Club Profile
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Overview
Preston North End Football Club is based in Preston, Lancashire, England. The club competes in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Commonly known as Preston or PNE, they are one of the historic clubs of English football and play their home matches at Deepdale.
History
The club began life in 1863 as a cricket team before transitioning into football in 1880. After initially experimenting with rugby union, Preston adopted association football and quickly became one of the early professional clubs, recruiting talented Scottish players known as the “Scotch Professors.”
Preston were founding members of the Football League in 1888 and made an immediate impact. In the 1888–89 season, they won the first-ever league title and the FA Cup without conceding a goal, completing the first “Double” in English football while remaining unbeaten. This team became famously known as “The Invincibles.” They retained the league title in 1889–90 and finished as runners-up multiple times in the following years.
The club remained a top-flight side until 1961 but has not returned to the highest division since relegation that year. A highlight of the post-war period came in 1938 when Preston won the FA Cup, defeating Huddersfield Town 1–0. The mid-20th century also saw the influence of legendary figures such as Tom Finney, who played between 1946 and 1960 and became the club’s all-time leading scorer with 187 goals.
After relegation to the Third Division in 1969–70, Preston entered a long period of decline, spending many years in the lower divisions, including a 19-season stretch from 1981–82 to 1999–2000. Financial instability in the 1980s brought the club close to collapse, with the 1985–86 season marking a low point when they finished near the bottom of the Fourth Division.
A revival began in the late 1990s under David Moyes, who guided Preston to the third-tier title in 2000 and a near-promotion to the Premier League in 2001. After further play-off disappointment in 2005, the club stabilized in the second tier before facing financial issues again around 2010. Following a takeover by Trevor Hemmings, Preston regained stability and achieved promotion via the play-offs in 2015. Since then, they have remained in the Championship, with a best finish of 7th in 2017–18.
Competition Performance
Preston North End enjoyed their greatest success in the late 19th century, winning back-to-back league titles in 1888–89 and 1889–90. Their 1888–89 campaign remains historic as they completed the league and FA Cup double without losing a match or conceding a goal in the cup competition.
The club has finished as league runners-up six times, including three consecutive seasons between 1890–91 and 1892–93. Their last major honour came in 1938 with FA Cup success. In addition, Preston reached the FA Cup final again in 1964 but were narrowly defeated by West Ham United.
In modern times, the club has largely competed outside the top flight, with notable achievements including winning the third-tier title in 2000 and securing promotion to the Championship via the play-offs in 2015. They have come close to Premier League promotion on several occasions but have not returned to the top division since 1961.
Stadium
Preston have played at Deepdale since 1875, initially as a cricket venue before hosting football from 1878. It holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously used football ground by a professional league club. The record attendance at the ground is 42,684, recorded in 1938 for a match against Arsenal.
Between 1996 and 2009, Deepdale underwent a major redevelopment, transforming it into a modern all-seater stadium. The renovation was completed in phases, with the final stand opening in 2008. Today, the stadium has a capacity of 23,404 and remains central to the club’s identity.
The ground also briefly housed the National Football Museum, which opened there in 2001 before relocating to Manchester in 2012. Outside the stadium stands a statue of Tom Finney, known as “The Splash,” unveiled in 2004 and inspired by a famous photograph from his playing career.
Identity
Preston North End are widely associated with their historic nickname “The Invincibles,” referencing their unbeaten double-winning side of 1888–89. The club’s heritage is a key part of its identity, as one of the founding members of the Football League and an early pioneer of professionalism in the sport.
Their most iconic player is Tom Finney, often regarded as one of England’s greatest footballers, and commemorated through stadium features and statues. Other notable figures include Alan Kelly Sr. and Bill Shankly, both of whom have stands named after them at Deepdale.
In modern times, the club has been shaped by periods of financial difficulty and recovery, including ownership under businessman Trevor Hemmings, which helped stabilise operations. Despite limited recent silverware, Preston maintain a loyal supporter base and a strong connection to their historic achievements.
Rivalries
Preston North End’s principal rivalry is with Blackpool, with the two clubs located approximately 17 miles apart. Matches between them are known as the West Lancashire derby and have been contested regularly since the early 20th century.
Other regional rivalries include fixtures against Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Bolton Wanderers, and Wigan Athletic. While these rivalries vary in intensity, they contribute to the club’s strong local competitive landscape in Lancashire.