Tag: Preston North End

Quotes: Billy Davies On Victory

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It was a very good performance, an excellent result. We knew it would be tough and we knew that it would be a difficult match and very competitive which it turned out to be but I thought we thoroughly deserved the three points. It was an excellent team performance as well as many very good individual performances.

That’s what he is capable of, he leads by example and you can see that with his workrate and i thought that he struck up a very good partnership with David Nugent. We now have in my opinion five excellent strikers including young David Hibbert who was unfortunate to be left out tonight. We have now got that group of players to contribute greatly between now and the end of the season, I thought Brett was first class.

Believe it or not he has not even had a training session because of the weather we have had in the last couple of days we have not had to do the training we would like. He came in and we had one or two laughs and he got to meet the boys, he has settled in very quickly with a great bunch of lads and you can see that with the attitude he had tonight. We were playing against a club with huge resources, you look at their bench and the people they are bringing on and for us to compete it is very very proud for us to go out there and compete the way that we did and to get the three points is a tremendous bonus for us. We are one away from avoiding relegation which is good and that was  the important thing.

The second goal was straight from the training ground again, it was a wonderful corner kick with great movement and great runs with people that we have asked to go and do what they have done. It was a great great goal and we are very proud and pleased again and thankfully they listened for a change which was nice.

There may be some loan situations that we will look at, I think we can still do that after the next seven days or so. We would still like to try and introduce one or two if possible, it will be difficult but we certainly try and get some kind of loan in, if we don’t then we are very well equipped as long as we keep everybody free of suspension and free of injury.

This lad has come back from a terrible run of injuries and I have said to the board and the people at the club that the lad just needed time to come in and play and as far as I am concerned if this lad doesn’t go international in the next couple of years then there is something far wrong because again his performance today was first class. I think it was in the 88th minute, he has opened his legs and you can see the pace and the energy and the enthusiasm, he has been excellent.

He can play right-back, centre-back, he can play outside-right, outside-left, centre forward and I think his best position is right-back, but he can play anywhere, he has got great attributes.

I think he is Scottish actually.

Unfortunately we have been denied requests of trying to do something and that is unfortunate. We will have to look at it again and hopefully try and bring one or two more in, we know that there are one or two gaps and we would like to strengthen one or two areas so it’s something we will look at. I think we will have to look at one or two of our own players going out on loan for a bit of experience which we will do for the next seven days.

It’s just a reluctance to go and let good players go and the ones we ask about we just can’t quite get there. We have certainly tried but unfortunately the door keeps getting closed, especially in Scotland.

CLUB LEGEND: MIKE ELWISS

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Whilst one legendary Northender, Jon Macken, will be hoping to put one over on his old team-mates tonight, we spoke to Mike Elwiss a player who played for first Preston and then Palace and managed to achieve exactly what Macken will be aiming to emulate.

Mike, you played for both North End and Palace so you must have had a smile to yourself when you saw that we had drawn them in the Cup.
These things tend to happen in football but I will look forward to it. I scored for Palace against Preston when I came back, it was the winner, I played absolutely useless and scored the winner, I think that the goal was deflected! I still enjoy watching them these days and they are my team.

You arrived at Deepdale after earning a good reputation at Doncaster, how did the move come about?
It all happened very quickly, I was very flattered that they came in. Prior to that there was a deal with Liverpool, I was about to sign for Liverpool a few months before but that fell through but then Preston came in and I was only too happy to come here.

What was the problem on the Liverpool deal?
Money, not on my side either. It was the time when they were buying people from the lower divisions, but it was all about money between the two clubs. Doncaster kept putting the price up but Liverpool kept saying no. But the move to Preston was a good move and it was a really good time I had here.

It was Bobby Charlton who signed you but he wasn’t manager for too long during that period when you and Alex Bruce terrorised defences.
Bobby was a fantastic player and a nice man but he wasn’t cut out to be a manager. It was an enjoyable, pleasant and successful time. Alex and I were a good foil for each other, I put everything on a plate for him. There’s not one goal that springs to mind, they’re all good.

How did the move south to Crystal Palace materialise?
I was told by certain people that they were going places, they had just got Terry Venables as manager, and it proved to be correct. They had a good crop of youngsters there who had  won the FA Youth Cup two years on the trot and they were all coming into the side, rather like the Manchester United youngsters when they were coming through. We won what is now the Championship and went into the top flight but from there things fell apart, for me and the club, Terry Venables left the club soon after. It was an enjoyable time but I never realised my full potential down there, when a player moves it takes them a good six months to get acclimatised to the place and to the different way of playing. It was only on a number of occasions down there that I felt that I had done a reasonable job.

It must have been difficult also for a northern lad to be moving to London?
To a certain degree, I had the best of both worlds really. When I first went down there I was in a flat in Hearn Hill and it was just concrete all around and I just couldn’t deal with it. They asked me where I wanted to live and I just said I need to get out to the countryside, they did that and they moved me to a place called Coulston and it was the best of both worlds, I went out into the back garden and it was countryside and I went out the front gate and it was solid London. I loved it down there.

You were only at Selhurst a short time but you still made an impression on the club.
I’d like to think so in some ways but I certainly felt that there was a lot more to come from myself, I felt that I could have done a lot more, they never saw the full Mike Elwiss. Unfortunately with the injury that I got it was only on a handful of occasions that I could say that I was pleased with what I have done.

Having worked under a youthful boss in Terry Venables you must be interested in the fortunes of the respective managers of PNE and Palace, both of whom are young and ambitious.
I think that Billy Davies and his staff are doing are great job, a really good job. They haven’t had a lot of money to spend and they keep selling players and yet they are up in the Play-Off spots. I just hope they keep doing it because they should have gone up last year, they were the best side of the Play-Off contenders last year.

Palace’s Last Three League Visits To Deepdale

6th December 2003
PNE 4 -1 Palace
Eagles Player-Manager Kit Symons is sent off as second half goals from Etuhu, Alexander, Healy and Lewis defeat a Palace side who would later be promoted.

10th August 2002
PNE 1 – 2 Palace
Ricardo Fuller scores on his debut but Craig Brown’s first league match in charge ends in defeat after Eric Skora is given a red card on the opening day of the season.

24th November 2001
PNE 2 – 1 Palace
The Lilywhites are losing at half-time to a Freedman goal but at full-time it is 2-1 to Moyes’ PNE thanks to goals from Cresswell and Alexander.

THE DEEPDALE DIARY: 20th January 2006

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Friday 20th January
Preston North End will once again be without the services of Brian O’Neil and Matt Hill for the trip to Burnley’s Turf Moor. Both players are nursing mid-term injuries, as is Frenchman Eric Skora who limped off from reserve duty at Tranmere in midweek.

West Brom are linked with a move for former PNE striker David Healy who is now at Leeds United.

Saturday 21st January
It’s Saturday but there is no third signing. Despite this Billy Davies is hopeful of more signings: “We’ve got one or two transfer irons in the fire and we’re making one or two enquiries.

“You think you’re nearly there and then something happens and you get knocked back so we are very much active at the moment trying to bring in a new face or two.”

Crystal Palace are reportedly keen on Wolves’ Scottish midfielder Colin Cameron who has been told that he can leave Molineux on a free transfer.

Sunday 22nd January
Preston boss Billy Davies praises his side after a training ground move breaks the deadlock in the 2-0 win over local rivals Burnley.

“It’s nice to get a set-piece working. We work very hard at set-pieces and it was a tremendous goal,” said Davies.

“The lads work so hard and they actually listen, apart from Nugent who doesn’t listen from time to time! They’re a great bunch.”

Norwich City are supposedly keen on Coventry City’s Gary McSheffrey as a replacement for West Ham bound Dean Ashton.

Monday 23rd January
Davies is pleased with the progress his side are making in what has been a season of transition for the Lilywhites. He said: “There have been lots of changes, lots of players missing through illness and injury, the short rest period in the summer didn’t help us but I think the achievement so far has been excellent, considering what we’ve been through but there’s a long way to go.”

Newcastle are close to sacking Graeme Souness according to reports with Bolton’s Sam Allardyce the man tipped to take over.

Tuesday 24th January
Paul McKenna reckons that North End need nine more league victories to secure themselves a place in the Championship Play-Offs. The midfielder says: “We’ve spoken about it and we’re looking at nine wins to guarantee ourselves in the play-offs. The sooner we can get them the better.”

Tottenham’s Irish defender Stephen Kelly says he may have to quit Spurs if he doesn’t get a regular starting spot, Kelly has previously been linked with a move to PNE.

Wednesday 25th January
PNE boss Billy Davies admits that he may have to play some of his youth team in the FA Cup tie with Crystal Palace after several players are ruled out of contention for the game. Preston could have up to six players missing through injury suspension or being cup-tied.

Real Madrid are the first club to be linked with Sven Goran Eriksson, the England manager departs his job with the FA after the World Cup.

Dates For The Diary
Paul McKenna’s Testimonial Boxing Night

Following on from the success of his golf day, McKenna is holding a War of the Roses Boxing tournament on Wednesday 8th February at Preston Guild Hall.

Tickets are just £50 per person and include a three course meal, sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information contact Trish Brockbank on 07901 857141.

THE DEEPDALE DIARY: 17th January 2006

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Tuesday 17th January
Billy Davies is sweating on the availability of striker Patrick Agyemang after the former Gillingham man was a surprise name on Ghana’s stand-by list for the African Cup of Nations. Agyemang qualifies through his Ghanaian parentage.

Everton boss David Moyes is once again linked with David Nugent as well as moves for Robbie Earnshaw and Lee Trundle.

Wednesday 18th January
North End are linked with moves for Derby striker Paul Peschisolido and Southampton man Brett Ormerod. Peschisolido is in fine form for the Rams scoring five goals in his last four games whilst Ormerod is a former Blackpool and Blackburn forward.

Norwich tell West Ham United that it will take a bid of £8m to prise England Under-21 striker Dean Ashton away from Carrow Road.

Thursday 19th January
PNE’s latest signing Brian Stock is confident that his new side can make a push for promotion. The midfielder admits that there is a real confidence amongst his new team-mates: “There is definitely a buzz and you only have to look at the league table and see the quality of the squad, even if there are a few injuries.”

Saints striker Theo Walcott is poised for a £12m move to Arsenal, the 16-year-old will link up with boyhood hero Thierry Henry.

Friday 20th January
David Elebert’s fledgling Preston North End career is over after the club decide to cut-short his contract with the club. The Republic of Ireland defender failed to make an impact at Deepdale and is expected to sign for Hamilton Academicals.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Reid is reportedly ready for a sensational return to League One side Nottingham Forest on loan from Spurs.

Saturday 21st January
Preston North End make it 19 games unbeaten with a solid 2-0 victory at local rivals Burnley. Nugent opens the scoring with a well worked free-kick before Graham Alexander fires home his 50th career penalty to wrap things up late on.

Former North End striker David Healy pleads with his Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell not to sell him after he linked in a swap deal for WBA’s Jason Koumas.

Sunday 22nd January
Lilywhites boss Billy Davies refuses to get carried away following the latest victory. The Scotsman tells the press after the Burnley win that there is still a long way to go before they can start celebrating: “In this league it’s a very good run but you don’t win anything at this time and we’ve got to continue looking to the next match.”

Birmingham winger Stan Lazaridis is a target for Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie after the Eagles lost the services of Marco Reich through injury.

Monday 23rd January
Preston will be without at least four of their first team stars for their FA Cup Fourth Round tie against Crystal Palace. David Nugent and Paul McKenna both picked up one-match suspensions after their fifth bookings of the season at Burnley whilst Simon Whaley and Brian Stock are both cup-tied.

German clubs Nuremburg and Kaiserslautern are linked with a move for Hibs’ Scottish starlet Derek O’Riordan with a price of £300,000 quoted.

Tuesday 24th January
David Hibbert posts a timely reminder to the North End management that he is ready and waiting to fill Nugent’s boots should he be called into action for the Cup clash. The former Port Vale man continued his rich vein of form with another goal in an assured display against Shrewsbury in the reserves.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley could be set to swoop for Norwich’s England keeper Robert Green with Dean Kiely tipped to leave the Valley.

Dates For The Diary
Thursday 9th February – Youl Mawene teaches French at Preston College. Tyrone Mears and Andy Lonergan take part in an Alcohol Awareness event at Queens Drive Primary.

QUOTES: BILLY DAVIES ON PNE’S 2005

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The first 45 we played some great stuff and should have been more in front unfortunately we hit the post and whatever else we have done. But it was a tremendous first 45, a tremendous performance from the players and an excellent three points.

That was the biggest fear at half-time, we couldn’t take the foot off the pedal but we have certainly done that in the second half I feel. We stopped working as hard as we were doing in the first half, we became a little bit slack and we lost a soft goal. It was disappointing to lose the goal but it is expected over a long 90 minutes that something like that is going to happen. It is great credit to the players again, after the long journey from Plymouth and then coming back and finding it difficult to train in the last couple of days, it has been an excellent performance and somebody was telling me that that is seven defeats in 47 matches so we are on a good run and we have got to keep it going.

We are delighted obviously, we are delighted with the goalscorers, tremendous goals, Adam Nowland, Sedge and Grezza I’m pleased for them. They really worked hard today.

Sadly we are losing young David Jones who is going to Holland, he’s joining NEC Nijmegen. We’d like to thank Manchester United for giving us David, we’d like to thank David for all his tremendous efforts and we’d like to wish him all the very best for the future.

It’s until the end of the season. I got the information a couple of days ago when David informed me that both himself and United think that for his development, a spell in Holland will be good for his education. It’s another blow because we have had a lot of transition this season, but in 2005 to have seven defeats in 47 matches, through the transition that we have had to come through, with the chopping and changing of players, illnesses and injuries, young players coming in, it has been very difficult. Now we have got to start again and we have still got gaps to fill, I’ll sit down with the Chairman and hopefully find out if we can bring in a few bodies which I think we need.

His patter is unfortunately not as good as Eddie Lewis’ but he has certainly got a lovely left-foot, he’s only a young player, a young player that is still developing and you can see that with his strength and other parts of his game. But he’s certainly a talent and we just have to be patient with the likes of David Hibbert, Joe Anyinsah and Lewis Neal and Tyrone Mears coming back into it, Patrick Agyemang and David Nugent, when you look at the side it is a very young side, patience is the key and we will try and develop them as best we can.

His last few games have been first class, I’ve said to him today that he has been unlucky. I don’t think we will see the best of David Nugent until he gets a pre-season, I think the three month illness really set him back a long way. He’s now coming back to his best and getting better but I really don’t think that he will get the benefit until he gets a pre-season under his belt and then kicks on from there. He thoroughly deserved a goal, his workrate is excellent, his play, his quality and roll on the 31st of January.

Without a doubt, we lost Brian O’Neil today, he’s pulled a groin and he’s out for probably two to three weeks. So at this moment in time, it looks as if Dickson Etuhu is going to Norwich on a permanent, so we are very short in that midfield area. There are one or two headaches but we will look at the market over the next month and the intention is to try and hold on to everybody and then bring in three or four new faces.

It depends what’s available, we don’t know what’s available, with regards to cash or loans or whatever it might be. I don’t know we have to sit down with the Chairman and find out what we do have, once we find that out then we can try and take it forward with regards the options that we have and the type of money that we have got.

Nothing’s changed since the start of the season. We are only human, we are going to have days off, one or two off days where we are not quite at it. But we have done nothing different but the response from the players at the end of 2005 was first class

You’ve Got Mail – Callum Davidson

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Have you got a pair of Nugent’s shooting boots on loan?
Stephen Hollinghurst, Farington
I don’t think so but I think he is getting a bit worried that I am going to catch him soon so I think he will stop passing to me.

Can you recommend a good night out in Scotland?
Mike Scully
To be honest with you, I’m married with two kids and I don’t really know.

If you were to choose another profession what would that be?
Christine Falconer
A professional golfer or it would have to be something to do with sport, there’s nothing else I can do really.

When you play on the Playstation what is your favourite game?
Dave Ralph
Never played on it and I never will.

After your recent purple patch, do you think you can steal the boots from Dave Nugent at the end of the season?
Ben Gooderham
Absolutely no chance, I think I will leave that one for him.

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If you had to go on karaoke what would you sing?
Scott Mould
Considering I can’t sing a single note and I don’t know a single song I would probably have to sing Flower of Scotland as it is the only one I know the words to.

Do you prefer to play left-back or left-wing?
Adam and Alan Kenyon
To be honest with you I don’t really mind, I’ve played left-back all of my career but I am quite enjoying playing on the left-side of midfield at the moment, obviously getting the goals is not too bad either.

What song did you choose as your first dance at your wedding?
Alan Myers
Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison

What do you think of the new song which was sung to you at Crewe?
Mike
I thought it was great. To be honest with you I didn’t realise we had that many supporters there I thought we just had the one end and then we had all of one side as well, it was great, a good atmosphere, especially when we went 2-0 up, the fans were that close that I actually enjoyed it.

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How frustrating is it seeing Grezza playing in your position for Scotland?
Emma Baldock
Not frustrating at all, Graham has done fantastically well, especially when he has been playing for Scotland he has been brilliant. It would be nice to get on the bench and play a few games and push him but I think Graham has done excellent there, maybe he can move to the right and I can go on the left, that would be better.

Why are you scoring so many goals
Sean, Bacup
And what’s it like being a goal machine?
Charlie Yates
I have absolutely no idea why I am scoring so many goals but long may it continue.

Do you think Scotland can qualify for the World Cup ever again?
Caaren Loten
Of course, if we get England, Wales and Ireland in the group then I think we will qualify.

Are you in favour of Celtic and Rangers playing in the Premier League?
Dan Shaw
It’s a difficult question. I think it would ruin Scottish football if they joined the Premier League but on the other side of it I think they are too big for Scotland. They get 60,000 fans per game and the rest only get 10,000, the gap is massive but I think if they left then it would be very difficult for teams in Scotland to survive.

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What does it feel like to walk out of the tunnel at Deepdale?
Matt Carr, Preston
It’s a great feeling walking out on any tunnel at any game, playing a game is a great feeling in front of the fans on the pitch. Deepdale is a great footballing surface so it is really good.

Who in your opinion is Scotland’s greatest ever player?
Ed Monkey
I think it is Kenny Dalglish. He played for his country all through his career, over 100 caps and 30 goals and he never let his country down. There may have been better players but he was always there playing for Scotland whenever he could and did it all for Liverpool as well.

Where would you prefer to live Edinburgh or Glasgow?
Andy Fishwick
Neither, I’d prefer to live in Dunblane where I am from. I actually lived in Edinburgh for two and a half years so I would probably go with that one.

Who is the trickiest winger you have ever had to play against?
Gary, Walton-le-Dale
Brian Laudrup because he was so quick and strong, I couldn’t really get near him when he was playing for Rangers. Also a young Iain Anderson when he was 17 years old playing for Dundee he was absolutely on fire, he was another player I had difficulty against.

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You have obviously been very successful throughout your career, but does coming north for the Spicy Cup every summer and going home empty handed every year mean that you find it hard to motivate yourself for the long season ahead?
Gary Gruber, Head Greenkeeper, The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle
I’m sure that will change this year when we go north. I’ll need to get practicing a bit more and my team-mate Ian McCallum has got to improve but we will go into it with full of confidence and we are going to absolutely dust you!

What is your favorite thing on television?
Gabriel Malherbe
The TV series 24.

If you had to choose anyone to leave Preston who would it be?
Josh Gardner
It would probably be the Gaffer going to AC Milan and then he could take me with him.

Have you got any over the top celebrations planned if you keep on scoring?
Paul, Morecambe
No chance, I’ll be lucky if I score another one!

Can you cook haggies, neeps and tats?
Warren Haddy
Of course, all Scots can.

Have you ever played golf at St Andrews and if so what is your best round?
Ian Whittel
I’ve played all the courses except the old one but I can’t remember what my best round is there.

What is the highlight of your career so far?
Bernadette Pye
Winning the leagues with St Johnstone and Leicester and coming second and getting promoted with Leicester and beating England at Wembley.

Do you agree that PNE are better than Blackburn Rovers?
B Pye
I don’t think that league tables lie, at the moment Blackburn are better but hopefully in a couple of years time Preston will be better.

As a youngster starting out in the the game you tried to be a physical player but were a bit weedy and had to rely on your older brother to look out for you on the pitch if you upset other players with your reckless tackling.
Who, at Preston, have you got that special relationship with where they will step in to help you when you get yourself into trouble with some of the bigger players in the league like, Dennis Wise.
Royal Dornoch Professional Shop
I have probably to say that I looked after my older brother but at Preston any of the big guys I will try and be friendly with. Cressy was always one that would stick up for me, I would probably have to get my travelling partner Danny Dichio to stick up for me, he’s 6ft 6 inches.

Do you think you could win one of the celebrity reality TV shows like Big Brother, I’m A Celebrity or Celebrity Love Island?
Jamie HartI would probably only go on one of those if my career started to fall.

Which of your team-mates is most likely to pull on a night out?
Kate Fallows
Any of the single lads.

I hear you were a pretty good golfer. But due to being hen pecked you no longer play. Is there any chance of you selling your driver?
Andy Davidson
That’s my brother. No doubt if I go up the road he will probably take it off me.

Jordan once rated you as the ugliest player in the Scottish Squad, in fact
compared you to Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars how do you feel about this
and is there anything you would do plastic surgery wise to improve or are
you happy with your lot?
Duncan, Dunblane
Well Duncan I think you would have to take a look at yourself first and try and stay off the pies.

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If you had to be a tag team in WWE wrestling which player would you take as your tag-team partner?
Laraine Atkinson
I’d probably take Brian O’Neil, ‘Big Chunky’, he’s my big chunky team-mate and I think that he’d be pretty good in the wrestling ring.

Could you still play in the Premier League?
Paul G
Yes I think so if I can stay fit and hopefully I will have a chance to do it with Preston.

Do you consider that you are now playing some of the best football of your career? Stephen, Penwortham
I wouldn’t say so. I would say that I have been pretty consistent throughout my career. I feel that I am the fittest I have been for three or four years and hopefully that is beginning to come through in the games and hopefully I can keep going the way I am going and maybe bang in a few more goals.

If you could ask a question to any player in the squad who would it be and what would you ask them?
I’d probably ask Brian O’Neil where he got his clothes from and Danny Dichio has he got a car?

Press Release – Footballs For Schools

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Preston North End Set To Launch Second Phase Of Mini Whites Initiative – Footballs For Schools

Following on from last season’s flagship success of Preston North End’s Mini Whites scheme, the club are now set to launch phase two, ‘Footballs For Schools’.

The Mini Whites initiative which saw thousands of under eights attend PNE games last season absolutely free was an unqualified success, the scheme had almost 1000 members in its first full season and 69 per cent of youngsters no longer eligible for the scheme this season graduated to junior season ticket holders.

The thinking behind the Mini Whites is to get local fans supporting their local club and that is a process which has now been adopted by the Football League with the game’s authorities encouraging all clubs in the Football League to allow kids into games for free.

Following on from last season’s groundbreaking success Preston North End are now taking the scheme one step further by giving out thousands of free Preston North End footballs to Primary schools in the local area.

As part of the Club’s Deepdale Duck Roadshow, Preston North End will be giving five PNE branded Mitre footballs to the 300 Primary schools in the area. Not only that, but if and when the balls are worn out, Preston North End will replace them free of charge!

The Deepdale Duck Roadshow took the Preston North End message to almost 40,000 young fans last season and it aims to repeat that this season. This year the scheme has been sponsored by Total and it promises to be bigger and better.

Not only will North End be giving out the footballs to all schools but all children in attendance will receive a goody bag which includes Preston North End wristbands, posters, fun books and car stickers.

The scheme will be launched this coming Monday 5th December at Preston’s Holme Slack Primary School where Preston North End captain Chris Lucketti and winger Chris Sedgwick will giving out the first set of footballs to the youngsters while the Deepdale Duck will also be performing his Roadshow.

Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney said: “Preston North End have been hugely influential in the development of our Fans of the Future initiative, their Mini-Whites scheme helped set the template for clubs across The Football League to follow.

“I know that their scheme has been tremendously successful in encouraging more and more young fans to watch games at Deepdale and I hope that other clubs enjoy similar results.”

Preston North End’s Community Development Manager Andrea Troake said: “The success of the Deepdale Duck Roadshow and the Mini Whites scheme last season exceeded expectations, with 69% of graduates of the scheme purchasing season tickets.

“This season we wanted to reward the schools for their help in promoting the scheme and allowing the Deepdale Duck Roadshow into their schools yet again. By giving each school five PNE branded Mitre footballs it is hoped that the pupils will take an interest in physical activity as well as Preston North End FC.

“Already attendances this season have shown an increase on previous seasons and we hope this continues as more children join the Mini Whites following a visit by Deepdale Duck to their school.”

Ends

Chris Lucketti, Chris Sedgwick and Andrea Troake will all be available for interview at Holme Slack Primary School, Manor House Lane, Preston, PR1 6HP from 2.00pm on Monday 5th December. Photo opportunities with the players, Deepdale Duck and the PNE branded balls will also be available.

For more information contact the Press Office on 0870 442 1964; by fax on 01772 693366 or by email media@pne.com

Editors Notes

  • Number of expired mini whites (children registered under the mini whites scheme, not necessarily mini whites season ticket holders) 118. Number of expired mini whites who are now registered as junior season ticket holders 82. This equates to a massive 68.88% of new paying junior season ticket holders through the mini whites scheme.
  • In only 10 months the `Mini Whites’ scheme saw the club’s number of registrations under the age of 8 grow from 86 to 948 – with approximately 80% attending matches on a regular basis.
  • 69% of youngsters who have graduated from the scheme went on to buy a season ticket.
  • The Mini-Whites scheme is free to join and once a member children can attend all home league games for free by either getting tickets on a match by match basis or by getting a season ticket at the start of the season.
  • Being a member of the Mini Whites scheme saves the child up to £6.50 on a match by match ticket or £125 on a season ticket. This is available for as many children in the family as are eligible. Therefore a family with 3 children under 8 years will save £375 per season.
  • Total’s sponsorship of the Deepdale Duck Roadshow is one of a number of partnerships involving Preston North End including work with the Playing For Success scheme and also sponsoring the Club’s Community Stand.

THE DEEPDALE DIARY – 9th November 2005

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November
Preston North End secure the services of long-serving midfielder Paul McKenna on a new and improved three-and-a-half year deal. The local born player is currently celebrating his testimonial year and joins Brian O’Neil, Chris Lucketti and Graham Alexander in signing new deals.

Blackpool boss Colin Hendry looks set for the sack after defeat to Doncaster in the FA Cup and PNE in the Lancs Cup.

Thursday 10th November
Billy Davies says that his side have lacked the killer instinct in the opening few months, this despite his side now being unbeaten in seven and with only four defeats in 18 games. He said: “Due to little breaks and things not going for us and not getting that little killer instinct, we’ve been unfortunate to draw a number of games that we should have won.”

Birmingham City are the latest club to be linked with a big money move for Sheffield United captain Phil Jagielka.

Friday 11th November
A double departure at Deepdale as Dickson Etuhu and Eric Skora both leave on loan deals. Etuhu joins Norwich for two months with a view to a permanent deal whilst Skora moves down the M6 to link up with League One Walsall in search of first team football.

Argentinean defender Roberto Ayala says that in Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen England have the best strike partnership in the world.

Saturday 12th November
Eric Skora makes a dream start to life at the Bescot Stadium with a goal on his debut. The local papers are comparing him to Christoph Dugarry and Walsall boss Paul Merson tells the press that the Frenchman is destined for the Premiership if he continues in the same vein of form.

It’s reported that Manchester United’s dressing room was bugged and conversations recorded during their recent win over Chelsea.

Sunday 13th November
Preston North End are in a ‘transition period’ according to PNE boss Billy Davies. The loss of Cresswell and Lewis as well as the temporary loss of David Nugent have hit Preston hard: “Those players were good for 49 goals between them last season so once they were gone that was our cutting edge gone too.”

Spurs are waiting in the wings should Arjen Robben be given the boot at Stamford Bridge after falling out with Jose Mourinho.

Monday 14th November
Norwich boss Nigel Worthington confirms that the Dickson Etuhu deal is likely to be a permanent one. Meanwhile the midfielder tells Norwich’s website that he can’t wait to get started: “I’m very impressed with the facilities here and I’m looking forward to using them now.”

The Mirror reports that Bryan Robson is set for a £2m raid on former club Manchester United to get Kieran Richardson.

Tuesday 15th November
PNE boss Billy Davies says that competition for places ahead of the game with Cardiff is ‘fierce’. He said: “we’ve got guys coming back into full fitness, which is vital for us, and competition will again become very fierce.”

Sheffield United are set to offer Neil Warnock a £300,000 wage rise to stop him from joining Portsmouth according to the Daily Star.

Wednesday 16th November
PNE include Adam Nowland and Jemal Johnson in their reserve line-up to take on Bury at Deepdale. Nowland has been out of action since limping off with a groin strain at Bury and Johnson was unlucky to miss out at Leeds United a fortnight ago.

Everton insist that their manager David Moyes will not be leaving the club to take charge of Scottish giants Rangers.

Dates For Your Diary
Wednesday 23rd November – Patrick Agyemang and Claude Davis join Liberty X in turning on the Preston Christmas lights.

Thursday 24th November – David Nugent, Chris Sedgwick and Tyrone Mears sign autographs at pneshop.com from 6.30pm.

Friday 25th November – Ned Kelly is over the hill as he celebrates his 40th birthday!

Wednesday 30th November – Paul McKenna’s Testimonial Bingo Night at Deepdale Labour Club – Eyes Down 7.30pm admission £2.

THE DEEPDALE DIARY – 21st October 2005

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Friday 21st October
Billy Davies is boosted by the news that Youl Mawene and Dickson Etuhu are set to return to the first team fold for the trip to Molineux. Both players missed out on the trip to Cardiff with a virus.

Tony Adams tells the Daily Mirror that he is ready to take over at Middlesbrough or Southampton if the jobs become available.

Saturday 22nd October
Dickson Etuhu returns to action with a goal at Wolves one season after he was sent-off at Molineux. The big midfielder comes on as a substitute for the injured Adam Nowland and powers home a header within minutes in the 1-1 draw with Glenn Hoddle’s side.

According to The Sun, Manchester United’s coaching staff fear that Sir Alex Ferguson will quit the club next season.

Sunday 23rd October
North End boss Billy Davies tells the press that the Lilywhites should have won their Championship clash with Wolves. He said: “In the second half we controlled the game but then we hit the post and that was the turning point because if that had gone in, it would have been game over”

Depending on which newspaper you read Arsenal’s Thierry Henry may or may not be signing a £200,000 a week deal with Chelsea next season.

Monday 24th October
Billy Davies says that he hopes to have more firepower for the forthcoming game with Leicester City. North End have a full week to prepare for the fixture and that should give the injured Lilywhites players more time to recover.

West Ham boss Alan Pardew is poised to move for Ipswich Town’s Dean Bowditch for £1m according to the Daily Mirror.

Tuesday 25th October
Crewe boss Dario Gradi says that his club have no interest in pursuing a swap deal with PNE for striker Steve Jones. Billy Davies however tells pne.com that he has made no offer of such a deal and that he only expressed an interest in Jones.

Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele is confident that he and his team-mates can break Arsenal’s record of 49 unbeaten games.

Wednesday 26th October
Youl Mawene tells Whites World that it is the small details that make the difference in the Championship as his side look forward to the Leicester game. The Frenchman says: “We all know what this league is all about. Sometimes it’s the little details and if you lose the small detail, you lose the game.”

West Ham boss Alan Pardew is rewarded with a new five year deal at Upton Park following the Hammers’ encouraging start to the Premiership season.

Thursday 27th October
Billy Davies has five injury worries ahead of the Leicester City game with Adam Nowland, Lewis Neil, Chris Lucketti, Brian O’Neil and David Nugent all facing a race against time to be fit for the weekend.

West Ham are targeting Glenn Johnson and John Hartson to return to Upton Park during the transfer window.

Friday 28th October
It’s a busy day at North End as the club announce four deals. The first is a one-month loan deal for Blackburn’s Jemal Johnson, a 20-year-old American born striker who has scored six goals in nine starts for Rovers’ reserves.

At the other end of the spectrum North End’s experienced trio of Graham Alexander, Chris Lucketti and Brian O’Neil all sign one-year extensions to their contracts.

Dates For Your Diary – Season Ticket Holders Fans Forum Event
First of 4 events in The Great Room at Preston North End FC on Wednesday 16th November 2005 from 7pm – 8.30pm.  Doors open at 6.30pm and the topic for discussion  will be retail (shop, tickets, mypne). Put your questions to the General Manager – Ben Rhodes, Shop Manager – Warren Bennett, Ticket Office Manager  – Karen Bentham  and Marketing Manager – Andrew Pomfret.

Entry strictly by ticket only. Tickets available in exchange for relevant voucher in the back of season ticket book from PNEShop.com. Tickets limited and issued on a first come first served basis

Quotes: Billy Davies 31st May 2005

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It was a fantastic three or four days I can tell you the training facility was excellent, the time we spent on the training ground with the privacy and everything that we had and just the whole team getting together was a wonderful four days and it was great to get some sun on my back obviously. And it was also nice to hear that the rain was pouring down in Preston which made it even better.

Well I think it was, when we looked at the situation with regards to tickets and things, the fight for tickets it was going to be difficult, so rather than being down at our normal training ground I just thought it was a very good idea to take them away they’ve certainly earned it for sure there’s no doubt about it and I think as part of our preparation I think it was a good place to go especially with the type of training that we had.

Well I think we got about it in the same way to be honest with you but we know ourselves that we know find ourselves 90minutes away from premiership football and we’ve got there because we deserve to be there there’s no doubt about it.

We’ve proved already this year that we can match and beat a lot of big clubs in this division that will mean nothing with regards to going into this game, but at the same time too we’re there because we deserve to be there and we will now go into that game with confidence that we can go and hopefully go all the way.

Well I don’t think there’s any advantage in one off games I think obviously that West Ham without a shadow of a doubt are obviously the bigger club there a club that only recently have been playing Premiership football so we know the situation. Irrespective of whether it was Liverpool or a fourth division club or whoever we had to play against we respect all opponents we’ll respect West Ham we will certainly not fear them and we’ll certainly go into the game with confidence that we can hopefully on the day play the best we can play again there’s no doubt about it that we’ve been over achieving all season with regards to the changes we’ve made hopefully we can now can on and continue to do that.

I don’t they’ve got a main strength I think they’ve got they’ve got a group of very strong players and they’ve also got a very good squad there so we certainly won’t be focused on any one person or one player they’ve got very experienced players there no doubt about it. The most important thing is our preparation has got to be right to make sure that we’re doing exactly what we’re doing. I don’t think we should sit back and look at any individual players of West Ham. They have got good players there’s a lot of good guys through that team but at the same time too we’ve got good players and all we can do is encourage our players to hopefully do what they have to do on the day.

Not that I’m aware of definitely not I think that to be focused on Preston North End and be focused on getting our players to play to the best of their ability. We’ve been very evenly matched both teams are in the play off final because they deserve to be there because of the results that they’ve got as I told you before all season we’ve been resetting our targets as I said before. Our first target was 53points  and then we moved on to a top half finish we then moved on to a play-off place and now we find ourselves in the final and we’re now resetting our target again which is to go and win the game.

Well I think throughout the side we’ve got good strengths and depth in the squad we’ve got good experience in the right places. We’ve got players who have played in these type of games before, we’ve got good youth in there and guys who must be looking forward to the occasion and I think from back to front there’s a lot of different strengths in that team that could be very, very beneficial to us on the day.

Well Graham Alexander’s certainly on track to be part of the squad for the final, Callum’s still touch and go at the moment we’ll be racing against time with Callum but we’re still keeping our fingers crossed that we can get him there He’s working very hard with the medical people but that ones going to be tricky and I think we might just be against time on that one.

Sometimes needs must but you know sometimes and I said that to our squad prior to the Derby game that I always felt that Derby County would go and take chances if they needed to take chances we will be in the same situation if it’s a case of needs must then sometimes you have to do it but at this moment in time we’re looking very healthy with regards to the squad and what we’ve got.

We’ve Callum Davidson who’s racing against time and once we get closer to the final we will then look at the situation, look at his fitness and then make decisions from there.

No first time, no. Not with regards to the financial gains I mean obviously I think it’s one of the most important games it the country with regards to what’s at stake, but both clubs know what’s at stake and as I said before that to get there will be a wonderful achievement but you know it’s a game of football we’ve just got to go and approach it as a game of football. We know the importance of it as I said before we’re there and we’re there on merit and we’ve now got to go in there with the confidence and belief that we can go one step further and go all the way.

No I don’t think so I think that we’ve got good experience in the squad obviously we’re very excited and looking forward to the game.

It’s like everything else when you get to this type of games then it can be very exciting for everybody concerned. We’ve just got to go in there and enjoy it. My message to the players and to everyone at the club is enjoy the occasion because we’re delighted to be here and we’re looking forward to it very much and as I say there’s no other way you can approach it except going in there, doing what we have been doing all season, continue to play the game we have been playing and hopefully  on the day get those one or two breaks that you need as you saw last night with the  Liverpool game and even like the game up in Scotland the Rangers and Celtic things you need those little breaks that go for and against you when you get to these stages and that’s all we can hope for that on the day we get our players playing the way we can and we get one or two breaks to go and take us through.

I do think they can I think everything gets taken on it’s own merit I think the squad now look forward to the West Ham game and we’ve got players in there that can play international football we’ve got players who have played in these playoff games before so we have got good experience and we’ve also got one or two younger guys who are coming in and it will be their first experience. So I think as a team we’ll be together we’ve been together all season again we’ll go to Cardiff and we’ll be together again and irrespective of whether it’s the most senior guy or the youngest guy in the team we will go into this and we’ll make sure we’re very much together in everything we’re trying to achieve.

Plenty of advice from plenty of people spoke to a lot of guys I’m just ready to phone that former manager here that David Moyes guy and get some stick off him in the next couple of days. But I’ve spoke to many people as you can imagine and it’s always nice to hear their thoughts and get their views on the situation.

Just little things, just they’re past experiences travelling to the ground and once you get to the ground the situation and the preparation all these little different things that you deal with prior to a game like this and we’ve all got our own little opinions as far as I’m concerned I’ll listen to what the guys have got to say  I’m very, very happy to speak with them and very happy to seek advice but the most important thing is that you do what you do and I’ve got to go on continue to do what I’ve been doing and continue to believe in the things that I believe and the things that I’ve tried to put in place and that’s the most important thing. But there’s always room to I think listen to people and I’m certainly very keen on phoning people up and seeking advice.

Not really, there’s not been really too many things about not, I don’t think there’s any prescription to football or anything that you do I mean how can you possibly legislate for that last night its just football and that’s the game we’re in you never can tell, you can prepare properly and you can do all the right things, setup your team and do wonderful things but on the day you just need that little break to go and take you there and that’s what we’ll be trying to do. Our preparation has been excellent so far between now and the weekend we’ll prepare again the way we have been doing all those months  and we’ll  continue to do what we have been doing there’s not going to be a great deal of change I certainly believe I got the players to go and win the game and that will be my main focus which is to encourage these players to go and do what they can on the day play the way they can play on the day and you never know what can happen.

I’m not a great believer in it to be honest I think it’s an individual thing some people fell comfortable practicing penalties like  Graham Alexander practices penalty kicks everyday irrespective of who we play or the situation other guys like to stay away from it and I’ll very much leave it on their own shoulders to see how they feel I certainly won’t be putting any emphasis on them practicing their penalties, if they want to do it then fine on the day  it will be all about confidence, all about the players who feel confident and we’ll let them do their own thing.

No definitely not they’re already picked, yeah very much so. well I’ve picked it because I think I know who the calm heads are the ones with the courage who will stand up there .I’ll be encouraging all of them as it may be needed but at the same time I won’t be putting any pressure on them.

To put the ball in the back of the net and continue to do it throughout the 95 minute game. Enjoy it it’s a wonderful achievement for him and I think he’s bought about 196 tickets for the game so you can imagine what he’s like, he’s got a great following behind him and it’s a great experience for this young lad to go there, go and enjoy yourself hopefully it’ll be the first of many great things in his career. And the most important thing is play the way you normally play irrespective of your surroundings and what’s there, just go out and enjoy his game that’s what my message will be to him and everybody else. Not at all absolutely not, these are the games you want to play in, this is what footballs all about, this is where you want to go as a player, as a coach as a manager, you want to try and achieve as much as you possibly can and as I said we’re very proud to be in the final we’re very proud to be 90 minutes away from premiership football the most important thing now for the players is to enjoy the whole day, the whole occasion. Don’t stand and admire it and don’t stand and admire the surroundings. Go out and do the job and work as hard as I can and hopefully on the day we’ll do what we’re good at.

Yes, well I think it’s get away there and get the son on our back it was excellent weather as I said before it was an excellent facility and we thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent, particularly the late afternoon sessions that we’ve done about 4’o’clock I think that was obviously very beneficial to us it’s all about doing the things you think are right and I genuinely feel that it was a wonderful 4 days both from a working point of view but from a spirit and team bonding point of view.

Funny enough as soon as we both made the final Alan and I were on the phone to each other and we basically wished each other all the best and I know Granty very well, Peter Grant at West Ham so that’s football throughout the year you jump about like lunatics sometimes on that touchline but at the end of the day you know the situation the guys are trying to do the best they can to get the job done and we’re the same and sometimes you get a little bit hot headed on that touchline sometimes you can be passionate but we don’t bear grudges in this game we know the situation and we’ll shake each others hands after the game and we move on. As far as I’m concerned it’s a great occasion for both sets of teams and obviously both sets of fans.

It was actually a phone call and a fax that went opposite ways if you like. He sent a fax I made a call.

It’s already washed and ready to go again and it will not be coming off, Irrespective of how it’s come off it’ll be worn anyway it can have as many stains as you like on it, it wouldn’t matter. I’m not rubbing any Buddha’s I can tell you.