Tom Finney, one of England’s greatest players who was famously known as the “Preston Plumber, has died at the age of 91, his former club Preston North End said on Friday.
“Preston North End have been informed of the extremely sad news of the passing of Sir Tom Finney,” the club said.
“Sir Tom was the greatest player to ever play for Preston North End and one of the all time greats for England.
“The thoughts of everyone at the Club, and those connected with it, are with his family at this time.”
Finney won 76 England caps, scoring 30 goals, and was voted Footballer of the Year in 1954 and 1957 – the first man to receive the accolade twice.
He also scored 210 goals in 473 appearances for his boyhood club before retiring in 1960 and returning to his trade as a plumber before becoming a newspaper columnist.
Finney, who could play on the right and left wing or at centre-forward, had joined his hometown club Preston as an amateur in 1937, turning professional three years later.