First it was a stand, then a road, then it was a statue, and now Sir Tom Finney has his very own day!

'Sir Tom Finney Day' is the latest honour bestowed upon the North End and England great, as Preston City Council looks to commemorate its most famous son.

The date of the event has been set for Thursday 26th March 2009, and will feature a Gala Dinner at the Preston Guildhall, and a special Sir Tom Finney exhibition organised by the National Football Museum. A series of events and activities will also be organised in and around the city to commemorate the city's pride for Sir Tom's achievements and the pride that the whole city holds for the great man.



Sir Tom already has the Freedom of the City of Preston, which was granted to him in 1979, and is the highest honour the city can bestow on an individual. It is hoped that this day can show how special he really is to Prestonians, and will also prove to be a special occasion for the city's residents, with schools and young people set to be heavily involved in a number of the events.

Preston North End chairman Derek Shaw told PNE.com:

"He deserves this recognition, without a doubt. The plaudits just keep on coming for him because he's so well-respected from one end of the country to the other.

"Sir Tom is a marvellous man, who will do anything for anybody. He will do anything for anybody - any causes, any charity - and words can't describe the man. He's absolutely magnificent, and keeps going at 85-years-old. It's wonderful for the city to give something back to Sir Tom.

"It's a proud day for both the city and the man himself."