Sir Tom Finney honoured by cricket club

Sir Tom Finney, the legendary former England and Preston North End footballer, will receive his first cricket award on Saturday, June 30, when he is made an honorary life member of Preston Cricket Club.

Finney, 85, was born and brought up just yards from the Deepdale Stadium in Preston. In a career that spanned three decades, he scored 187 goals in 433 matches for North End, as well as 30 more in 76 appearances for England. He was knighted in 1998.

Before the Second World War Finney played cricket for Preston Schoolboys, and says he has always regarded cricket as his second sport. David Wilson, the chairman of Preston Cricket Club, played against him when he retired from football in 1960, and remembered him as a good left-handed batsman and bowler. He made 39 not out in his retirement match.

The award will be made during the tea interval of Preston's match against Fleetwood. Finney will receive a parchment scroll which says: "For services to sport, the community and charity."

Paul Simpson, the current Preston North End manager, is restoring the annual cricket match in aid of the Preston Mayor's charities. The fixture will take place at Preston Cricket Club on Saturday, July 14, at 2pm.