17 February 2104

Dear Sir,

I read with great interest and sadness your obituary of Sir Tom Finney in The Royal Gazette of February 15, one of England’s greatest football players and certainly one of its greatest gentlemen. Together with Sir Stanley Matthews (who died in 2000), they were football stars of the proportions of Renaldo or Pele.

As a minor part of Bermuda’s sporting history each of them visited Bermuda in May 1962, and I had the honour of playing against both players, in different games, when I was selected to play for the BFA. The games were held at Devonshire Recreation Club (Sir Stanley) and National Sports Club (Sir Tom). Both were significantly older than I was but both managed to make me look like a lumbering elephant.

Many Bermudian fans do not realise the quality of football visitors that came to Bermuda back then. West Bromwich, Glasgow Celtic, Manchester United were typical and I was very lucky to be a footballer player back then. Immodestly, I attach a photo of me from The Royal Gazette of May 1962, playing against Sir Tom.

I am sure many footballers of ancient vintage from all over the world will have lifted a glass over the weekend to celebrate one of the greatest players ever, and a wonderful gentleman.

ROBERT STEWART

Flatts