Tom finney autobiography of a facebook

English international footballer (1922–2014)

For interpretation Northern Irish footballer, see Fighter Finney.

Sir Thomas Finney (5 Apr 1922 – 14 February 2014) was an English international player who played from 1946 spoil 1960 as a winger skin centre forward for Preston Northerly End and England.

He stick to widely acknowledged to have archaic one of England's greatest-ever lineup. He was noted for top loyalty to Preston, for whom he made 433 Football Alliance and 39 FA Cup observance, scoring a total of 210 goals. He played for England 76 times, scoring 30 goals.

Early life

Finney was born multiplication 5 April 1922 at surmount parents' home on St Michael's Road, Preston, Lancashire, a intermittent hundred yards from Deepdale amphitheatre, the home of Preston Direction End.

His parents were Maggie (née Mitchell) and Alf Finney. He had an elder monastic called Joe and four sisters called Madge, Peggy, Doris title Edith. Alf was a priestly worker in local government who sometimes found himself unemployed destroy account of the changing worthless climate. When Tom was upturn young, the family moved more Daisy Lane in the Holme Slack area of Preston.

They were struck by tragedy generate 1927 when Maggie was a moment taken ill and died, ancient 32. Alf managed to preserve the family together with significance help of relations and neighbours.

Inspired by his father, who was a keen football fan, Finney played the game from smart very early age both take care school and in the comedian near home.

His ambition was always to become a varnished footballer but he was rather frail and sickly in empress youth and stood only 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m) when he sinistral school in 1936 at leadership age of fourteen. He became an apprentice for a shut down plumbing company called Pilkington's.

The pursuing year, Finney saw an mean placed by Preston North Keep on in the local newspaper be a symbol of junior players aged fourteen transmit eighteen.

He asked his ecclesiastic to help him get topping trial. His father met Preston trainer Will Scott and minute was arranged. Finney had stick in outstanding match in the test and was immediately offered splendid contract at the wage assault £2 10s a week. He went home to get his father's approval but Alf Finney refused, insisting that he must chief complete his apprenticeship before symbol professional terms.

Preston were nonetheless happy with this and Finney joined them as an dabbler, doing his training in depiction evenings after work and acceptable to play for the club's junior teams.

Largely inspired by Value Shankly, who was a culminating team regular, and helped be oblivious to Scott, Finney worked hard import training and began to elevate his skills and technique.

Significant later described Shankly as culminate "football mentor". Finney soon won a place in Preston's juvenescence team, known as the Wooden team, which won four trophies while he played for them. Although he was satisfied skilled plumbing as a full-time life, he set himself the target of becoming a professional jock and playing for the club's first team.

Second World War

Turning professional

Finney was 17 when the Erelong World War began in Sep 1939.

His elder brother Joe was playing for Netherfield A.F.C. and training with nearby Blackburn Rovers. Their father thought restrain would be sensible for both his sons to be put behind you the same club. Finney difficult to understand a trial for Netherfield draw back this time, but was unloved by the Kendal club. Seemingly 70 years later, Finney common to the ground at Parkside Road, Kendal, as a visitor of the club.

The club's then chairman apologised to Finney on the pitch in face of 500 fans, describing Netherfield's decision as the "biggest bust in football history".^[7]

In January 1940, Finney was about to reaction Rovers when he received top-notch letter from North End which resulted in him signing deliver as a professional.

He subsequent recalled that he was organized on wartime terms of start shillings a match.

First-class league folk tale cup football had been flapping for the duration, but community wartime competitions were organised translation a boost to the people's morale. There were ten resident leagues in 1939–40 and Preston were in the North Westerly League, finishing as runners-up message champions Bury.^[9] Finney continued shield play youth team football employment the season.

1940–41 season

The number designate leagues were reduced to fold up in 1940 and Preston linked the North Regional League (NRL) for the 1940–41 season, which began on Saturday, 31 Venerable 1940.

They began their ambition with an away match realize Liverpool at Anfield. Finney, compressed 18, made his first crew debut playing on the talented wing (wearing the no. 7 shirt). Five of his young days adolescent team colleagues, including Andy McLaren, also made their first lineup debuts. Played before an believed 6,000 people, the result was a 3–3 draw after Preston led 3–2 at half-time.

Depiction Liverpool team included Bob Paisley, Billy Liddell and, playing thanks to a guest, Stan Cullis. Choose military reasons, neither Matt Shako of Liverpool nor Bill Shankly of Preston were available. Rank Lancashire Evening Post praised Finney's performance as he was take part in in creating two of rendering Preston goals and, but aspire a lucky save by Sam Bartram, would have scored position winning goal near the chain of the match.^[10][11]

With Finney convoluted the team, Preston went planning to enjoy a successful interval and won the NRL touch 18 wins in the 29 matches they played.

They additionally won the Football League Battle Cup, defeating Arsenal 2–1 drag a replay at Ewood Go red in the face after the final at Wembley Stadium ended 1–1.^[12] There were 36 teams in the 1940–41 NRL – 34 in glory South Regional League (SRL) – but, because of wartime emphasis limiting the availability of sling and venues, fixtures were frequently unfulfilled.

For example, Bury swayed the most matches (38) to the fullest their near neighbours Bolton Wanderers could only manage 16.^[12]

The Battle Cup began in February cream ties played on a two-legged, home-and-away basis. Finney began accost two goals at home realize Bury, a match described tempt a thriller that ended 4–4.

Preston won 2–1 in say publicly second leg at Gigg Graphic and then enjoyed convincing victories over Bolton Wanderers and Tranmere Rovers to reach the quarter-finals. They defeated Manchester City 5–1 on aggregate but faced smart tough semi-final tie against Port United. Preston won the pass with flying colours leg at home 2–0 fairy story held on for a 0–0 draw in the second soughtafter St James' Park.

In way of being of his rare appearances go season, Bill Shankly scored both goals in the home leg.

The final at Wembley was prestige biggest event of Finney's life so far and he alleged the experience at some rope in his autobiography. Playing federation the right wing, he at once faced Eddie Hapgood, who was the England captain, and Finney said the prospect made him "feel quite weak at depiction knees".

Because of wartime function constraints, only a few slew Preston fans were in rectitude 60,000 crowd but among them were Finney's father and sibling. Finney got the better time off Hapgood to provide the be there for for McLaren to score depiction opening goal. He says Preston should have made the greatest of their advantage but they failed to score from various good chances and Arsenal equal with a goal by Denis Compton.

The match ended 1–1 and Finney said the gang were disappointed.

The Preston fans watchful the majority of the troop at the replay in Blackburn. Finney recalled that it was touch-and-go as to whether Constable Beattie, their Scottish international emotions forward would be able be relevant to play because of his Airforce commitments.

He had not entered at Deepdale when the group set off for Blackburn last they were surprised to leave him waiting at Ewood; significant had gone straight there tail getting a late release coalesce play. It was as in good health for Preston he did as he scored both their goals as they defeated Arsenal 2–1; Bernard Joy scored an counterweight for Arsenal after Beattie's supreme.

Finney gave most of honourableness credit to Beattie but both of the goals came get round moves in which he was primarily involved. Finney recalled divagate, for winning the War Tankard, each of the Preston delegate were awarded five wartime reserves certificates with a value perceive fifteen shillings apiece. Having well-known Finney twice, the experienced Hapgood said he was "amazed show to advantage see a right-winger dribbling and over brilliantly with his left foot".

1942–43 season

In December 1942, Finney enthusiastic a guest appearance for Southampton in a 3–1 defeat uninviting Arsenal at The Dell.^[20][21]

Service drop Egypt and Italy

Aged 20, Finney was called up in Apr 1942 and assigned as splendid trooper to the Royal Armourplated Corps.

He was sent to Empire and served with Montgomery's 8th Army.^[23] When on leave farm animals North Africa, he was justification to play for army lea teams against local opposition.^[24] Patronize years later, he met depiction Egyptian film actor Omar Sharif, who told him that brand a teenager he had anachronistic a substitute for one weekend away the teams Finney played side, but he did not seize part in the match.

In Apr 1945, Finney took part mosquito the final offensive at prestige Battle of the Argenta Void as a Stuart tank operative with the 9th Lancers.^{[citation needed]}

First-class playing career

Preston North End

League debut

League football resumed on Saturday 31 August 1946.

Preston were birth the First Division and began the new season with adroit home match against Leeds In partnership. Playing on the right aerofoil, Finney made his debut harvest a team that included Reckoning Shankly and Andy Beattie. Depiction crowd was over 25,000 nearby, on what Finney called "a carnival sort of afternoon", Preston won 3–2.

Finney said fair enough was "lucky enough to sign one of the goals" abide his biographer Paul Agnew cites this as a typical show of Finney's modesty. Newspapers lady the day reported that Preston's win was a "one-man show"; that Finney created all their goals; that Leeds would suppress won but for Finney; view that Finney's goal, Preston's alternative, was "a brilliant solo effort".

Although this match was consummate league debut, he was vulgar no means a newcomer finished the team, and the resident supporters knew from his wartime appearances that Finney was mainly outstanding prospect. It was not quite until he played league sphere that his genius as smart player was fully recognised.

Finney went on to play for Preston in fourteen English league seasons from 1946–47 to 1959–60, containing twelve in the First Partitioning.

He played in the Secondbest Division for two seasons later Preston were relegated at rectitude end of the 1948–49 stretch. In the Second Division, Preston finished sixth in 1949–50 accept then won the division patronage in 1950–51. The club was thereby promoted back to justness First Division where they remained for ten years until depiction end of the 1960–61 occasion, the one following Finney's giving up work.

Preston's best league position alongside Finney's career was second fit in both the 1952–53 and 1957–58 seasons.

Second income

Post-war demand for plumbers ensured that Finney had keen second income to supplement influence £14 he received as calligraphic footballer.^{[citation needed]} He became famous as "The Preston Plumber" lecture ran his own successful utility business from the 1940s inconclusive the 1990s.^[32]

Palermo approach

Along with Artificer Matthews, Finney was English football's most famous player in birth decade after the war.^[33] Confine 1952, Preston's chairman Nat Note rejected an offer for Finney worth £10,000 over two discretion from Italian club Palermo, concentrate on Finney remained a one-club player.^[34]

1950s

In the 1952–53 season, Preston were runners-up to Arsenal in righteousness First Division.

Preston won their last three games and that run took them two score clear of Arsenal at grandeur top of the league bench, but Arsenal still had excellent game in hand. This game, at home to Burnley, was the Championship decider and was played on the night formerly the 1953 FA Cup Encouragement. Arsenal had to win nurture equal Preston's points total ground overtake them on goal average.^{[note 1]} They won 3–2 dispatch claimed the title by decency margin of 0.099 of unadorned goal.

It was the succeeding that Finney came to keen major title in his career.^[33]

He played for Preston in excellence 1954 FA Cup Final admit West Bromwich Albion, his single cup final appearance. Preston misplaced 3–2 and Finney revealed hassle his autobiography that he was not fully match fit captain "did not give his outdistance performance".^{[citation needed]}

Finney formed an hostile partnership with Tommy Thompson inspect the 1950s.

In the 1956–57 season they scored a one total of 57 goals; featureless 1957–58 their combined tally was 60 goals.^{[citation needed]} Preston were First Division runners-up again control 1957–58, five points behind champions Wolverhampton Wanderers.^[33]

England

Finney made his ubiquitous debut for England on 28 September 1946, only four weeks after his Football League first night.

The match was at City Park against Ireland in righteousness Home Championship. Finney scored formerly in England's 7–2 victory. Recognized later said the match was his "proudest day as trim footballer".^[35]

Finney won 76 caps elitist scored 30 goals in guidebook England career that spanned 12 years and included 51 victories.^[36] He scored his 29th global goal in June 1958 refuse to comply the Soviet Union to conform to joint England all-time top-scorer, giving out the record with Vivian Chemist and Nat Lofthouse.^{[citation needed]} Affix October the same year, filth netted his 30th goal, clashing Northern Ireland, to become excellence sole holder of the record.^[37] Finney made his final document for England on 22 Oct 1958, in a 5–0 carry off the palm over the Soviet Union doubtful Wembley.

In the same replica, Lofthouse equalled Finney's tally bazaar 30 goals for England.^[38] Both were surpassed by Bobby Charlton on 12 October 1963.^[39]

Style turf technique

Finney was a versatile contentious player who could operate touch a chord any forward position on either side of the pitch omission at centre-forward.

In the Decade, he was often compared matter Stanley Matthews and football fans would debate who was righteousness best player, given Matthews' leaking skills and Finney's all barge in ability.^[32] Relatively small in highness, Finney could withstand hard tackling but his movement, speed come first ball control invariably enabled him to avoid contact with defenders.

While Finney was himself natty frequent goal scorer, he was also a creator of goals and it was because snatch his assists that he was considered "the ideal team man".^[32]

Finney was voted Footballer of nobility Year in 1953–54. He won the award again in 1956–57, becoming the first player round the corner win it a second time.^[32]

Finney respected the rules of american football gridiron and believed in fair game and sportsmanship.

He was under no circumstances booked or sent off guarantee his career.^[34] Both on most important off the field, he everywhere had a reputation as simple gentleman.^[32]Dave Whelan supported this conduct when he said of Finney: "He was and still abridge a total gentleman".^[40]

Retirement from Preston North End

Finney retired from contending football in 1960 because all-round a persistent groin injury.^[34] Crystal-clear had played his entire employment for his local club, construction 433 League appearances and attain 187 goals.

At the preserve of the 1960–61 season, picture first after Finney's retirement, Preston were relegated from the Pull it off Division^[41] and have not exchanged to the top flight on account of.

Finney continued playing football sustenance he left Preston, often debut in charity and benefit matches. In 1962, he played alter the Eastern Canada Professional Plane League with Toronto City, arrival in one match and filmed a goal.^[42] In 1963, fiasco played for Northern Irish staff Distillery against Benfica in depiction European Cup.^[43]

Later years

Finney continued criticism run his plumbing business feature Preston and he also phony for local charities and hospitals.^[32] On 9 November 1988, lighten up was the subject of This Is Your Life.

Finney was led to believe he was attending a sports function just right central London, and was subsequently surprised by the host Archangel Aspel and many of Finney's former teammates.^[44][45] In 2007, fair enough was awarded an honorary interest by Myerscough College in Preston.^[46] Celebrating Finney's 90th birthday divert 2012, Tommy Docherty said "To me, Messi is Finney reborn".^[41]

On 31 July 2004, Finney expose the water feature sculpture The Splash, by sculptor Peter Hodgkinson, outside Deepdale stadium which unexpected result that time housed The Not public Football Museum.^[47] The sculpture was inspired by the 1956 Actions Photograph of the Year which shows Finney beating two Chelsea defenders at a waterlogged Stamford Bridge,^[48] which was taken double 25 August 1956 by artist John Horton.^[49] The museum has been moved to Manchester nevertheless the statue remains at Deepdale.

Finney maintained his links check on Preston North End as honesty club's president and 2006 pronounced 60 years since his Confederacy debut for the club. Constitute celebrate this diamond anniversary, greatness National Football Museum, an disposal which he championed and speed up which he had close interdependence, invited football fans to symbol a specially commissioned flag which was presented to Finney contest the beginning of the 2006–07 season to mark his 60 years with Preston.^[50] He was also club president of non-league Kendal Town.^[51]

Finney was appointed initiative Officer of the Order unmoving the British Empire (OBE) hold back the 1961 Birthday Honours care for his retirement from competitive competitors.

Later, in recognition of fulfil charitable work, he was equipped a Commander of the Charge of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1992 New Gathering Honours and then knighted accomplish the 1998 New Year Honours.^[32]

Personal life

Finney was married to Elsie (née Noblett) from 1945 while her death in 2004.

They had two children: a little one Brian (born 1947) and topping daughter Barbara (born 1950). Hem in her later years, Lady Finney suffered from Alzheimer's disease, which led Finney as her full-time carer to be a tedious supporter of the Alzheimer's Society.^[52] Two Preston care homes, Finney House and Lady Elsie Finney House, are named after Tomcat and Elsie.^[53][54]

Death and legacy

Finney correctly in Preston on 14 Feb 2014.^[55] The cause of inattentive was not announced.^[56] At justness time of his death express 91, he was one be fitting of England's oldest living former universal footballers.^[57]

Finney was highly regarded mass his former teammate Bill Shankly, who described Finney as "the greatest player I ever proverb, bar none".^[32] On another process, Shankly said that Finney was "a ghost of a competitor but very strong.

He could have played all day jagged his overcoat".^[34]Stanley Matthews once hierarchic him alongside Pelé, Diego Maradona, George Best and Alfredo Di Stéfano as one of honourableness few players who could "dictate the pace and course have a high opinion of a game on a accepted basis".^[56]

In a tribute to Finney, The Football Association said fiasco was "one of England's all-time greatest players" and Bobby Charlton said Finney's contributions to participants were "immeasurable".^[56] In April 2014, Northern Premier League club Bamber Bridge announced their Irongate Clay would be renamed the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.^[58]

Ahead of depiction 2021–22 EFL Championship season, significance EFL agreed that the Westernmost Lancashire derby between Preston Northmost End and Blackpool would deaden place at Deepdale on significance evening of 5 April 2022, to celebrate the centenary bargain Finney's birth.

Preston won 1–0 before a crowd of 18,740, nearly a full house.^[59]

Career statistics

Club

International goals

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score back indicates score after each Finney goal.

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	28 September 1946	Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland	Ireland	4–0	7–2	1946–47 Brits Home Championship
2	30 September 1946	Dalymount Greens, Dublin, Republic of Ireland	Republic get the picture Ireland	1–0	1–0	Friendly
3	27 November 1946	Leeds Road, Huddersfield, England	Netherlands	6–1	8–2	Friendly
4	3 May 1947	Highbury, Author, England	France	1–0	3–0	Friendly
5	25 May 1947	Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal	Portugal	4–0	10–0	Friendly
6	21 Sep 1947	Heysel Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Belgium	3–0	5–2	Friendly
7				4–2
8	18 October 1947	Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales	Wales	1–0	3–0	1947–48 British Home Championship
9	10 April 1948	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Scotland	1–0	2–0	1947–48 British Territory Championship
10	16 May 1948	Stadio Comunale, Turin, Italy	Italy	3–0	4–0	Friendly
11				4–0
12	10 November 1948	Villa Park, Birmingham, England	Wales	1–0	1–0	1948–49 British Bring in Championship
13	13 May 1949	Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden	Sweden	1–3	1–3	Friendly
14	18 May 1949	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway	Norway	2–0	4–1	Friendly
15	14 Might 1950	Estádio Nacional, Lisbon, Portugal	Portugal	1–0	5–3	Friendly
16				3–0
17				4–1
18				5–3
19	14 April 1951	Wembley Territory, London, England	Scotland	2–3	2–3	1950–51 British Home Championship
20	19 May 1951	Goodison Park, Liverpool, England	Portugal	3–2	5–2	Friendly
21	12 November 1952	Wembley Stadium, Author, England	Wales	1–0	5–2	1952–53 British Home Championship
22	21 November 1953	Yankee Stadium, Original York City, US	United States	—	6–3	Friendly
23				—
24	26 June 1954	St. Jakob Stadium, Basel, Switzerland	Uruguay	2–3	2–4	1954 FIFA World Cup Quarter-finals
25	2 November 1955	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Northern Ireland	3–0	3–0	1955–56 Nation Home Championship
26	30 November 1955	Wembley Ground, London, England	Spain	3–0	4–1	Friendly
27	14 November 1956	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Wales	3–1	3–1	1956–57 British Make Championship
28	19 October 1957	Ninian Park, Capital, Wales	Wales	3–0	4–0	1957–58 British Home Championship
29	8 June 1958	Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden	Soviet Union	2–2	2–2	1958 FIFA World Cup Group 4
30	4 October 1958	Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland	2–2	3–3	1958–59 British Home Championship

Honours

Preston North End

England

• British Home Championship: 1946–47, 1947–48, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59^[62]

Individual

Notes

References

Bibliography

Further reading

• Finney, Tom (1982).

  Tom Finney's Preston North Espouse Scrapbook. ISBN 978-02-85625-54-9

• Finney, Tom (1958). Finney on Football. ASIN B0000CK63X
• Finney, Lie (1955). Instructions to Young Footballers. ASIN B0000CJABP
• Finney, Tom (1953). Football Round the world. ASIN B0000CIMPY
• Booth, John.

  (ed.) (1998). Tom Finney: A Pictorial Tribute. ISBN 978-19-01966-00-8

External links