Tributes to former PNE and England striker Tommy Thompson, who's died aged 86

Tommy Thompson passed away in hospital aged 86. Credit: Preston North End.

Former Preston North End and England striker Tommy Thompson has passed away in hospital aged 86.

Tommy ‘Topper’ Thompson was a goalscoring legend at Deepdale after joining from Aston Villa for a fee of £27,000.

On his PNE debut, away at Everton's Goodison Park, Topper took just two minutes to score his first of many goals for Preston North End, the club's historian Ian Rigby said.

He went on to score in his first four games for the Lillywhites and finished the 1955/56 season as their leading goalscorer with a respectable 24 goals.

A teammate at Preston and England of legend Sir Tom Finney, ‘Topper’ was top scorer again the following season, as he and Finney recorded 57 goals between them as PNE finished third in the league.

Former Preston North End and England striker Tommy Thompson was his club's top scorer. Credit: Preston North End