This week 27 year-old Jim Nicholson sends us his dream team.

1.  Alan Kelly Snr – Goalkeeper
I am sure my father has rose coloured glasses but he made Allen Kelly Snr out to be unbeatable and for that reason Alan Kelly Snr is my choice at number one.

2.  Graham Alexander – Right Back
A reliable and robust defender and current PNE captain, who I suspect is
more happy going forward and using that great right foot to spread the play
and terrorize opposition goalkeepers.

3.  Ryan Kidd – Left Back
Although injury robbed PNE of one of its best ever defenders i can state
from experience, (having played against Mr Kidd in the last Legends match)
he would of made a great PNE captain.

4.  Chris Lucketti – Centre Back
Chris would have to be described as one of the greatest bargains in the last
20 years.  Strong reliable and robust, Chris became a crowd favorite very
quickly and was given the PNE captaincy. 

5.  Mark Lawrenson  – Centre Back
Another Preston lad born and bred who went on to bigger things away from
Deepdale.

6.  Sean Gregan – Centre Midfield
I would compare Sean to Roy Keane for Man Utd, his job was to destroy opposition attacks and there was nobody better before or since at doing that.

7.  Sir Tom Finney OBE – Right Wing
A man who showed such loyalty not only to the Club but the town and now city of Preston, truly its most favourite son.  Sir Tom Finney, an example to the modern professional in not only how to play the game on the field but how to conduct yourself off it.

8.  Mark Rankine – Centre Midfield
In my opinion the only dodgy choice in my selection.  Ranks was a donkey but
he was our donkey, and if he ever lacked any ability he made up for it with
effort.

9.  David Nugent – Centre Forward
Another bargain coming from some astute work in the transfer market, Nuge is
of such a talent the likes of which we have not seen in years at Deepdale. 


10.  Alex Dawson – Centre Forward
My father claims that whist at the club he saw Alex Dawson, who he
claims was only 5 foot, leap above the cross-bar to head in a goal, and
that he cleared the Town End taking a penalty.

11.  David Eyres – Left Wing
My best memory of David Eyres is being sat in the Sir Tom Finney Stand directly in line with the goal at the Town End when he struck a free kick against Blackpool which sailed into the top corner of the goal.

Manager – David Moyes
This is the manager which heralded the new dawn in our history, whilst the
two Johns, (McGrath and Beck) started the revolution it was David Moyes
who took us to glory and being 45 minutes from top flight football against
Bolton for the first time since the 60s.  If anyone was in doubt about David
Moyes managerial credentials you only have to look and see how well Everton
have done since he went there.

Best Kit
The current kit is one I really like the only other which comes close is the
Wembley kit for the 1994 Play-Off final against Wycombe which was funky and imaginative.

Greatest Game
Birmingham City Playoff semi final
Birmingham were convinced they had us beat with reports in the media after
the game that they had booked their hotel rooms in Cardiff. I heard a rumour
that they had champagne in there dressing room, however a magnificent
Preston display, a disgruntled Birmingham manager and a wonderful set of
penalties saw us through to the final which we lost to a better Bolton
Wanderers but the memory of that night and indeed the video which I watch
every now and again always bring the broadest grin to my face.