The Forgotten Legends of Football: Sir Tom Finney

“I’m not going to take you on”

Finney was unnaturally gifted not just as a football player, but also as a human being. When Dave Whelan appeared against Preston in his first game back for Blackburn Rovers after recovering from a broken leg, he was given the impossible task of marking Tom Finney. According to Whelan, Finney approached him at the start of the game and said this: “You’ve had some back luck son, and I’m not going to take you on, I want you to get through today’s game and get back into the first team.”

Tommy Docherty, a fellow Preston legend, said of Finney: “You never see him concerned in any tasteless things, we never hear him criticising anyone, and that was Finney.” Finney certainly played with a class and dignity on the field, and it is obvious in the statistics books; in 433 appearances for the Lilywhites, he never once received a yellow card. Perhaps his involvement in the Second World War (he fought in Montgomery’s Eighth Army in Egypt and later in Italy as a Stuart tank driver in 9th Lancers) taught him the kind of valuable life lessons on perspective and decency that today’s footballer will never appreciate.

Back in 2003, I had the honour of meeting Sir Tom, my club hero. In our short meeting at his house in Preston, he didn’t talk about himself once without being specifically asked. Instead, he only wanted to ask questions about me; where did I grow up, was I enjoying school, did I go to watch Preston play often?

Despite the fact that I was a thirteen year old boy with nothing remotely interesting to tell him, and he was one of the most accomplished sportsmen of the 20th century, he made me feel like I was the most interesting person in the room. He had no desire whatsoever to brag about his achievements, of which there are many, even though he knew I would have been completely awestruck if he had. At the time I didn’t appreciate it, but later it struck me just how unbelievably modest and kind Sir Tom Finney is. Those gifts are just as remarkable as his great footballing talent was.

Preston North End’s Tom Finney and members of his team link arms in the line up prior to his last match for the club

Legacy

Browsing a list of all the British football players with a knighthood, the average football fan will be far more familiar with the names of Bobby Charlton, Stanley Matthews and Geoff Hurst than that of Tom Finney. But Finney was just as good, if not better, than all of them. He just wasn’t in as good a situation.

Finney ignored the opportunity to chase glory elsewhere, choosing instead to remain a humble and proud Prestonian. Had he not been blessed with such loyalty, he might have joined Manchester United after that relegation season in 1949. He would have become a United legend, and one of the most famous players of all time worldwide. Because of that loyalty to Preston however, Finney’s reputation has suffered somewhat. In a way, he has been punished for his admirable qualities.

Tom Finney was not only one of the greatest footballers to have ever graced the beautiful game, he is also a thoroughly decent man. He has carried himself with dignity and class both on and off the field for his entire life, never letting greed or pride stand in the way of becoming the best of what he can be. What he gave to Preston North End and to football in general can never be repaid. And for that, he deserves to be remembered.