Fan Tributes

A while ago,I tried to explain the beautiful game to my girlfriend and the importance of PNE to me. She was a total football novice;her only knowledge being Joe Hart " I saw him on that Sky programme". I felt it was my duty to pass on some basic knowledge of the greatest players ever to grace a pitch. I showed clips of Pele,Gazza,Maradona,Messi to generate interest,nothing worked. I remembered I had a "whose who of PNE", show I brought that out for her. I looked through it and found the double pages dedicated to our Sir Tom. She read it and was notably impressed. A few weeks later, I asked her about the greatest players, this time she mentioned Big Kevin Davies, Joe Hart and to my delight, Tom Finney. I took this as a footballing moral victory.
I wear my England shirt's with"Finney 7" on the back to show my pride and respond to the inevitable questions on " who is that?" " The greatest and most humble player ever to play the beautiful game. Oh and he played for the North End."
Finally,I take huge pride in the fact that Sir Tom was not simply a part of the team I so dearly love, he carried himself with the mannerisms characteristically displayed by Lancastrians and he was and will always be Preston North End. Melv will now be able to say to her equine friends that she knows of a footballing legend that was the greatest one club player ever. She will say that he was a gent and he is adored by the supporters of our great club. She'll say that he scored lots of goals and was a footballing wizard who could fix heating.
Thank you Sir Tom, your legacy lasts in the club you loved.
(don't know many events that would mar my valentines day with my amazing Melv, Sir Tom's passing did that!)

Ed & Melv 

RIP SIR TOM FINNEY as im only 22 i never got to see you play but i met you out side the player entrance once and all i can say is you was such a pleasure to talk and and had time for the fans rest in peace truly and greatfuly missed

mark young 

Sir Tom,
i wish I had been fortunate enough to have seen you play. An inspirational man, and fantastic representative of the club. Preston Fans will tell stories of you forever- absolute legend! God Bless x

Clare 

I only saw Tom Finney play in testimonial games but the stories my Dad told me gave me a flavour of the type of player he was. He said the club never announced the team the day before the game if Finney wasn't to play because it would knock 10,000 off the gate. He also said he was such a good crosser of a ball that not only did he put it on your head but also made sure the laces in the case all faced away from you! He wasn't just the finest player of his era, he was the finest player of any era. If there's a Heavens eleven Sir Tom Finney will be the first name on the teamsheet. God bless him and his family

Bill Pitcher 

Sir Tom, you have brought joy to this world and I can't thank you enough. You are a legend to your fans and to the football world. I'm too young to have seen you play but I feel an enormous loss, simply because the man you were. Humble, generous and a lovely man. God bless you and I hope that one day England will produce another like you, sadly I doubt that will ever come true.

RIP

Spurs fan.

James 

Sir Tom, you put the "Proud" in Proud Preston. I met you once and you signed a book for my father. You are a true great.
Alan Holden

Alan holden 

Sir Tom Finney, the name makes me proud to be a Preston North End fan. I had the honour of meeting you twice, once when I was a steward at Deepdale and you stopped to have a photo with me, the second when you signed your autobiography for me. Those two memories will stick with me forever. Your name will live on in football forever

Rick Hall 

In the late 40s my dad said, 'Come on I'm going to show you the greatest footballer in the world.' We lived ten minutes walk from Deepdale. My dad was right. Not only had Tom consummate skill, but he played with the poise of a ballet dancer and the dignity of a great man.

Mike Jackson 

Gutted that didn't go to today's game so I could pay tribute. All our family knew Tom Finney's name by the time we could talk. My dad would tell tales of living near him in Preston and watching him play ( my dad is 89). He came to my grandmothers 90 th birthday party in 1990. Hero, legend. RIP

S Dawson 

Tom
You will be forever in my thoughts never will you be forgotten RIP Sir Tom the one and only legend.

steve atherton