A modest home town one club player who was as important to PNE and England as Sir Bobbie Charlton was. Operated mainly as a right winger but also at centre forward and was a regular goal scorer. His final appearance at Wembley was the '64 cup final that PNE lost. The disappointment on his face when he received his losers medal was touching. Even got his autograph outside Roker Park.
Now there was a true footballing legend. It matters little that I ever saw him (I never really saw Pele play but it's not necessary to celebrate greatness) and Finney was the real deal. Football is all the more lessened by his death and the football community united in its praise of him. God bless Sir Tom. RIP
When the likes of Cryuff, Pele, Eusebio praise the man you know you're talking about football royalty. And he was most definitely that.
