man, cross it from any angle so it hits your head with the horrible laces facing the other way, so you didn't hurt your head. Legend. And as others have said, a true gentleman and a true pro. Today's youngsters could learn a lot about attitude, behaviour and expectations from researching folk like him. R.I.P.
