Monday, April 25, 2011

Preston North End are Relegated (#pne)

It's a sad say for Preston North End fans as the 0-1 defeat today at Deepdale to Cardiff City confirms what has being coming for a long time - relegation to League 1. It's PNE's first relegation since 1993, and it ends an 11-year stay in the Championship during which they made the play-offs four times, including two finals. Only two seasons ago they lost in the play-offs to Sheffield United who will also now accompany PNE into League 1.

Image from Blog Preston.
It's been a tough season almost right from the start. There was the incredible 6-4 win away over Leeds, and a gritty 1-0 win over Ipswich - a game Brian and I attended. Little did we know that this win would be the last for several months, and that Darren Ferguson would be sacked. Ferguson's appointment after the premature sacking of Alan Irvine was the start of the rot for me - he tore the team apart, perhaps believing that he could build a successful Championship outfit with Man Utd reserves and his own famous name. I only wish he had been sacked earlier to give Phil Brown more time. At least PNE went down fighting - recent form has been of promotion standard.

I look forward to heading over to Deepdale again next year - as always I will look at the fixture list and plan a day out with Brian. In recent years we have been to games against Wolves, Ipswich, Charlton, Reading, and Ipswich again. Deepdale is a very friendly place and we have been well treated at the ground, as well as the bars and restaurants of downtown Preston. 

Not such a proud day for Preston. Phil Brown - please stay and takes us back up to the Championship next year!

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