25th September 1963: Many will remember Tom Finney as a loyal one-club player, but on September 25th 1963, he made his only competitive appearance for a club other than Preston North End - in the European Cup. Three years after playing his last Preston game, George Armstrong (not the GA!), the manager of Northern Ireland champions, Distillery, coaxed the 41-year-old Finney out of retirement to play for Distillery in their European Cup-tie against the Portuguese giants Benfica. On this day in 1963 a 19,326 Belfast crowd witnessed a memorable 3-3 draw between the sides but without Finney in the return leg Benfica ran out 5-0 winners.
Definitely worth One Shilling (these days 5p!) to have this programme and it would not have cost much to see him play in 1963. I did see Finney in a Charity Match at Elland Rd, Leeds United (1973/4) when he played for a World XI as part of the "Billy Bremner Testimonial". Along side Finney was John Charles, a mountain of a man, a Welsh international, who also became one of the first Brits to be lured by the Italians to venture abroad to Juventus. John Charles could play anywhere on the pitch and was regarded as a "gentle giant". You would not argue with him.....6' 2" + 80 kg
Surprise League champions in the 1960-1 season was Ipswich Town, who showed they had no fear of the European Cup (the modern Champions League) when beating Floriana of Malta 10-0 at Portman Road to complete an aggregate 14-1 First Round victory. Ray Crawford scored five of the goals at Portman Road – Ipswich were knocked out by AC Milan in the next round.
Crawford was a Portsmouth lad who played in 1957-8 at Fratton Park but made his name appearing 197 times for Ipswich Town and scored 143 goals for them, from 1958-63 and again in 1966-9- 123 apps/61 goals. He was a prolific goalscorer who only played TWICE for England scoring 1 goal. He also sneaked one international cap for Malaya in 1956 (don't ask?)
Overall 482 apps/290 goals. He managed this lot, in Hampshire, at the end o this career.
He is now retired but still plays a big active role within the community of Portsmouth, appearing at a lot of charity events and is a popular figure at Fratton Park every home game.
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