That was the message from the city's most famous son, Sir Tom Finney, as he spoke for the first time about the plans to host a day in his honour.

Sporting VIPS and city officials gathered at the Town Hall yesterday (FRIDAY) where it was officially announced that a number of special events would be staged on Thursday March 26, 2009 in honour of the 85-year-old hero.

Modest Sir Tom, who knew little of the plans, said: "All I can say is thank you very much indeed. I'm delighted to have this honour. I'm delighted to be a Prestonian anyway.

"I'm very very delighted to think the town are honouring me in this way and I thank them very much for it."

Burnley sporting hero Jimmy McIlroy said he considered it "a great honour" to be at the launch and said of Sir Tom: "To me he is the greatest all-round player I have ever seen, I can tell you, this is from the heart."

Preston Chairman Derek Shaw described Sir Tom as an "amazing man" and said: "I'm very proud as Chairman of Preston North End that the city are granting this day" and joked "I can hear the safety people now, worrying about the numbers in the streets!"

Mayor of Preston Coun Christine Abram called Sir Tom "Mr Preston" and said he had given far more back to the city than anybody she knows.

Council leader Ken Hudson said: "Tom has done tremendous for Preston. I don't think there would be a Preston without Sir Tom. I think it's an absolutely wonderful thing."

National Football Museum general manager David Pearson said: "Everybody loves Sir Tom and knows Sir Tom in the area but his status nationally and world-wide is one of the reasons the national museum of the national game is here in Preston and proud to be in Preston."

Former PNE player and good friend of the Finney family, Tommy Thompson, said the Sir Tom Finney day was "marvellous".

Accompanying Sir Tom to the event, his children Brian Finney and Barbara Herbert said they were extremely proud of their dad.

Brian, 60, who lives in Fulwood, said: "It's a great honour really the town and Mayor want to do this for dad. I just hope it raises a lot of money for the charities."

Barbara, 58, who lives in Ingol, said: "It's a very nice thing to do. It should be really good."

World famous sporting figures - including David Beckham, Pele and Sir Alex Ferguson - will receive invites to a 500-seater Gala Dinner at the Guild Hall.

Special Sir Tom Finney Day medals and a commemorative brochure are also proposed.

Organisers expect in excess of 75 footballing celebrities to attend.

Jim Cadman, from the Media Lights Group sponsoring the gala dinner, said: "We would expect the most star-studded glittering attendance at the Guild Hall when all this comes about."

There are also plans for a special Sir Tom Finney exhibition at the city's National Football Museum.

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