Preston North End

Club History

Who are Preston North End?

We don’t begrudge the Lilywhites such a rich, long history; a pre-eminent reputation they’ve created for themselves in English football. But it does give us a lot to cram into a short space of copy. And it’s down to effort that we complain. We make no qualms about skipping bits and pieces in PNE’s history. If they’re bothered, they can point everyone towards a more comprehensive resource. Anyway, let’s get this show on the road. The year, for reference, is 1880.

The early part of their history is probably what we can label “the most successful”. As founder members of the Football League, they were the first-ever champions of England; becoming the first club to do the Double in 1889. Even more remarkable is that they remained unbeaten in the league and didn’t concede one single goal in the FA Cup. The caveat is that there probably weren’t as many other teams around to stand in their way. They’d follow up that iconic season with another title the following season.

Never again, however, would they be champions of England. They finished second three seasons on the bounce in the 1890s, before needing a Test Match to retain their Football League status in 1894. And the Lilywhites were once again runners up in 1905. Yet, this came after they’d had to win promotion back up from Division Two; a level they’d soon find themselves becoming more familiar with than they’d probably have liked. Not that it didn’t bring with it titles and promotions back to the top flight.

Oh, and there was a second FA Cup success in 1938.

Looking past World War Two, the club’s undoubted highlight was finishing second to Wolves in the 1957-8 Division One campaign. But the time they spent in the top flight was still being outweighed by the time they were kicking around the second tier. In the year that Tottenham Hotspur became the first team since Preston North End to win the Double, the (northern) Lilywhites were relegated. To date (2023), it was the last time they were seen at the top table of English football.

In the years that followed, things really took a bit of a nosedive. The nadir came during the mid-1980s as the club found themselves in Division Four of all places. It was only for one season, however, and the club would have to make do with third tier action for the rest of that decade. As the Premier League came into being in the early 1990s, Preston – as early powerhouses of the English game – were still dawdling in that third tier. It needed a concerted effort through the 1990s and 2000s to return even as far as the second.

How to get to Preston North End

By Car

By Road

At around 200 miles, this is one of the longer journeys for Stevenage fans. A conservative estimate places the journey time at more than 3.5 hours. Essential components of the trip are the M1 and M6 – or the A14 and M6.

Leave the M6 motorway at Junction 31a; using the B6242 exit for Preston (East) and Longridge. Take the third exit at the roundabout for the B6242 and continue over one roundabout. At the next one, however, turn left (first exit) for the B6241. Just under a mile, bear round to the left. In 0.4 miles more, the ground will be on the left.

By Rail

By Rail

Station: PRESTON
Services to: LONDON EUSTON

The station is around a mile from the stadium, so be prepared for a lengthy walk. Head east on Fishergate towards Mount Street. Continue onto Church Street for nearly half a mile before turning onto Deepdale Road (now called Tom Finney Way… it’s the A6063).

After nearly a mile, turn right onto Park Side and again onto Hollins Road for the away end.

Parking

Parking

Car parking at the ground is available – but at a cost of £15 on the day! You might also want to avoid the grass verges near the ground in case you annoy the local authorities. So, you can try a car park that costs £7 behind the Main Stand across Sir Tom Finney Way. Or Moorfields School will let you park up at a cost of a fiver.