Preston North End- Could this be the year?

[B.Jacko]

Name: Preston North End

Nickname: The Lilywhites

Founded: 1881

League: Coca Cola Championship

Chairman: Derek Shaw

Manager: Alan Irvine

History

Preston North End were one of the founder members of the Football League. In the first two seasons, The lilywhites made history, becoming the first team to do the double, including not conceding a goal in the 1888-89 cup, and in the first football League season, they went unbeaten for the whole season, something that wasn't matched until Arsenal's feat in the 2003-2004 season. They were nicknamed The Invincibles.

PNE won their last major trophy so far, way back in 1938. They won the 1938 FA Cup final, versus Huddersfield Town. George mutch slammed home the only goal of the game, from the Penalty Spot.

A few years later, a star came through at Preston, and his name was Tom Finney. The self-proclaimed Preston Plumber stayed with Preston for all of his career, making 433 appearances for them, scoring 187 goals. He retired in 1960 after a persistent groin injury stopped him playing. He was also a star player for England, winning 76 caps, scoring 30 goals. Preston unveiled a statue of him outside the National Football Museum 4 years ago, with the sculpture showing him on a waterlogged Stamford Bridge pitch.

Preston have risen up the leagues following their decline during the 60's to the 80's. They won promotion to the now named Coca Cola league 1 in the 1995-96 season. Andy Saville was the leading man, scoing 29 goals for PNE during that season, and that season, a new stand named after Sir Tom Finney was opened, with a capacity of 8,000. The following seasons, PNE were very inconsisent, and Gary Peters was replaced as manager by loyal club servant David Moyes. Moyes led PNE to success in the years he was in charge of them for. In the 1998-99 season, they were defeated in the play-off semi finals by Gillingham. The first leg was at Deepdale, where the two clubs drew 1-1, with goals from David Eyres and Bob Taylor. but the second leg was settled as early as the second minute, as commanding midfielder Andy Hessenthaler ploughed the ball into the back of the net. PNE also had a memorable cup tie vs Arsenal in the FA Cup 3rd round. Kurt Nogan scored 2 goals in the first half, but Arsenal pegged back and won the game 4-2.

The following season, PNE won promotion to the now named Coca Cola Championship. Jon Macken, signed by Gary Peters two years earlier, was their top scorer, scoring a massive 22 goals. Graham Alexander was also a key-player, scoring many penalties for the club. The title was confirmed against Cambridge, a few games before the end of the season, where they lost 2-0.

The following season was amazing. Having just being promoted from League 1, pundits were predicting relegation for the whites, but they kept up their good form for the whole season, finishing 4th. They beat Birmingham City in the play-off semi final. Before going to the Milenium Stadium to face Bolton Wanderers in the final, and in which late goals from Ricardo Gardner, Michael Ricketts and Garreth Farrelly left PNE fans feeling gutted and not acheiving their dream of back-to-back promotions.

Moyes left the club a year later for Everton, and Jon Macken, the club's talisman left to join Manchester City for £5,000,000. Craig brown was the succesor but he faced a tough 2 seasons in charge and he was sacked 2 years after he joined, never winning over fans with his 3-5-2 formation.

Billy Davies was the next manager of PNE and he did a good job, leading PNE to consecutive play-off finishes, the first being a play-off final vs West Ham, but Bobby Zamora broke PNE hearts when he struck in the second half to give West Ham a place back in the Premiership. The next season, PNE lost out to Leeds in the Play-off semi-final. The first leg ended 1-1 at Elland Road. PNE starlet David Nugent scored for Preston, just 6 weeks after breaking his Metatarsel. Former PNE winger Edde Lewis struck just minutes later for Leeds though. In the second leg at Deepdale, Fraizer Richardson and Rob Hulse struck to send PNE home again.

Davies was replaced by Paul Simpson, with Derek Shaw saying that Davies had not reached their ambitions. Simpson had a good start to life at Deepdale. PNE reached top of the table in his first season. Simpson did well in keeping David Nugent at the club, and he even made his England debut later that season, against Andorra, and even scored a tap in on the line. It was around here when PNE started to decline, and they finished just outside the play-offs.

The next season, PNE continued their bad form, and in November, Simpson was sacked and was replaced by Alan Irvine, who at the time was David Moyes' assistant manager at Everton. Irvine revived the club, and made some good signings in January, with Chris Brown and Richard Chaplow being inspired Signings. Alan led them out of the relegation zone and got them into 15th place.

Kits













Stadium





Squad

Goalkeepers

Lonergan
Henderson
Neal

Defenders

Hart
Davidson
Mawene
St Leger
Chilvers
Brown
Jones
Trotman
Nolan

Midfielders

Chaplow
Jarrett
Sedgwick
Nicholson
Carter
Whaley
McKenna
Neal
Anyinsah
Wallace
Fairhurst
Appiah

Strikers


Hawley
Brown
Ormerod
Parkin
Elliott
Mellor
Turner




Honours


Football League First Division/Premier League winners:

• 1888-89, 1889-90

Football League Second Division/First Division/Football League Championship winners:

• 1903-04, 1912-13, 1950-51

Football League Third Division/Second Division/Football League One winners:

• 1970-71, 1999-00

Football League Fourth Division/Third Division/Football League Two winners:

• 1995-96

FA Cup winners:

• 1888-89, 1937-38

FA Cup runner up:

• 1887-88, 1921-22, 1936-37, 1953-54, 1963-64

Football League War Cup winners

• 1941

Club records

Record Attendance: 42,684 v Arsenal, Football League First Division, 23 April 1938
Record Cup Victory: 26-0 v Hyde, FA Cup, 15 October 1887
Record Cup Defeat:
Record League Victory: 10-0 v Stoke, Football League Division One, 14 September 1889
Record League Defeat: 0-7 v Blackpool, Football League Division One, 1 May 1948
Most League Points (2 for a win): 61, Football League Third Division, 1970-71
Most League Points (3 for a win): 95, Football League Second Division, 1999-2000
Most League Goals: 100, Football League Second Division, 1927-28
Most League Goals: in Total: Tom Finney, 187 between 1946 and 1960
Most Career Goals: Tom Finney, 210 between 1946 and 1960
Most League Goals: in a Season: Ted Harper, 37 in Football League Second Division, 1932-33
Most League Appearances: Alan Kelly Sr., 447 between 1961 and 1975
Most Career Appearances: Alan Kelly Sr., 512 between 1961 and 1975
Most Capped Player: Tom Finney, 76 appearances for England between 1946 and 1958
Transfer Record (Received): £6,000,000 for David Nugent to Portsmouth Football Club, July 2007
Transfer Record (Paid): £1,500,000 for David Healy from Manchester United, December 2000.

Other Management Staff

Assistant Manager - Rob Kelly
Reserve Team Coach - Billy Barr
Goalkeeping Coach - Andy Rhodes
Head of the Medical Department - Matt Radcliffe
Director of Youth - Dean Ramsdale
Youth Team Coach - Jamie Hoyland
Assistant Director of Youth - Nick Harrison
Youth Development Officer - Darren Finch
Cheif Youth Scout - Jim McCluskie

[B.Jacko]

anybody like, I did he history all on my own btw

[B.Jacko]

Great, i spent 2 hours on that and NO comments in the first 15 minutes

[B.Jacko]

A few days ago, we caught up with Preston North End manager Alan Irvine to discuss about the up and coming season.

SS: Good morning Alan, it is a pleasure to talk to you.

AI: And to you too.

SS: So Alan, when you arrived at Deepdale last season, you lead Preston to a mid table finsh after getting them out of the relegation zone, do you expect more of thm this season?

AI: Well, I believe we have a stronger squad, and we have strengthened in the right positions, but their might be some changes form now until the season starts, but we have to be confident of the players we have, and I am confident we can do better than last season.

SS: Have you arranged any friendlies for the pre-season?

AI: No, I haven't, but my players will be training very hard to be match fit for the start of the season.

SS: Who do you think will be your key players for the season?

AI: I don't really like singling out players, but we have key players for each position. We have a very good goalkeeper in Andrew Lonergan. He is very talented and he, in my eyes is one of the best in the Championship. In defence, we have Sean St Ledger, another of the best players outside the Premiership. He can play at right-back as well, so he is extremely versatile and can attack as well as defend. In midfield, Richard Chaplow is the best talent their. He can attack and defend, and he scores goals as well, he was a bargain from West Brom in January and I want more of the same from last season from him. Up front, we have got many players who can do different jobs. Jon Parkin can hold up the ball and lay it off, Stephen Elliott runs on to the ball and uses his pace to get round defenders, Chris Brown is a great poacher and also links up with the midfielders, and Neil Mellor chases the ball all the time and he is a really hard worker. He also scores goals on top of his work-rate as well. But i prefer not to single players out and I would prefer to talk about the team as a whole.

SS: Okay, thank you for spending a short time with us, but what position do you think PNE will finish this season?

AI: I would like to think we could finish in the play-offs, but I'm aiming even higher and I want automatic promotion.

[B.Jacko]

why is nobody posting

[Robalenko]

Lovely Detail Find some more pizazzy fonts maybe, also I think it would look good if you could find a pic of a player wearing the home shirt to go with the Away, and keeper shirts

[B.Jacko]

Originally Posted by Robbie8912Play

Lovely Detail Find some more pizazzy fonts maybe, also I think it would look good if you could find a pic of a player wearing the home shirt to go with the Away, and keeper shirts

Okay, I will, what do you mean by Pizazzy

[Robalenko]

Just...Flashy....uncommon

[Dan]

Nice to see another Preston thread mate..

They are a great challenge..

Good work so far.. I'll be reading this with interest..

[B.Jacko]

WOW, who gave me 5 stars

[B.Jacko]

and some bloody newbie gives a 1 star. ****ers

[Dan]

Originally Posted by BlackburnBoy

and some bloody newbie gives a 1 star. ****ers

There are always people who do that..

Don't worry about your rating too much though..

[B.Jacko]

http://www.davesfootballblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/setanta-logo.jpg

AUGUST-PRESTON TRANSFER UPDATE

http://www.svenskafans.com/image/1/20188.jpg

Preston have had a busy summer in the Transfer Market, buying more than selling and now have a lot of strengt in depth.

First to the sellings and striker Jon Parkin was offloaded to Nottingham Forest for £450,000. Parkin had only just arrvied from Premiership newbies Stoke City, but Parkin said Preston coaches told him to lose weight, which he refused too, so Preston decided to sell. Parkin released a statement saying

" Preston made a mockery of me and I am glad to move to a club who don't mind about my weight. I made the wrong move in joining Preston and I wish them luck for the future, as they will need it."

Two youngsters were also sold. Joe Anyinsah has been sold too Slalalalahorpe United for £450,000. Anyinsah was on loan at other teams for the majority of his time at Preston, and is said to be happy he is recieving first-team football. Neal Trotman was the other player to be sold, moving to Sligo Rovers for £300,000. Trotman made the move to Deepdale from Oldham Athletic in January, but was hampered with injuries, so he decided to make the move as Alan Irvine said he wouldn't get first team football.

The last selling was Wayne Henderson, who has been sold to Darlington for £100,000. Henderson last played for Preston against Colchester at the beginning of last season, when they lost 3-0. But he injured his back and needed to have surgery, but had setbacks since.

Preston acted quickly to get a replacement. Joe Lewis from Peterborough United was brought in for £1,100,000. Lewis was the star player for 'Boro, and was called up for the England squad vs Trinidad and tobago. Joe is also a regular in the Under 21's.

PNE also raided Dundee for two players. Left-back Danny grainger and Centre-midfielder Willo Flood both made the move across the border for £1,300,000 and £1,500,000 respectivly. They were both regular starters for Dundee but they couldn't resist the offers, as they needed the money.

James Tomkins signed from West Ham for £1,000,000. The centre-back made his debut for the Hammers against Everton last season, but was terrorised by Yakubu. He is going to be a star for the future, and it won't be long before the big clubs notice this superstar.

The last signing....for now is Lasse Nilsson from Elfsborg for £2,000,000. The striker was transfer-listed after being unsettled because of transfer-rumours and it was only a few days ago he decided he wanted to change countries.

Alan Irvine had a few comments to make on the signings

"These singings are top notch, and all of them will be first teamers. These are the type of signings who can cope in the Premiership and will dominate the Championship. These I think will be the last signings for now, but I am not ruling anything out for the minute"

[B.Jacko]

comments

Oh and By the way

SIMULATED MATCH (because I was busy doing transfers)

Derby Game: Preston 1-2 Burnley

McKenna (51) Paterson (46)
Van Der Schaaf (61)

[King-Osgood-1690]

simulation is a no no for me sorry

[Valo]

Originally Posted by BlackburnBoy

comments

Oh and By the way

SIMULATED MATCH (because I was busy doing transfers)

Derby Game: Preston 1-2 Burnley

McKenna (51) Paterson (46)
Van Der Schaaf (61)

Turn Autosave off, then sim the match, then DON'T save, then see whether players come in, then you can play the match later.

[B.Jacko]

there is going to be updates soon

[B.Jacko]

PRESTON BATTER QPR AS STRIKERS GO GOAL CRAZY





Preston North End went goal crazy at Loftus Road on the opening day of the season, smahing the ball into the net 5 times, winning 5-0.

PNE opened the scoring on 3 minutes. New signing Lasse Nilsson ran down the wing and applied the cross and Stephen Elliott heded the ball in from 6 yards out. Elliott extended the lead on 10 minutes, Elliott curling the ball from the edge of the box after a through ball from Nilsson, and it went out of Cerny's reach and into the net.

Just before half-time, PNE went further ahead. Paul McKenna just simply passed the ball into the box from the corner, and Ross Wallace came to it and he turned and sho the ball into the corner of the net, and through an embarrased Damion Stewart's legs. In the second half, Preston made an inspired subsitution. Brett Ormerod ran onto a mistake by Fitz Hall and he rounded the keeper before chipping the ball into the net.

And in the final minute, Hall made another error which let in super-sub Ormerod who placed it under the keeper.

Alan Irvine praised his players after the game saying

"That was an amazing performance by the players, and they deserved all the goals that they got, and we battered a weak QPR side, who in all honesty, weren't as impressive as I thought they would be"

Lewis 9, Hart 8, Brown 8 , Tomkins 8, Grainger 7, Chaplow 9, Flood 8, McKenna 7, Wallace 8, Elliott 10 (Ormerod 9), Nilsson 8.

MOTM - Stephen Elliott was the best player on the park today. He ran at the defenders all of the time and grabbed two goals to top of his wonderful display

Next Game - Southampton (H)

Current Position 14th (3 points)

[B.Jacko]

comments guys?

[IRE-ENG-OX4]

Originally Posted by BlackburnBoy

Great, i spent 2 hours on that and NO comments in the first 15 minutes

Originally Posted by BlackburnBoy

why is nobody posting

Originally Posted by BlackburnBoy

comments

Oh and By the way

SIMULATED MATCH (because I was busy doing transfers)

Derby Game: Preston 1-2 Burnley

McKenna (51) Paterson (46)
Van Der Schaaf (61)

Originally Posted by BlackburnBoy

comments guys?

Dont ask after every update whether they wnna comment
if they wnna comment then they will
ok?

[B.Jacko]

Originally Posted by luke-oxford

Dont ask after every update whether they wnna comment
if they wnna comment then they will
ok?

Go away

If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all

[Mr. Bump]

Good thread.

[EAUK_Aurora]

Keep it friendly please.

[B.Jacko]

Originally Posted by EAUK_Aurora

Keep it friendly please.

OK, sorry.

[xZidaneLegendx]

Great Win!