Deepdale: History of Preston North End’s home ground in the spotlight from 1875 to the present day

Deepdale is one of the oldest and most important stadiums in the history of English football.

The home of Preston North End, who have played there since 1875 in the club’s original guise of a cricket club. North End as a football club was formed in 1880 and Deepdale is regarded as among the oldest continuously used professional football stadium in the world.

The stadium has undergone many changes over the years, with the most significant of these being made in the 1990s, when the stadium was redeveloped to increase its capacity to 23,404.

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The stadium is a major landmark in Preston and is a source of pride for the city and here, we look back at its history over the years.

Early History

Deepdale was originally built on land leased from the Earl of Derby. Preston played their first match at Deepdale as a football team against Bolton side Eagley on October 5, 1878, with the visitors emerging as 1-0 victors. Deepdale has since been the scene of many memorable moments in PNE’s history.

In 1888-89, North End became the first team to win the English Football League Championship and the FA Cup in the same season. They were known as the ‘Invincibles and their success helped to make Deepdale a famous stadium. North End also became in 1888 one of the original 12 founding members of the Football League.

The 1990s Redevelopment

The most significant changes to Deepdale were made in the 1990s. The stadium was redeveloped to increase its capacity to 23,404, which remains to this day. The redevelopment included the construction of a new stand on the west side of the stadium, which was named the Sir Tom Finney Stand in honour of the club’s ever-greatest player.

Sir Tom Finney played for Preston North End from 1940 to 1960, making his league debut for the club in 1946 after the Second World War. A North End legend, the late Sir Tom, who passed away at the age of 91 in 2014, is considered to be one of the greatest players in English football history and was capped 76 times by England and scored 30 goals.

Modern Deepdale

Deepdale is now a modern stadium that meets the highest standards of safety and comfort. The stadium has been praised for its atmosphere and its location in the heart of Preston. Deepdale is a popular venue for football matches, a landmark for the city, and is also used for other events, such as concerts.

A Guide to the Current Day

Deepdale is a four-sided stadium with a capacity of 23,404. The stands are named as follows:

• Sir Tom Finney Stand (west)

• Alan Kelly Town End (east)

• Bill Shankly Kop (south)

• Invincibles Pavilion (north)

The stadium is located in the heart of Preston, close to the city centre and is around a 30 minute walk from the city’s train station. There are a number of pubs and restaurants in the area, as well as hotels.

• This article was crafted with the help of an AI engine, which speeds up Lancs Live’s editorial research. A Lancs Live editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]

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