This time last year I went to Preston
to watch North End play Leyton Orient in a league game and it was
the weekend after Tom Finney had passed away, so there was
considerable celebration of his life in and around Deepdale. I was
annoyed because his fantastic statue, described as the “splash”
was covered in scarves, so we could not appreciate the sculpture first hand.
This FA Cup 5th Round weekend, well Monday actually,
Preston host Manchester United at 7.45. Garner and Davies, as home
team centre forwards, will give the United back three a roughing up
and in the past these journeymen strikers may have benefitted from sublime crosses
delivered by the Preston maestro, Tom Finney. Finney was more than a winger.
He could play anywhere on the pitch and also globally because he was
much sought after by other clubs.
He might have played for Palermo,
who even in those days offered Preston £10,000 signing on fee, £130
a week wages, bonuses, a luxury car and free flights home.
Unfortunately, the Preston directors never told Finney about the
offer as they turned it down, so as not to lose their gem.
Preston NE
was often known as Finney and the ten “drips” alluding to
Finney's major employment as a plumber.
On February 9th 1952,
Preston, with Finney at the helm, wearing a number 7, took on
Manchester United at Deepdale in a First division league game.
Previously in the league, Preston had won 2-1 at Old Trafford, but it
was United that came out best in this return match, 2-1; a
score that United's manager, Van Gaal, would very much be relieved with.
The
last league game between these two was in April 1961 and Finney's
influence ceased. There have been five cup meetings, the last in 1972
when Finney watched his team take on, but lose to, Charlton, Best and
Law.
Finney takes on the whole of Manchester United
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