I have very fond memories of this great footballing legend and true gentleman.
I was asked to join Witton Albion’s team of volunteers back in 1991/92. Early in1992, I was asked to join the Board, and my first game as a Director was away to Preston North End in the FA Cup. On arrival at Deepdale, I helped out David Leather with his Football Secretary duties, before joining the rest of the Directors in the boardroom.
An elderly gentleman asked if I wanted a cup of tea, and even went to the trouble of making me a fresh pot. I nearly spilt the whole lot when I realised who he was…yes, Sir Tom Finney going to all that trouble of making me a cup of tea!
Echo those sentiments TT. The late Mark Radcliffe was frendly with Tom Finney and he used to tell me what a lovely gent he was and such a great footballer too. One of the best. Its a shame their isn’t too many of the same ilk at the top flight of football these days.
I remember the cup game at Preston (scary that it was 20+ years ago!) and if I remember correctly we got a 5-0 drubbing. Think we conceded in the first couple of minutes and faced a massive uphill struggle thereafter. We took a massive support to Deepdale that day and we outsung the several thousand home supporters. Great day out.
Another memory I have was that I was appointed as a Director of the club on the Thursday before the game. When the Board Meeting finished, we retired to the bar, and Alan Spruce (who must have been earwigging the meeting) came over and congratulated me on my appointment. He then whispered in my ear “don’t become a miserable bastard like the rest of them on the board”.
After the Preston game, we boarded the coach for home. Somebody shouted that a player was missing, so I got off the coach to look for him. The player must have found a different route from the dressing room, and when he got on the coach, the driver took off, leaving me stranded at Deepdale.
Thankfully, I spotted Paul Lodge and John Davidson, (who had both left the club in the pre-season), leaving the car park, and I cadged a lift of them.
We caught up the team bus at the Tickle and Trout pub, where they had stopped for a post match drink.
I burst into the pub shouting obscenities at the rest of the board for leaving me stranded. Sprucy walked over and said “It didn’t take you long to break my request did it!!!”
[quote=“Thatched tavern” post=53203]With regards the match, it was played on the 7th December 1991, and the final score was 5-1,
From memory, an under-hit back pass to Keith Mason by Lee Coathup was the turning point in the match just before half time.[/quote]
THAT backpass by Lee Coathup (affectionally nicknamed Coathanger by many!) was right in front of the away end where all the Wittoners were stood, the most suicidal backpass I have ever seen! Top player he was but taxi for Coathanger, I still have nightmares…
Good quiz question ( I can’t remember our goal even though I was there and I can remember the backpass!) who was on the scoresheet for the Albs that day at Deepdale? :unsure:
The subject was the great Tom Finney lads. I never saw him play live but I saw him on TV in internationals and in the 1954 Cup Final. He was nothing like Stan Mathews, much more direct and Bill Shankly was right. He said he would get into any team even if he was wearing an overcoat! One club man but only because Preston would not let him go. £14 per week who when he was playing put an extra 20,000 on Preston’s gate. They never used to announce it if he was injured as the gate would drop that far.
WHS.