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Sir Tom Finney Funeral To Be Held In Preston (PICTURES)

Tens Of Thousands Bid Farewell To 'Preston Plumber' Finney (PICTURES)
The Huffington Post UK/PA
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Tributes are laid outside Deepdale Stadium in memory of Sir Tom Finney
Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn out for the civic funeral of Sir Tom Finney in Preston.

David Moyes, the Manchester United boss who started his coaching career at Preston, attended the service, as did England's record goalscorer Sir Bobby Charlton.

Former England international Jimmy Armfield and ex-United manager Tommy Docherty were also among the mourners.

Former England winger Finney, who won 76 caps and scored 30 international goals, played for Preston all his career, making 569 first-class appearances. He died two weeks ago aged 91.

The funeral cortege will go from the club's Deepdale Stadium - Finney was born on a street next to the stadium in 1922 - with a mounted police escort from the Lancashire Constabulary to a service at Preston Minster.

The Preston and District Veterans' Association will also join the cortege to mark his service as a tank driver in the Royal Armoured Corps during the Second World War.

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Finney provided one of the great English football photos at Stamford Bridge

The funeral service was shown on a big screen inside Preston's ground and several thousand people have already applied for free tickets to attend.

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Finney spent the whole of his career at Preston North End

The Football Association is sending Sir Trevor Brooking, the former England international who is now the FA's director of football development, to represent the organisation.

Brooking said: "When I look back on Sir Tom's career he was undoubtedly one of our most gifted and popular English footballers of all time.

Sir Tom Finny funeral
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(01 of26)
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A picture of Sir Tom Finney sits next to his coffin during his Funeral service at St Johns Minster, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(02 of26)
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A picture of Sir Tom Finney sits by the alter before his Funeral at St Johns Minster, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(03 of26)
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Names of guests attending the funeral of Sir Tom Finney sit on seats at St Johns Minster, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(04 of26)
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A picture of Sir Tom Finney sits by the alter before his Funeral at St Johns Minster, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(05 of26)
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The order of service for Sir Tom Finney before his Funeral at St Johns Minster, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(06 of26)
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A picture of Sir Tom Finney sits by the alter before his Funeral at St John???s Minster, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(07 of26)
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Tributes are laid outside Deepdale Stadium in memory of Sir Tom Finney (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(08 of26)
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A picture of Sir Tom Finney sits by the alter before his Funeral at St Johns Minster, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(09 of26)
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Tommy Docherty arrives for the funeral of Sir Tom Finney at St JohnÕs Parish Church, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(10 of26)
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The coffin of Sir Tom Finney arrives at St JohnÕs Parish Church, Preston, for his funeral. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(11 of26)
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The coffin of Sir Tom Finney arrives at St JohnÕs Parish Church, Preston, for his funeral. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(12 of26)
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The courtage carrying the coffin of Sir Tom Finney as it passes by Deepdale Stadium (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(13 of26)
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The coat of arms of the City of Preston flies at half mast outside Deepdale stadium as a large poster of Sir Tom Finney adorns the extior of the stadium (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(14 of26)
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The coffin of Sir Tom Finney arrives at St JohnÕs Parish Church, Preston, for his funeral. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(15 of26)
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Preston North End fans await the courtage carrying the coffin of Sir Tom Finney as it passes by Deepdale Stadium (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(16 of26)
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Preston Manager Simon Grayson arrives for the funeral of Sir Tom Finney at St John???s Parish Church, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(17 of26)
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Jimmy Armfield (right) and Gordon Taylor arrive for the funeral of Sir Tom Finney at St John???s Parish Church, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(18 of26)
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Sir Bobby Charlton arrives with Doug Ellis (left) for the funeral of Sir Tom Finney at St John???s Parish Church, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(19 of26)
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The courtege carrying the coffin of Sir Tom Finney passes by Deepdale home of Preston North End, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(20 of26)
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The coffin of Sir Tom Finney passes mourners outside Deepdale Stadium (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(21 of26)
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Manchester United manager David Moyes arrives for the funeral of Sir Tom Finney at St John???s Parish Church, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(22 of26)
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Sir Bobby Charlton bows his head as he arrives for the funeral of Sir Tom Finney at St John???s Parish Church, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(23 of26)
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Fans watch the funeral service of Sir Tom Finney on a big screen at Deepdale, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(24 of26)
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Fans watch the funeral service of Sir Tom Finney on a big screen at Deepdale, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(25 of26)
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A floral tribute from Preston North End at the funeral of Sir Tom Finney at St JohnÕs Parish Church, Preston. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Sir Tom Finney Civic Funeral(26 of26)
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A picture of Sir Tom Finney sits next to his coffin during his Funeral service at St Johns Minster, Preston. (credit:PA)

"Certainly as a young boy in the 1950s, his illustrious exploits alongside the likes of Billy Wright and Stanley Matthews inspired many of us out into our gardens to practice our football skills."

Finney was nicknamed the 'Preston Plumber' - his father insisted he train as plumber and he continued working in the family business throughout his career: useful extra income in the days of the maximum wage for players.

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