Thousands of people lined the streets of Preston to see the funeral cortege as it travelled from Deepdale stadium to Preston Minster.
The minster itself was packed with many figures from football and the city to pay tribute to the former England winger, who died aged 91 two weeks ago.
Finney won 76 caps and scored 30 international goals, and played for Preston all his career, making 569 first-class appearances.
Sir Trevor Brooking, the former England international who represented the Football Association at the funeral service, said: "He was one of the most genuine invidividuals you would ever be likely to meet. Everyone admired and respected him.
"To come to this event today, over 50 years since he played, and see all these people both here in the minster and on the streets, I can't think of many who would get the same reaction.
"As a player, he was the match-winner, the crowd-pleaser, the one who could make the difference - I was a youngster in primary school when he was playing, I would watch him on a black and white telly and then go out into the garden with my brother to try to emulate him."
Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey was also among those at the service, and he said: "The great and the good of football have come out to say farewell to Sir Tom Finney - a man who was a genuine legend of our game.
"You only have to mention Preston and Preston North End... the conversation soon turns to Tom Finney and that sums up everything the man did for the club, the city and the game of football."
David Moyes, the Manchester United boss who started his coaching career at Preston, attended the service, as did England's record goalscorer Sir Bobby Charlton.
The funeral cortege travelled from Preston's Deepdale home - Finney was born on a street next to the stadium in 1922 - with a mounted police escort from the Lancashire Constabulary to the minster.
The Preston and District Veterans' Association also joined the cortege to mark his service as a tank driver in the Royal Armoured Corps during the Second World War.
The funeral service was shown live on a big screen inside Preston's ground to a crowd of several thousand people.
Preston City Council had planned for tens of thousands to line the streets, with a number of schools giving children time off to attend the event.
Finney was nicknamed the 'Preston Plumber' - his father insisted he train as plumber and he continued working in the family business throughout his career: useful extra income in the days of the maximum wage for players.
He was regarded as one of the true greats of English football - and his record of caps and goals came despite having lost six years to the war.
FIFA's British vice-president Jim Boyce represented the world governing body at the funeral.
He said: "Tom Finney was one of my boyhood heroes, and played in a day where footballers were earning a fraction of the money they earn today, and became a fantastic ambassador for Preston - the city and the club.
"It has been fantastic to see so many people turn out to show their affection to one of the game's true greats."
Preston chairman Peter Ridsdale said Finney had "touched the hearts" of the community.
He said: "What I think is wonderful is that so many people - not only from the game but also from the city - have turned out to say farewell.
"This is a player that truly touched the hearts not just of football, but the whole community.
"The whole of Preston has almost come to a standstill in the two weeks since his death, and that is testament to what a great man he was."
Former Everton manager Howard Kendall, who began his playing career at Preston, was also among the 600 invited mourners for the service.
ONE-CLUB MAN (AND NEWCASTLE)
The fans clapped in honour of Tom Finney at St James' Park on Sunday ... but did those fans know Preston's "one club man" played six times for Newcastle?
He was stationed at Catterick Barracks in the late part of 1942 during WWII, and he played in the famous black and white shirt between September and November.
Even though the Magpies put seven past Leeds, he was not one of the scorers.
However, in his last game he scored a hat-trick against Gateshead,
Bradford PA 0 Newcastle 0
Huddersfield Town 4 Newcastle 0
Newcastle 0 Huddersfield Town 4
Leeds Utd 1 Newcastle 7
York City 4 Newcastle 3
Newcastle 7 Gateshead 4 (Finney 3)
Soon after Finney signed for Preston the Second World War began and normal football was suspended, though Finney started to achieve some recognition during war-time tournaments.
In December 1942, after playing for Newcastle, he made a guest appearance for Southampton in a 3–1 defeat by Arsenal at The Dell
Called up to serve in the Royal Armoured Corps in 1942, Finney fought in Montgomery's Eighth Army in Egypt and later in Italy in the final offensive to capture Argenta in April 1945 as a Stuart tank driver in 9th Lancers.
Local leave in North Africa allowed him to play in army teams against local opposition, and on one occasion he played against the future actor Omar Sharif.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP FOR HEROES EVENING!
Come and join us (NU-Mad) at Framwellgate Moor WMC, near Durham
Friday February 28th
Tickets £3 (or on the door)
MYSTIFIED
(Bon Jovi, Cher, Journey, Whitesnake, Blondie, Kings Of Leon, etc)
'Mysified' and support act, plus disco and top prizes in raffle.
Please, come support our troops!
Tickets from: Kevnumad@fsmail.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Newcastle United Fixtures
Saturday March 1
15:00
Hull City v Newcastle United
Sunday March 9
16:00
Newcastle United v Everton
Saturday March 15
15:00
Fulham v Newcastle United
Saturday March 22
15:00
Newcastle United v Crystal Palace
Saturday March 29
15:00
Southampton v Newcastle United
Saturday April 5
15:00
Newcastle United v Man Utd
Saturday April 12
15:00
Stoke City v Newcastle United
Saturday April 19
15:00
Newcastle United v Swansea City
Saturday April 26
15:00
Arsenal v Newcastle United
Saturday May 3
15:00
Newcastle United v Cardiff City
Sunday May 11
15:00
Liverpool v Newcastle United
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14
PREMIER LEAGUE
NEWCASTLE 1 ASTON VILLA 0 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Sissoko, Cheick Tiote (89' Gosling), Anita, Gouffran, Remy, Cisse (72' de Jong).
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 SPURS 4
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (45' Dummett), Anita, Sissoko, Gouffran, de Jong (63' Ben Arfa), Sammy Ameobi (71' Marveaux), Cisse
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Shola Ameobi
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy (40' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, S Taylor, Dummett, Anita (84' Marveaux), Santon, Ben Arfa (64' Gosling), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi, de Jong.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Shola Ameobi, Armstrong
NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 3
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (64' Dummett), Anita (74' Marveaux), Tiote, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Sammy Ameobi (45' de Jong), Shola Ameobi.
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Armstrong
NORWICH 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Ben Arfa (75' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi (87' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Elliot, Dummett, Armstrong
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye 2, Remy)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, S Taylor, Santon (74' Dummett), Tiote, Anita (60' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran, Remy (78' Ben Arfa)
Subs: Cisse, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa (82' Ben Arfa), Williamson, S Taylor, Santon, Anita (73' Cisse), Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye, Gouffran (82' Haidara), Remy
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi
WEST BROM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini (65' Yanga-Mbiwa), Santon, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (45' Ben Arfa), Sissoko, Remy, Shola Ameobi (76' Haidara).
Subs: Anita, Cisse, Elliot, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita (74' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Sissoko (79' Haidara), Cabaye, Gouffran (62' Ben Arfa), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 5 STOKE CITY 1 (Remy 2, Gouffran, Cabaye, Cisse pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (61' Haidara), Anita (45' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gouffran (72' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye, Gabbidon og, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye (79' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Remy (75' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1 (Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (78' Haidara), Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (73' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (61' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
MAN UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Debuchy (83' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (78' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Remy, Gouffran (57' Ben Arfa).
Subs: Cisse, Gutierrez, Elliot, Obertan
SWANSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson (77' Yanga-Mbiwa), Coloccini, Santon (56' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi (67' Obertan), Remy
Subs: Anita, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 WBA 1 (Gouffran, Sissoko)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko (90+5' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi, Remy (84' Anita)
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 NORWICH CITY 1 (Remy, Gouffran)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye (68' Anita), Gouffran (83' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (74' Cisse), Remy.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
TOTTENHAM 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (85' Obertan), Remy (75' Cisse), Shola Ameobi (60' Anita).
Subs: Coloccini, Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0 (Gouffran, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote (53' Anita), Gouffran (85' Obertan), Shola Ameobi (62' Cisse).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier.
SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78' Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.
CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
LEAGUE CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2 (AET)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (45 Dummett, 80 Ben Arfa), Anita, Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko, Shola Ameobi (66 Cabaye), Cisse
Subs: Remy, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick
MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete
FA CUP
NEWCASTLE 1 CARDIFF CITY 2 (Cisse)
Elliot, Santon, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Sissoko (85' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Gouffran (63' Obertan), Ben Arfa, Cisse (85' Remy).
Subs: Williamson, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett, Alnwick