Fans and friends salute football legend Sir Tom
TRIBUTES poured in for Preston North End and England legend Sir Tom Finney who has died at the age of 91.
Sir Tom played 473 games for his beloved North End during a glittering career in which he was capped 76 times for England and scored 30 goals.
Known as the “Preston Plumber” for his second career, Sir Tom was also heralded for his tireless charity work and willingness to give his time to good causes.
Yesterday a bumper crowd of 13,440 poured into the Deepdale terraces for the Lilywhites’ match against Leyton Orient and a minute’s silence was observed ahead of kick-off.
The North End team wore black armbands and ‘Finney’ on the back of their shirts, while hundreds of tributes were laid at his famous ‘Splash’ statue, outside the ground.
Sir Tom’s former team- mate Tommy Docherty, said: “He was something else, the Lionel Messi of his day.
“He was a great person and a lovely man. I never heard him criticise anyone.”
Sir Tom, who was knighted in 1998, will be forever linked with Preston and Docherty recalled how gates at Deepdale would be lower if he was not playing.
He said: “If Tom was injured, they wouldn’t tell the team at all.
“If he was injured, and that was rare, there would be 20,000 at the game instead of 42,000.”
Docherty’s views were shared by former England captain Jimmy Armfield.
He said: “He, in my opinion, is one of the really great footballers that this country has produced.
“As much as anything else, and it’s hard to explain to many people today, but it was the way he played and the way he carried himself — his whole demeanour in life.
“Really, Preston will be a very sad place.”
North End owner Trevor Hemmings, a former friend of Sir Tom, also paid a moving tribute.
He said: “I not only enjoyed many hours of watching Sir Tom playing football but also many hours in his company raising money and keeping the club alive financially after his playing days had ended.
“I also enjoyed many hours socially with Sir Tom and his late wife Elsie.
“As a player, as a person, as an ambassador for football in general and Preston North End in particular, the world will never see the like of Sir Tom again.
“My thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.”