Tom Finney
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Sir Tom Finney (born April 5, 1922) was an English association footballer famous for his loyalty to his league club, Preston North End F.C., and for his performances in the English national side.
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Early life
Finney was born in Preston in a street next to the Deepdale stadium. He was frail and somewhat sickly in his youth and stood only 4 foot 9 inch (1.45 m) at the age of fourteen. When he was offered the opportunity to sign for his local club, his father insisted that he complete his apprenticeship in the family's plumbing business before signing as a professional.
Second World War
Soon after he signed, however, World War II began and normal football was suspended, though Finney started to achieve some recognition during war-time tournaments. Called up to the Royal Armoured Corps in 1942, he fought in Montgomery's Eighth Army in Egypt. Local leave in North Africa allowed him to play in army teams against local opposition and on one occasion he played against the future actor Omar Sharif.
Post-war career and England debut
Once normal competition was restored, he made his debut for the club in August 1946 and soon established himself as an agile forward, capable of playing on either wing or in the centre. Post-war demand for plumbers ensured that he had a second income to supplement the GBP14 he received under football's maximum wage regulations, and he became famous as the "Preston plumber". One month after his first appearance for Preston, Finney made his England debut, going on to win 76 caps and score 30 goals.
Retirement
He retired from Preston North End in 1960, only when forced out with a persistent groin injury. He had played his entire career for his local club, appearing 433 times and scoring 187 goals. The balance of Preston's team hardly matched Finney's brilliance, the young Bill Shankly not withstanding, and he never won a major trophy. His loyalty is remarkable, even extending to rejecting a 1952 offer from Italian club Palermo that included a GBP 10,000 personal signing-on fee and high pay and perquisites.
Continuing links with Preston North End
As of 2005 he maintains his links with Preston North End as club president.
Quotes about Finney
- "Tom Finney would have been great in any team, in any match and in any age ... even if he had been wearing an overcoat." Bill Shankly
- "Tom Finney should claim income tax relief ... for his 10 dependents." Satirical observation on the weakness of the Preston team in his absence.
- "If all the brains in the game sat in committee to design the perfect player, they would come up with a reincarnation of Tom Finney." Anonymous newspaper feature.
Honours
- Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, 1954 and 1957;
- OBE, 1961; and
- Knighthood, 1998.
Bibliography
- Finney, T. (2004) Tom Finney Autobiography ISBN 075531106X
- Finney, T. (1982) Tom Finney's Preston North End Scrapbook ISBN 0285625543
- Finney, T. (1958) Finney on Football ISBN B0000CK63X
- Finney, T. (1955) Instructions to Young Footballers ISBN B0000CJABP
- Finney, T. (1953) Football Round the world ISBN B0000CIMPY
- Agnew, P. (2002) Tom Finney: A Football Legend ISBN 0953084795
- Booth, J. (ed.) (1998) Tom Finney: A Pictorial Tribute ISBN 1901966003
External links
- Full list of Finney's international goals (http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/finney-intlg.html)
- Tom Finney at the International Football Hall of Fame (http://www.ifhof.com/hof/finney.asp)
- Interview with Finney from 1999 (http://www.shankly.com/finneyint.htm)
| Preceded by: Nat Lofthouse | Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year 1954 | Succeeded by: Don Revie |
| Preceded by: Bert Trautmann | Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year 1957 | Succeeded by: Danny Blanchflower |