Huddersfield Town v Preston North End

Proud Preston ! Founder members of the Football League in 1888, only Notts Co have played more games. With an overall ranking from their 112 years Preston are rated 5th most successfull english league club.

We met every year for 37 years between 1920 and 1956 in the old Division One, when footballing skill counted and not how rich your overseas owners were.
Glory days for both clubs who despite our recent demise still hold a special place in footballing history.

Two memorable cup finals, 29/4/1920 when Town won 1-0, and 17/3/1938 when a dodgy referee gave Preston a last minute penalty when Sky TV clearly showed their player dived, was outside the box...etc etc. that was Preston's last major trophy as they plummetted to 2nd bottom of the old Div 4 by 1986.

One of only 3 clubs to have won all four divisional championships (Burnley and Wolves the others), Preston's history mirrors our own, ie it all happened a long time ago ! Cup Winners and League Champions twice, but certainly not masters of the new play-offs where they have failed in all 8 attempts to progress.

Relegated from the old Division One in 1961, Preston have spent the last 11 years in the Championship, losing their place under the guidance of our favourite, Darren Ferguson, last season, where a run of 14 games without a win saw them sink to bottom position. The appointment of ex Halifax Town player Phil Brown and ex Town manager Brian Horton in January 2011 failed to stop the rot and thus they have joined us in Division 1.

Our last meeting here was a 0-0 draw on 20/10/2000, when Town were on their way down to Div 2 and Preston on their way up to the Championship.

In 38 home games over the years Town have won 20, drawn 10 and lost just 8 against Preston. These have generally been close affairs, with only 8 of our last 40 meetings producing a winning margin of more than one goal...

This game seems to be full of history to me, and we welcome Preston to the Galpharm for what should again be a very close and exciting game.Phil Brown did a good job for Hull City and am sure he will do well at Preston, one day.

Phil Brown's team play Sheffield Utd tonight, hoping to secure 3 points and close the gap on the Terriers 2nd place. Key strikers Neil Mellor who was on loan at the Wendies last season is an injury doubt, and the Canadian Iain Hume who once cost Barnsley £1.2m from Leicester..have between them scored 13 goals thus far.

Town Team prediction -
as per Exeter

Att: must be around 16,000 although Preston have not sold their allocation and can pay on the day at a bargain price of £21 (note that Sheff Utd).

Preston Team-
to follow.

This will be their 5th away game out of the last 6 and having lost to 10 man Walsall last weekend will be looking to get back on track. However preston have recorded away wins at Brentford, Wycombe and Chesterfield thus far, notching 9 goals in total...so they can be a potent force and Town need to do as Walsall did, deny them possession (Walsall had 57%).

Saturdays Ref is the Premier Leagues Mark Halsey, who last ref'd Town at Elland Road when we won 2-1 in 2008...good omen ?
Score prediction: 0-0