Jerseybean

Last season we won 2-1 with Sam Bell registering his first league goal. See photo https://youtu.be/8dGOFn61cNQ

When we played them in the first game of the season it finished 1-1 https://www.pnefc.net/news/2023/august/highlights-bristol-city-1-pne-1/

On deadline day they signed Milutin Osmajic on a four-year deal and Liam Millar on loan for the rest of the season.

Head-to-head record

Won: 29

Lost: 34

Drawn: 35

Players who’ve played for both teams include Josh Brownhill, Greg Cunningham and Callum Robinson.

Manager Lowe is under pressure their forum is running an in/out poll: https://www.pne-online.net/forum/index.php?threads/fresh-poll-lowe-in-out.3439640/page-70#post-4655367

‘Some PNE fans, possibly quite a lot, will happily take a hammering by you lot providing it hastens the manager’s exit. Check out the poll on our forum which shows 97% of forum users want him out. The other 3% are blind, stupid or related to Lowe’.

This article stresses that this could be a make or break game for Lowe: https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/preston-north-end-manager-ryan-lowe-leeds-united-bristol-city-millwall-4473385

LM presser: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/manning-talks-preston-away/

RL pre-match: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2024/january/gaffer-expecting-different-bristol-city-test-to-opening-day/

Last weekend they lost 4-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup. They are 19th in the Championship form table with two wins and four defeats in their last six league games. They only have four wins in their last 20 league matches.

Jack Whatmough is unavailable for them. While we will be without Mark Sykes and I guess Andi W.

Officials

Referee: Sam Barrott

Assistants: Jonathan Hunt and Daniel Leach

Fourth official: Simon Mather

The EFL HQ is in Preston.

Last campaign they finished in 12th place on 63 points.

Deepdale guide: https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/championship/deepdale-preston-north-end.html + https://www.pnefc.net/news/2024/january/matchday-information-bristol-city-h/

Their match preview: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2024/january/match-preview-bristol-city-h/

Pubs

Back in February some City fans made for the Black Horse a listed ornate Victorian pub in a pedestrianised street; splendid mosaic-tiled main bar serving eight well kept ales (Robinsons and guests), friendly helpful staff, panelling, stained glass and old local photographs, open fires, two quiet cosy snugs, mirrored back area and upstairs function room; open all day from 10.30am (noon Sun). Black Horse, 66 Friargate, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2EJ (01772) 204855 www.blackhorse-preston.co.uk

The Station Telephone: 01772 737164

The Station is located in the heart of Preston, directly opposite Preston Train Station. With Preston North End just a 10 minute drive away, the Station is the perfect place to welcome away football fans as soon as they step off the train, before heading to the game. The pub is also a popular place to grab a quick pint before getting back on the train post-match.

The Station has loyalty pricing just for football fans which is accessible by simply showing your football ticket to the bar staff. The pub also has live entertainment on every Friday and Saturday as well as a large selection of draught, bottled beer, cask and craft ales, wines and spirits.

Moor Park Sports and Social Club Telephone: 01772 717709

Moor Park Sports & Social Club (formerly Fulwood Conservative Club) is based on Blackpool Road, Preston. The postcode is PR2 3AE, but for your Sat Nav use PR1 6AD.

The club is close to motorway junctions for the M6 and M55 and just 10 minutes easy walk to Preston’s Deepdale Stadium. A warm welcome awaits visiting supporters both before and after matches with a spacious car park at a minimal charge.

The bar stocks a very good selection of beers, wines and spirits at competitive prices. The club has a separate function room, 2 large bowling greens, 2 match-standard snooker tables and a pool table.

Pies

The Butter Pie is legendary in Preston. This beloved Lancashirian delicacy consists of onions, potatoes and of course, butter – baked until golden with a thick pastry crust. This savoury pie is a half-time favourite at Preston North End Football Club, and was even mentioned in former-Beatle Paul McCartney’s 1971 song ‘Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey’. Where to get yours: https://www.lancs.live/whats-on/food-drink-news/visited-preston-search-best-butter-23312864 and https://www.tasteatlas.com/lancashire-butter-pie/wheretoeat and https://www.lep.co.uk/lifestyle/food-and-drink/the-best-pie-shops-in-preston-these-are-the-14-highest-rated-places-to-get-a-pie-in-preston-according-to-google-reviews-4041110

Preston

Preston's origins can be traced back to the Roman period, with evidence of a Roman road running through the town. The famous Cuerdale Hoard was also discovered near Preston, showing evidence of Viking activity after the Romans. The hoard is one of the largest Viking silver hoards ever found.

In 1179 Preston's first Royal Charter was granted by Henry II conveying the right for the town to have a Guild Merchant. Celebrations, known as the Preston Guild, have since been held every 20 years; with Preston being the only place to still hold these celebrations today. The first recorded celebration of the Preston Guild was held in 1397, when it was already 200 years old.

The first town outside of London to be lit by coal gas. In 1816 Reverend Joseph "Daddy" Dunn, of St Wilfrid's Parish in Preston, created an improved gas lighting technique through chemical experiments. Joseph rapidly changed the whole of Lancashire by transporting the cool-gas lighting into the area as well as throughout the UK. By the mid 1800s, Preston became the second town in England, after London, to be fully lit by coal gas, making it the first provincial town in England to be lit this way. When laying the pipes for the lighting process some pipes were created from surplus musket barrels to save money.

Joseph's Preston Gaslight Company offices were located in Avenham. You can see the first building in Preston to be lit by coal gas on the Preston Blue Plaque Trail.

Where the word "teetotal" was born

Joseph Livesey started the Temperance Movement in Preston in 1832. The followers of the movement were required to sign a pledge of total abstinence. Livesey's first pledge was drawn up in Preston at "The Old Cock Pit". The term "teetotal" is derived from a speech made in Preston by Richard Turner, who was a follower of Livesey. It is said Richard Turner had a speech impediment and during his speech urging total abstinence from all alcohol, rather than just the abstinence of spirits, he remarked "they must insist upon tee-tee-tee total abstinence".

Inspiration for Charles Dickens

It is believed that Charles Dickens' novel "Hard Times" was inspired by his time in Preston. The writer travelled to Preston in 1854 during the Great Lock Out. The strikes saw 26,000 workers put out of work and made headlines across the country as a struggle of the cotton workers against the Preston Cotton Masters. Dickens stayed at the Bull and Royal Hotel on Church Street, along with many other notable names. The Bull & Royal can be seen on the Preston City Heritage Trail.

Home to Britain's first motorway

The Preston by-pass was Britain's first motorway. It was conceived, promoted, built, and initially operated by its engineer James Drake. The by-pass was opened on 5 December 1958 by the Prime Minister Harold MacMillan. It later became part of the M6 motorway. 

The first Kentucky Fried Chicken

In 1965 Ray Allen opened the UK's first Kentucky Fried Chicken store on Fishergate High Street, Preston. Ray met Colonel Harland Sanders in 1963, securing the famous American's fast food rights for his secret fried chicken recipe for the UK. 

The arrival of KFC in the UK came almost a decade before McDonald's, Burger King, and Pizza Hut.

The tallest spire in England

St Walburge's Church boasts a towering 309ft spire. The spire is the tallest of any Parish church in England and the third tallest of any church in the UK, with only the spires of Salisbury and Norwich Anglican Cathedral reaching higher. 

The church was built in the mid-19th century and was designed by Gothic Revival architect Joseph Hansom, who was also the designer of the Hansom cab.

Home of the famous Dick, Kerr Ladies

The Dick, Kerr Ladies were formed in 1917 in Preston and shaped women's football.

The team worked and came together in Dick, Kerr and Co Ltd; a Preston munitions works. By 1921 the team were incredibly popular and were booked to play an average of two games a week. Despite the team's roaring success, the FA eventually banned women from using league grounds.

The Dick, Kerr Ladies are best known for not giving up when times got hard and continued to play over 800 games in the UK and abroad, raising over £180,000 for charity (the equivalent of excess £10 million today). After claiming to be World Champions, the team were challenged by Edinburgh Ladies. The Dick, Kerr Ladies accepted their challenge and won the match 5-1.

Preston's Caribbean Carnival, founded in 1974, is one of the oldest in the UK. The annual carnival celebrates the flamboyant and creative Caribbean culture within the city.

Leo Baxendale, born in Preston in 1930, drew the Bash Street Kids, Minnie the Minx, and Dennis the Menace for the children's comic 'The Beano'.

Alan Schofield broke the world record for the longest putt ever at 166ft 8in. This record-breaking putt occurred on 5 August 2000 at Fishwick Hall Golf Club, Preston. It was recognised as an official world record by the Guinness Book of Records. This putt has since been beaten, however, a plaque remains at the spot where the shot was taken. Here’s the longest putt (over 400 feet) outside of a competition: https://youtu.be/cWE_BpJxmHw?si=6IvhiOJPsWyO3p1e

The row of red public telephone boxes along Preston's Market Street is the longest continuous row of the old style kiosks anywhere in the country. They were designed by Giles Gilbert Scott who also designed the Preston Cenotaph on the Flag Market.

Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, once stayed at a property whilst visiting family on the corner of Cheapside and Friargate in the city centre. A blue plaque can be found here by following the Preston Blue Plaque Trail.

The parents of legendary American outlaw Butch Cassidy lived in Preston before emigrating to America. It was said that Butch spoke with a strong Lancashire accent.