Everton manager David Moyes has shared fond memories of his conversations with the legendary Sir Tom Finney ahead of the second round Carabao Cup clash against Preston North End at Deepdale. This is the club where the Scot started his managerial career.
Moyes spent five years playing for Preston before taking charge of the team in January 1998. He rescued the club from relegation in the Third Division, guided them to promotion, and led them to the First Division playoff final, before receiving an invitation from Everton in March 2002.
One of the standout memories from those days for Moyes was his regular Friday meetings with the England and Preston legend, Sir Tom Finney:
Sir Tom Finney always embodied what I see this club as. In those early years, he would often drop by on Fridays before matches for a cup of tea and a chat. He was a true legend and remains one to this day.
Moyes often sought advice from the great forward, who played 472 matches for the club and 76 for the England national team, asking about the secrets to facing tough defenders:
He would always keep it simple. If a defender tried to force him one way, Tom would just go the other way; and if they tried to knock him down, he would cleverly avoid the contact. He had a response for any defender’s move against him.
Despite the nostalgia tied to his first managerial job, Moyes emphasised that all sentiment will be put aside come kick-off, as Everton aims to secure their place in the next round of the tournament.
