Sir Tom?

[Bhagwan Hardcastle]

Have read the LEP's interview with Les Dagger today, who used to work with my wife.

He says he was honoured to play with the best player in the world, and one of the best players of all time.

I have never seen Sir Tom play as I am too young, but all the older people seem to talk about him like some sort of footballing god, the like of which who may never be seen again.

For those of you that were lucky enough to see him play can you tell us a bit more about the legend that is Sir Tom????

 

[Aunt Fanny]

Re: Sir Tom?

Have read the LEP's interview with Les Dagger today, who used to work with my wife.

He says he was honoured to play with the best player in the world, and one of the best players of all time.

I have never seen Sir Tom play as I am too young, but all the older people seem to talk about him like some sort of footballing god, the like of which who may never be seen again.

For those of you that were lucky enough to see him play can you tell us a bit more about the legend that is Sir Tom????

Bloody nora - if you never saw Tommy Finney play you haven't lived.

I remember one time when I were a lass going to the picture house on Fishergate all the footballers used to go there, there were none of this squires nonsense or whatever goes on nowadays.

Anyway, there we were me and my Frank God rest his soul, watching High Noon. Well I never it were violent as hell, bloody awful it were, I had to cover my Frank God rest his soul's eyes. Next thing, bang! The bloody projector blew.

Well, I near damn jumped out of my skin. The lovely ice cream with a flake that my Frank God rest his soul had bought me went somersaulting into the air, it were nigh on slow motion.

Next thing, a shadow came out of the stalls, caught my ice-cream on his bloody lap, flicked it up and nodded it straight back into Aunt Fanny's mitt.

That were Tommy Finney.

My Frank God rest his soul were forever grateful to him, and so was I, I tell you that much.

 

[Schemer]

Re: Sir Tom?

I can't do better than Les Dagger's description of him. He was brave and strong in the tackle, a good header of the ball, despite his height, he had pace, a great shot......he had it all. He could play anywhere-he was the complete footballer. And he was (and is) a gentleman as well. Never retaliated, never even booked. The closest I've seen to him was not Maradonna, Pele or Cruyff but George Best.

 

[Albertan]

Re: Sir Tom?

Descriptions of Finney as with any other player from the past can be exaggerated, although in his case they probably arn't, but what can't be exaggerated are some plain facts about his achievements, such as:

1) He played in all five forward positions for Preston with the vast majority of his career being played in the best division in England (the old div one).

2) He was selected for England in three different postions which just underlines Tom's versatility....(right and left wing, plus centre forward).

3) Although his main position was right wing, at a time when the most famous player of the day Stan Matthews also played right wing, Tom still managed to be selected for England 76 times.

4) He is still in the top four or five goalscorers for England (I think) with 30 goals scored in 76 appearances with the vast majority of those goals (if not all of them) being scored from the left or right wing position, and the only players who have scored more goals for England than him all played as an out and out striker.............not sure how many Bobby Charlton scored, but then again didn't he play over 100 games for England?

5) Twice he was voted Footballer of the Year, even though he was playing with an 'unfashionable' club who never actually won anything, ie PNE.

6) He was so two footed, that in the 1958 World cup finals in Sweden, he even took a penalty in a game against Russia (when England were facing elimination at 2-1 down) with his 'wrong' right foot, (Tom was naturally left footed).......like me actually......🙄.

How many players today would have the confidence to take a crucial penalty in a world cup finals match with their 'wrong' foot?

In short..........he was a good 'un.........🙂 .........a very good 'un!

 

[Nottswhite]

Re: Sir Tom?

To quote Bill Shankley ( I think)
' the opposition would put 4 players to mark him----- and that was in the warm up!!!!' 😀

 

[Bonkser]

Re: Sir Tom?

Albertan, you could have added that the goalkeeper facing Finney for the penalty kick was Lev Yashin considered at the time to be the best in the world.

Aunt Fanny, Sir Tom being a sparks did he then fettle the projector so you could see Gary Cooper put the world to rights?????

 

[brianherron]

Re: Sir Tom?

To tell you how good he was would only be met with disbelief. The man was a footballing genius (in the true sense of the word) and as complete a footballer as you'll ever see. Add to that a modest gentleman and what have you got - SIR TOM FINNEY

ps and remember he did all these things when footballs were like heavy medicine balls, pitches were often mud baths and boots were like brickies hobnails,

 

[Gonzo]

Re: Sir Tom?

Have read the LEP's interview with Les Dagger today, who used to work with my wife.

He says he was honoured to play with the best player in the world, and one of the best players of all time.

I have never seen Sir Tom play as I am too young, but all the older people seem to talk about him like some sort of footballing god, the like of which who may never be seen again.

For those of you that were lucky enough to see him play can you tell us a bit more about the legend that is Sir Tom????

There was always an argument about who was the best, Bhagwan, - Stanley Matthews or Tom Finney? And one of the most amusing stories to come out of this was told by his old friend, and ex-Blackpool player, Stanley Mortensen, during an after-dinner speech, at which Tom was present. Morty described how he had played for England against Sweden, with Tom playing on the right wing, in a game won by England 4-2. Morty, scored a hat-trick, and he described how Tom had come up to congratulate him at the end of the game. The dialogue between them went like this:

Tom: "Well, Stanley, we've both had a good day! Just like Stanley Matthews, I've beaten my full-back and crossed the ball over to you, right on to your head, and you've headed in three goals; how do you feel?

Morty: rubbing his forehead - "I feel awful, Tom".

Tom: "Why Stanley? You should be feeling on top of the world!"

Morty: "Well, it's like this, Tom: when Stanley Matthews puts the ball over for me, he always makes sure the laces are on top of the ball."

But as someone else has posted - Tom played in every forward position for England: he was the complete footballer. It is indicative of his, and Stanley Matthews's skill, that when Tom was interviewed a little while back, and asked how modern wingers compared with the players of his day, he said that when he was playing you took on the full back to beat him, and if the ball was forced out for a corner you felt as though you had failed and the full back had got the better of you, whereas playing for a corner, today, is an accepted tactical objective.

All things are relative: playing with a heavy case-ball, and heavy leather boots, against his peers, both in the English league and at international level, Tom was one of the greatest players ever. I still think he was the greatest player I have ever seen, with Stanley Matthews - as a winger - not far behind him.

 

[Berlinender]

Re: Sir Tom?

Bloody nora - if you never saw Tommy Finney play you haven't lived.

I remember one time when I were a lass going to the picture house on Fishergate all the footballers used to go there, there were none of this squires nonsense or whatever goes on nowadays.

Anyway, there we were me and my Frank God rest his soul, watching High Noon. Well I never it were violent as hell, bloody awful it were, I had to cover my Frank God rest his soul's eyes. Next thing, bang! The bloody projector blew.

Well, I near damn jumped out of my skin. The lovely ice cream with a flake that my Frank God rest his soul had bought me went somersaulting into the air, it were nigh on slow motion.

Next thing, a shadow came out of the stalls, caught my ice-cream on his bloody lap, flicked it up and nodded it straight back into Aunt Fanny's mitt.

That were Tommy Finney.

My Frank God rest his soul were forever grateful to him, and so was I, I tell you that much.

Quality Post aunt....

 

[jersey white]

Re: Sir Tom?

Although i have seen the odd clips of tom in action,does any one know if theres a dvd/video compilation of him? or indeed has a full game ever been
filmed with him playing? cheers.

 

[boltons1]

Re: Sir Tom?

Just to add to the posts already when Sir Tom finished playing for England he was the highest scorer. As the others only 'bettered' him later on.

One thing you have to remember though is when Finney was playing Internationals were a lot tougher with the World Cups being made up of less teams and were there as many 'friendlies' against two bit nations?

Unfortunately we have had our Finney, and we could probably only hope for someone half as good to come from the city to play for PNE again.

 

[PNE_ROYC]

Re: Sir Tom?

Being very lucky to play against him (a few years ago, playing for PNE supporters club) Two things stick in my mind:
1) My dad saying to me, why didnt you get stuck in lad? my reply was I couldnt get near him, hes was too fast.
2) Taking the bath after the match and thinking, bloody hell hes got size 10 legs on a size 4 body!

 

[keith750cc]

Re: Sir Tom?

Never saw Sir Tom play, but my dad and father in law both said he was just magic with the ball at his feet, every time he had the ball you expected something special. I have however met him and he is a true Gentleman, he went out of his way to sign an autograph and give words of encouragement to my son when he was small " Play Fair, but Play to Win". 🙂

 

[sliper]

Re: Sir Tom?

I don't know how true it is.. or how accurately I remember it but mi dad told me about a friendly against a Swiss(?) team. The ground was full to capacity because they (the Swiss presumably) had all come to see Finney.

Finney played the first half and scored 3 or 4 and for one basically went past every player in their team.

Anyone got any more accurate info on this ?

I was fortunate to be on the pitch when Finney came out to celebrate his 80th.. and he jogged onto the pitch like a 30 year old.. honestly !

 

[Gonzo]

Re: Sir Tom?

I don't know how true it is.. or how accurately I remember it but mi dad told me about a friendly against a Swiss(?) team. The ground was full to capacity because they (the Swiss presumably) had all come to see Finney.

Finney played the first half and scored 3 or 4 and for one basically went past every player in their team.

Anyone got any more accurate info on this ?

I was fortunate to be on the pitch when Finney came out to celebrate his 80th.. and he jogged onto the pitch like a 30 year old.. honestly !

Tom played twice against Switzerland - in Zurich in 1952 3-0 win for England, and in the 1954 World Cup, in Berne, 2-0 win for England - but he didn't score in either of these games.

PNE did play FC Servette, in a friendly at Deepdale, as part of the 1952 Guild celebrations, which is probably the game your dad was referring to. I've not got the details of this one readily at hand, but if someone else has, maybe they can post them up for you.