Glowing tributes have been paid across the footballing community following the death of former professional player and devoted father Steve Finney at the age of 48.
During a 10-year career in the game, prolific striker Steve made his senior debut for Preston North End before scoring 16 goals in his first season at Swindon Town as they won the Football League Division Two championship in 1996.
As Swindon hosted Exeter City, there was a minute’s applause before kick-off at the County Ground where fans also chanted Walking in a Finney Wonderland in the ninth minute with a nod to his shirt number.
There were tributes, too, from Carlisle United where Steve scored six times in 33 appearances during 1998-99. United did not lose a game in which he found the net.
Former player John Halpin, who was then co-manager of the team, said of Steve: “What a player he was, with such ability. He wasn’t boisterous, or anything like that, but he commanded respect in the dressing room because of the way he did things.
“A clever player he could take the ball under control with one touch and use it. He always had a picture in his mind. Everybody liked him, he was always there to give advice or an opinion, and this has come as a real shock.”
Hexham-born Steve had lived at Kirkoswald with his family as a youngster and left few in doubt about his goal scoring ability during Penrith and District Junior League matches.
Chairman Peter Renwick recalled: “He stood head and shoulders above the other kids his own age, not only with his football ability but his physical presence.”
Steve played for Pategill, memorably scoring 44 goals in just three under-14 games on consecutive weekends in autumn, 1987, including 18 in a 28-0 win over St Edmund’s. By that time he had made his debut for Kirkoswald in the adult Westmorland League aged just 11.
“He was exceptional,” said former team-mate and friend Mike Chubb. “He had the skill but also the physicality as well. He was bullying some of the fellas!”
From the age of seven, Steve’s manager at Pategill was Jimmy Romano who recalled him being “just a natural footballer”.
Steve signed schoolboy terms with Preston on his 14th birthday, in late 1987, having trained with the Lancashire club for 18 months.
He went on to make six senior appearances before switching to Manchester City but did not make the first team. He followed City manager Steve McMahon to Swindon, netting 18 goals during a three-year mid-1990s spell; spent time on loan at Cambridge United before signing for Carlisle; and later also played for Leyton Orient, Barrow and Chester City.
After calling time on his playing career, Steve became a driving instructor for around a decade and set up his own business.
He also tutored his two children, who passed their tests within minutes of each other on the same day in 2017. He remained in the motoring industry, working as a salesman in Penrith for both Arnold Clark and David Hayton before joining the town’s Ullswater Road Garage, where he worked with son Harry.
His last job was as a business development manager for Ribble Fuel Oils.
Steve coached Harry throughout his time at Castletown Junior Football Club, teaming up with another ex-Carlisle player, Richard Prokas, to lead a successful Whites side from under-9 to under-14s.
Latterly Steve lent support to Westmorland League third division side Ullswater United.
A minute’s silence was observed before their game on Saturday with player-manager Andy Burrell remembering “a man of many talents”. “He brought a wealth of experience from all levels of football. The lads took to him very quickly,” said Andy.
Steve was educated at Beaconside and Ullswater High schools in Penrith before completing his secondary education at Hawkley Hall after the family moved to Wigan.
He married Debbie at St Paul’s Church, Wigan, in 1996, before Harry was born in 1997 and daughter Molly in 1999.
Steve was a Newcastle United supporter with a passion for motorbikes, following British superbikes, MotoGP and F1. But above all, he was a devoted father and became a grandfather 10 months ago when Molly had a daughter, Harper.
He is survived by wife, Debbie; children Harry and Molly, all of Penrith; and siblings, including three sisters, Natalie Ruddick, of Penrith; Angela Banks, of Low Hesket; and Marie Jamieson, who lives near Carlisle.
The funeral service was held at Eden Valley Crematorium on February 17. Walkers Funeral Directors, Penrith, had charge of arrangements.
