Established in 2005 Preston North End Fans Team came together after an initial challenge from Bury F.C Supporters team. Turning up for that first game little did they know that less than 12 months later they would be picking up their first trophy by winning the Fans Cup beating Nottingham Forest by two goals to one in the final.

They must have made an impression in that first year as they also picked up “Team of the Year” trophy as voted by the rest of the fans league!

But the team is not just about what it does on the pitch. The concept of the Fans league is about bringing rival fans together and helping break down the rivalry between fans. Preston Fans team has embraced this concept and many a strong friendship as been created with other teams.

‘It’s certainly made us aware of other team’s welfare’ said the Preston manger. ‘If we can help others then we will’ said the Preston boss, ‘at the end of the day we all need each other or none of us will survive.’ The concept also encourages fans to travel to away matches. The idea of playing a game of football before going on to watch the professionals later in the day has certainly appealed to the Preston N.E. team, as between them they have travelled over 10,000 miles since they were founded in 2005.

Other teams have come down to play Preston on their own patch when normally they wouldn't have bothered travelling to their team’s away game! This was bourn out by the Watford manager who brought a squad of 20 down and said, ‘if it wasn't for playing “you guys” we would not have bothered coming to the game!’ All this creates revenue for our football club and that is something the team is very proud of.

The team have also sponsored the PNE youth team for the season, who went on the win the Youth Alliance final. They have also sponsored three first team away games. They are not only very proud of what they have achieved on the pitch, but also what they do off it. ‘It is of equal importance’ says the Preston Fans Team Manager. They have also given the club a £250 cheque, which may seem like a small amount in the big scheme of things, but it again shows the teams’ total commitment to their club.

The Club is open to all Preston fans irrespective of age, creed, gender or ability. The philosophy of the team is about supporting PNE, encouraging fans to travel away and to try to put something back into the Club. The Team manager says ‘we estimate our efforts in bringing other fans teams to our place has raised over £10,000 for the club, and that is something we are very proud of.’

Anybody interested in joining the lads for a bit of training or even joining the team full time contact their web site or drop an email to SmbCw@aol.com

Stephen M Cowell Fans Team Manager

Comments from Other teams

Watford; “Preston has been like a breath of fresh air since joining the league.”

Fulham; “At our recent meeting we where presented with a Pennant autographed by Tom Finney which just goes to show how Preston will go out of their way to represent their club. We where thrilled by this kind gesture and this gift is something we will cherish. Its great to see the management at Preston NE taking an interest in their supporter’s side and long may it continue as they are a credit to the Football Club!

John Boocock head of the Fans Football League, “Preston are a really good example for what we expect for our teams, both on and off the field, and everybody is well looked after when they play there!