Name of Club – Preston North End
Year founded – 1881
Ground Name – Deepdale

Preston North End won the double in the inaugural season of the first division without suffering defeat in the league or conceding a goal in the cup during the 1888 – 1889 season. The club retained the title in 1890, earning the name the ‘invincibles.’ Preston faded as a fantastic side after 1901. In the year 1922, they reached the FA Cup final for the first time in 32 years, suffering defeat against Huddersfield Town. After the war, Preston found their finest football player to date, Tom Finney. He was named football player of the year on two occasions and retired with only a cup runners up medal under his name. In the year 1961, Preston was relegated to the second division. They reached the 1964 FA Cup final, suffering defeat against West ham. The club reached their lowest point in 1986, finishing the campaign off in 23rd place in the fourth division. They gradually improved as the 1990’s progressed and established themselves as a force in the second tier of English football. They nearly made it to the premiership, reaching the play off final on several occasions in the 21st century.

Memorable moments

Old first division winners:

1888- 1889, 1889- 1890

Old second division winners:

1903- 1904, 1912- 1913, 1950- 1951

Old third division winners:

1970- 1971

New second division winners:

1999- 2000

New third division winners:

1995- 1996

FA Cup winners:

1888- 1889, 1937- 1938

FA Cup runner up:

1887- 1888, 1921- 1922, 1936- 1937, 1953- 1954, 1963- 1964

Football League War Cup winner

1941

Classic Matches

West Bromwich Albion 3-2 Preston North End
FA Cup Final – 1954
West Brom went for their first FA cup trophy in 23 years as they met Preston North End in the final. It proved to be a thrilling encounter that West Brom went on to win 3-2. It was the West Bromwich Albion winger, Frank Griffin who smashed din the deciding goal. Ronnie Allen scored the other two goals for Albion as they defeated Preston, who had a team that included Tom Finney.

Sunderland 3-1 Preston North End
1937 FA Cup Final
Two sides steeped in history appeared in the FA Cup final of 1937. Sunderland and Preston North End had dominated the early years of the league. Preston took a first half lead. Sunderland pulled ahead in the second half, with their captain scoring their second.

FA Cup Match: West Ham 3-2 Preston
Date Played: May 1964
Second division outfit, Preston North End played magnificently well in the 1964 FA Cup final against West Ham. They took a 2-1 lead in to the first half interval. The Hammers fought back in the second half and very fortunately beat the Lillywhites with a winner which came in the second minute of injury time. Playing at wing- half for Preston was young Howard Kendall who, at the tender age of 17 years and 345 days, at that point became the youngest players to play in an FA Cup final. Geoff Hurst was West Hams hero during that day as he scored two of the goals which won them the match 3-2.