Seventy years after it was taken, a single black-and-white photograph of Preston North End legend Tom Finney continues to hold a firm grip on English football's collective memory, so much so that it inspired a permanent tribute outside the club's home ground.
The image, known as "The Splash," was captured in August 1956 during a Football League first division match at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge, played in torrential rain. It shows Finney gliding through a huge puddle on the right wing while somehow keeping the ball under control, water fanning out around him like the wake of a boat. The photograph was taken by John Horton of the Press Association, who at 82 years old was reportedly amused and flattered decades later by the enduring fascination with his work.
At the time, referees had far less inclination to abandon matches due to weather, and players were simply expected to push through difficult conditions, something that would likely see a modern top-flight fixture called off. That context has only added to the mystique of the photograph, which has come to represent the toughness associated with football from that era.
Finney was already one of the most recognizable footballers in the country by 1956, having represented England at the 1950 and 1954 World Cups. He would go on to make a final World Cup appearance in 1958. Often described as the biggest star of his generation, Finney spent his entire career at Preston North End, turning down the chance to leave his hometown club. He made 433 appearances for Preston, scoring 210 goals, and earned 76 caps for England, netting 30 times.
Despite his fame, wage caps imposed by the Football League at the time limited his earnings to a maximum of £20 per week, equivalent to roughly £400 today. To supplement his income, Finney worked as a plumber alongside his football career, a detail that has only reinforced his image as a grounded, working-class hero.
The photograph has been reproduced widely over the years, appearing in books, magazines, and even on merchandise such as T-shirts and mugs. It also served as the backdrop when Finney appeared on the television programme This Is Your Life.
When Preston North End redeveloped their Deepdale stadium in the 1990s, officials decided to name a stand after Finney and commission a statue in his honor. Local sculptor Peter Hodgkinson, a lifelong Preston fan, was tasked with recreating the image in three dimensions, complete with fountains designed to mimic the splash from the original photograph. The statue was completed in 2002.
Hodgkinson recalled the difficulty of the project, saying he had only grainy photocopies to work from at the time, joking that the task would be considerably easier with today's technology. Despite the challenges, he expressed pride in the finished piece, admitting he still feels he could improve on it but values it as both an artist and a fan. He later met Finney following the statue's unveiling and described him as a humble man who seemed somewhat overwhelmed that such a tribute had been made during his lifetime.
Finney died in 2014 at the age of 91, and fans reportedly lined the streets five deep to mark his passing, a testament to his lasting status as a Preston icon. For younger supporters who never saw him play, such as 31-year-old fan Jack Bridge, the photograph remains a powerful link to Finney's legacy. Bridge said the image represents more than just a moment in a match, calling Finney "our greatest player" and recalling stories passed down from his grandfather about crowds emptying the ground whenever Finney was absent.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.