Football Ground Guide: Fans Ground Review, Deepdale, Preston North End FC

I recently visited Deepdale for the Championship clash between Preston and Derby, and I have rather mixed feelings about the place.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be)

I was looking forward to this game for 3 main reasons. One, on my years of travelling with the Rams, Preston was one ground I had never been to. Secondly, I was eagerly awaiting visiting the National Football Museum there, somewhere I've wanted to go for ages. Lastly, Derby County were having and excellent season so far, just outside the playoffs and Preston weren't far behind, should be a good game, I thought.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking

Personally my journey was easy, via supporters bus! But it's a very accessible ground by the looks of it!

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

Me and my friends decided to go to the Museum and take a look around, fantastic to see all the football memorabilia there! Had a go on the "GoalStriker" machine, 3 shots against a video screen with a goalkeeper that never gets to the ball, albeit I missed twice! Some good interactive stuff upstairs with table football etc. After that we took a walk down the road to McDonalds and waited 20 minutes for a plain beef burger in a truly packed restaurant! Then decided to go back to the ground and take a look around, even got given a complimentary PNE key ring! No trouble with the home fans, very friendly bunch, funny how being from the East Midlands you don't realise that everyone in Lancashire speaks like Peter Kay!! One disappointment of Preston is that under FIFTEENS are concessions, not sixteens, so I had to go and upgrade my ticket for Ł11 to adult.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground.

Very good outside look, though lots of graffiti all over the walls of the stands, particularly "I luv H.S." everywhere. Hmmm. Anyway I was impressed by the size and look of it, especially with the magnificent floodlights. In the ground, good looking except for the mouldy terrace to our left of the away end.

5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..

The game: poor, incredibly poor from Derby's point of view, Preston ran the show and ran out 3-0 winners, could have been 8!

Atmosphere: what atmosphere? It took 3 goals to bring a single song out of the Lilywhites, and that was a simple "cheerio, cheerio cheerio" as Rams fans flooded out after a third goal in the 88th minute!

Stewards: No complaint, no trouble

Pies: didn't get a chance to taste them! Stood in a queue of what, 15 people for 30 minutes without moving an inch! Very angry at this and fans were rioting almost, as some Chinese lads rushed around spilling pints and change everywhere behind the counter! It took my friend 20 minutes to get there and 2 minutes for them to find a yorkie bar! Absolutely terrible, a huge let down of Preston.

Toilets: pretty clean, typical away fans mess left there, but that's to be expected I guess...

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game

Not a problem, good stewarding prevented Preston and Derby fans mixing too much and our coaches got away and home to Derby for 7.45pm, from a typical 4.50 end which is very good time indeed!

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out

Very good day, will visit again, football museum was a different experience and actually lit up the whole day unlike the scoreline! Nice place to visit though the housing estate around the ground doesn't seem to pleasant, sorta reminds me of a day in Coventry! Oh and one more thing! Meeting a tramp in Uttoxeter on the way back with a cider bottle with a mix of allsorts of booze in it dancing in the streets singing we wish you a merry Christmas was one of the funniest things I've seen in ages!! Oh dear me, away days with the Rams.... cant beat them :)