Who is tom finney

Finney was selected for three World Cups — Brazil , Switzerland and Sweden — but England failed to make a mark in any of them. A quarter-final place in was as good as it got, with England bowing out to Uruguay in Basle.

In the tournament, Finney played in the opening group game against the USSR, scoring from the penalty spot. But he was injured and took no further part in the competition as England drew both their two other games and then lost to the Russians in a pool play-off. With Preston having so many Scots in the squad during his time as a player, games against the Auld Enemy were keenly anticipated and Finney always seemed to raise his game for trips to Hampden Park.

His 76th and final international appearance came at Wembley on October 22, when England beat Russia Only 18 days earlier Finney had set a new goalscoring record when he netted his 30th in a draw with Northern Ireland in Belfast.

He was a true gentleman both on and off the field and was never booked nor sent off in his career, despite being targeted by defenders with orders to stop him at all costs. A persistent groin injury gave the iconic winger no alternative, yet for that last season he played in all-but five games and scored 21 goals. He was determined to bow out with a roar not a whimper.

His final game came on April 30th, when Luton Town visited Deepdale. He also scored a hat-trick in the fourth-round tie against Manchester City. Preston reached the final by beating Newcastle United Nineteen year old Tom Finney was picked for the final.

In front of a 60, crowd. Arsenal was awarded a penalty after only three minutes but Leslie Compton hit the foot of the post with the spot kick. Preston dominated the rest of the match but Dennis Compton managed to get the equaliser just before the end of full-time.

The replay took place at Ewood Park, the ground of Blackburn Rovers. The first goal was as a result of a move that included Tom Finney and Jimmy Dougal before Robert Beattie put the ball in the net.

Frank Gallimore put through his own goal but from the next attack, Beattie scored again. It was the final goal of the game and Preston ended up the winners of the cup. Tom Finney had two great games against England's full-back, Eddie Hapgood , and fully deserved his winners' medal. Andrew McLaren scored all six goals in the victory. There is no doubt that during this period Preston was the best football club in England.

Finney got six goals that season but he was mainly remembered for setting up chances for Dougal, McLaren, Mutch and Beattie. This great Preston team was broken up by the Second World War. In Finney was called up to the Royal Armoured Corps.

Tom Finney the footballer was now Tom Finney the soldier, involved in all sorts of military manoeuvres, sometimes for and hour streches. The physical demands were punishing in the extreme. Finney returned to the Preston North End at the beginning of the first season after the war.

At 24 he had missed some of his best football years while serving in the British Army. A month later he gained his first international cap playing for England against Northern Ireland. He scored in England's victory.

Finney also scored in his second international game when he netted the only goal in the victory over the Republic of Ireland. Over the next few years Finney was a regular scorer at international level. In a game against Portugal in Lisbon on 14th May, , Finney scored 4 goals, in England's victory.

Finney was later to claim that it was his greatest performance in a England shirt. Stan Mortensen played with Finney several times during his international career : "Speed is a curious thing in football.

You need to be fast, but only over short distances. A man who can beat his team-mates over a hundred yards may be one of the slowest on the field, where speed is all a matter of bursts over a few yards. More important than absolute speed are acceleration and change of pace, and the knack of getting into your stride quickly. Watch Tom Finney He will amble along, rolling the ball like a dancing-master. When the half-back or back is wondering whether to deliver the tackle, he will suddenly lengthen and quicken his stride in the most surprising fashion.

There is the trick of slowing down after a full-speed burst, and then speeding up again. If you can do this, you will not find many defenders able to counter the move.

He was once asked to compare them as players: "Tom Finney always looks deadly serious, but his football has an impish character about it. Much of his footwork resembles that of Matthews, but Finney cuts in more than Matthews does, and is also a goal-scorer, whereas Matthews is content to let others do the scoring.

Tom can also play equally well on the left wing, and has shown that he is equally skilful at beating an opponent on the inside as well as the outside. Like Matthews, he has a tremendous burst of speed which helps him to float away from his pursuers. Matt Busby was asked the same question: "Stan Matthews was basically a right-footed player, Tom Finney a left-footed player, though Tom's right was as good as most players' better foot.

Matthews gave the ball only when he was good and ready and the move was ripe to be finished off. Finney was more of a team player, Matthews being more of an inspiration to a team than a single part of it.

Finney was more inclined to join in moves and build them up with colleagues, by giving and taking back. He would beat a man with a pass or with wonderful individual runs that left the opposition in disarray. And Finney would also finish the whole thing off by scoring, which Stan seldom did. Being naturally left-footed, Tom was absolutely devastating on the right wing. An opponent never seemed to be able to get at him.

If you were a problem to him he had two solutions to you. How can anybody say who was the greater? I think I would choose Matthews for the big occasion - he played as if he was playing the Palladium. I would choose Finney, the lesser showman but still a beautiful sight to see, for the greater impact on his team. For moments of magic - Matthews. For immense versatility - Finney. Coming down to an all-purpose selection about whom I would choose for my side if I could have one or the other I would choose Finney.

Nat Lofthouse , refused to compare the two players in his autobiography, Goals Galore : "To compare Matthews and Finney is not really possible.

They are entirely different in style. Whereas Tom Finney takes the ball no matter how it is sent to him, Stan Matthews prefers it direct to his feet.

This, quite naturally, limits a centre-forward's distribution. Stanley does not like a centre-forward to veer out on to his beat, but, as you may have noticed, he frequently draws opponents away from the centre-forward and then pushes over a really peachy pass.

I am not risking the wrath of millions of his admirers by criticizing Matthews, but I must say that speaking as a centre-forward I prefer the more direct winger. While Stan is beating defenders out on the touch-line, other members of the defence are given valuable time to get back and cover. As another example of how different in style Matthews and Finney are, I must mention their centres and corner-kicks. Matthews' crosses, on the other hand, seem to float in the air. Goalkeepers, and other defenders, coming up against this unusual form of centre, are invariably caught in two minds.

For the centre-forward, it means a different approach must be made in heading the ball goalwards. With Matthews' centres I have to put my own power behind the ball; in other words, I try to kick the ball with my forehead.

For speed over 20 yards, too, Stanley Matthews remains the fastest of all wingers. It upset Finney that the media constantly reported that he did not got on with Stanley Matthews. Finney commented in his book, My Autobiography : "Imagine how we both felt, continually reading in the newspapers of a so-called feud between us. Time and time again we tried to put the record straight, but it was almost as if the media didn't want to know. Perhaps the truth would have served only to ruin the stories.

So let's put a few myths to bed. I have waited a long time for this. Stan and I shared a mutual respect and a close friendship and I categorically refute all rumours suggesting any kind of bad blood or friction. Matthews confirmed this in his autobiography The Way It Was : "As a player, he Finney was happy operating on either wing. He could also drop into midfield to mastermind a game and, when asked, to play as an out-and-out centre-forward.

He was a striker of considerable note, as a career total of goals testifies. He took all the corners, the free kicks, throw-ins and penalties and, such was his devotion to Preston, I reckon he would have taken the money on the turnstiles and sold programmes before a match if they'd let him.

On the pitch he made ordinary players look great and helped the great players create the magical moments that for years would be sprinkled like gold dust on harsh working-class lives to create cherished memories that would be recalled to grandchildren on the knee. If greatness in football can be defined by the ability of a player to impose his personality on a match and dominate the proceedings throughout, then Tom Finney, for club and country, was indeed a true great.

His delayed spurt, lengthened stride, his ability to beat a man then cut in and shoot and, above all, his cunning use of the ball with both feet, posed insurmountable problems for even the best defenders. The sight of one man dictating the fortunes of a team is one of football's greatest and rarest spectacles.

To dictate the pace and course of a game, a player has to be blessed with awesome qualities. Those who have accomplished it on a regular basis can be counted on the fingers of one hand - Pele, Maradona, Best, Di Stefano and Tom Finney. Finney, considered to be the best player playing in the early s, was unable to bring success to Preston North End. He was in the team that was promoted to the First Division in the season.

The pitch was a quagmire, but the mud didn't hinder Tommy at all. He trailed the ball past opponents, cut it across the penalty area, won free kicks and penalty kicks and made Derby wish he was a million miles away. It was one of the most remarkable games I can remember He was a ghost of a player but very strong. He could have played all day in his overcoat. The approach was made by an Italian prince, owner of the Palermo club in Sicily.

We are not interested in selling you and that's that. Listen to me, if tha' doesn't play for Preston then tha' doesn't play for anybody. Finney later explained: "Deep down, I expected no other reaction, but I was still more than a little put out by the way he just dismissed it.

However his speed, movement and ability, on the ground and in the air, left defenders bamboozled. A prolific goal scorer, Finney was also great at creating goals for other players: the ideal team man. Preston North End prepare for cup battle with Brighton. Tom Finney, Preston's ace, who has put many a spanner in opposition works during his brilliant career, tightens up the screw - in studs of his boots before taking part in a full scale practice match.

January P Pic via Mirrorpix. Despite Tom's undoubted greatness, major honours were to elude him throughout his career.

During the Finney era Preston were often viewed harshly as a one-man team. Having been relegated in , they won the Second Division in , and were to finish First Division runners up the following year. Without him the following season, Preston finished bottom of the league, and haven't returned to the top flight since.

Both on and off the field he was known as a gentleman. Never booked, sent off or reportedly even 'spoken to' by a referee, after his career ended he dedicated his life to helping the people of his beloved city of Preston, working for local charities and hospitals.

He went on to win 76 caps and score a then record 30 goals in an England career that spanned 13 years and included 51 victories. Tom played his entire career for Preston North End, making appearances and scoring goals, and would maintain links with the club by becoming President following his retirement from playing football. The Theatre of Dreams. Tom Finney recalls his experience of This Is Your Life in his autobiography, reproduced here with kind permission of the author I never saw red as a footballer, or even yellow.

I went through my entire playing career without so much as a booking. But in I did see red — the famous red book presented to many a surprised subject on the popular television show This Is Your Life. Up until it was my turn to stand back in open-mouthed astonishment, I must concede that I wondered if some were put-up jobs.

Did the people really know and were they just pretending otherwise? Would the programme risk another Danny Blanchflower moment? That great Spurs star had declined the opportunity to take part, in full view of the nation.