Born 1922, Died 2014. Finney played his entire professional career with his home club Preston North End (PNE). He also kept up his trade throughout his career, earning the nickname ‘the Preston Plumber’ – in an era when international footballers did not earn high salaries.

Finney excelled at outside right but was equally skilled in other positions, scoring an amazing 210 goals in 473 games for PNE, and 30 goals in 76 matches for England, while being widely regarded as the model professional. He proved an inspiration to fans and team mates and was voted the Footballer of the Year twice, finally hanging up his boots in 1960. Dubbed the ‘perfect gentleman’ and a proud Prestonian, he carried on his plumbing business afterwards. Finney was knighted in 1998 and a tribute at North End’s Deepdale Stadium close to the street where he was born. ‘The Splash’ water feature was unveiled in 2004, which was inspired by a famous 1956 photograph taken during a match at Chelsea.

(Ref: Visit Preston)