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| Contents | |
| What's Deepdale
Like? Sir Tom Finney Stand External View (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Sir Tom Finney & Bill Shankly Stands (photo) Where To Drink? Invincibles & Alan Kelly Stands (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park Sir Tom Finney Stand (photo) By Train Local Rivals Admission Prices Ground Layout Fixtures 2012-2013 Programme Price Disabled Facilities Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Other Places Of Interest Deepdale Location Map
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| What's Deepdale Like? | |
| With the
addition of the new Invincibles Pavilion Stand in
2008, it now means that Deepdale has now been
completely re-built in recent years. What was a
great looking stadium, is now an even a better one
as the new stand completely fills the remaining side
of what was the Pavilion side of the ground. Three sides of the stadium are composed of some excellent looking all seater stands, complete with some spectacular looking floodlights. They are of the same height and style and are all large, covered, single tiered stands. Each has a likeness of a past player outlined on the seats and is named after that player. Tom Finney, Bill Shankly and goalkeeping legend Alan Kelly, are all honoured and this makes a welcome change from the boring letters outlined on most new stands. The first of these stands to be built was the Sir Tom Finney Stand in 1995. This was followed by the Bill Shankly Kop in 1998 and the Alan Kelly Stand in 2001. The 4th new stand, the Invincibles Stand (named after the legendary Preston team of 1888/1889 who went through the whole season unbeaten and were also the first in that season to win the League & FA Cup double), cost in the region of £9m to build. The design of this stand is slightly different to the other three. Even though it is of the same height and has a similar roof, it has a smaller tier of seating, with 22 executive boxes sitting above. Alas I presume that there was not enough space to incorporate another player image on the seating so instead we have to make do with the letters 'PNE FC' instead. Outside the stadium is a statue of former Preston legend Tom Finney. |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| Away fans are housed in the
modern Bill Shankly Kop at one end of the pitch.
Normally the allocation for away fans is approximately
half of this stand (3,000 seats). However for teams
with a large away support, then the whole end can be
allocated, raising the allocation to 6,000. The views of the playing action and facilities within this stand are excellent. The stand is particularly steep, meaning that fans are kept relatively close to the pitch. On the concourse there are TV's by the refreshment serving areas showing the game live and with the bars being open during the game, this is too much of a temptation for some. There is a wide range of food available including; Cheeseburgers (£3.40), Burgers (£3.20), Hot Dogs (£3.30), Meat & Potato Pie (£2.50), Chicken Balti Pie (£2.50), Steak & Kidney Pie (£2.50) and the Potato & Butter Pie (£2.50). James Prentice adds; 'I would recommend the 'Butter Pie', which is a bit of a local delicacy. It is just a normal pie but with a filling of very buttery mashed potato and onion. I was attracted to it by a flag at the top of the new Invincibles Stand that read 'True Prestonians Love a Butter Pie!' I particularly enjoyed my last visit as the fans, stewards and even police all seemed to be fairly friendly and there was a good atmosphere being generated within the ground. |
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| Sir Tom Finney And Bill Shankly Stands | |
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| Where To Drink? | |
| There is
not a great deal in the way of pubs in close
proximity to the ground. Further up Tom Finney Way (which used to be called Deepdale Road) from the stadium, is
Sumners. This pub normally has a
good mix of home and away supporters,
although for certain high profile games and local
derbies the pub does not admit away supporters. There
is a good sized beer garden & car park at the pub.
The pub does charge for parking (£3) but this
can be redeemed against a purchase at the bar. Good
food is available and children are allowed in. James
Pritchett adds to get to the Sumners; 'Make sure you
go towards Sainsburys and away from the Town Centre
and it should take five minutes. As you go past
Sainsburys turn right at the lights and it is half way
up the hill. It should be
full, but friendly. The pub welcomes a mix of away and
home support and are friendly towards families. It serves Theakstons on
draught.' Whilst Charlie
Guinan a visiting Nottingham Forest fan informs me;
'Sumners was good for away fans and apart from the
beer they served an excellent pie, chips, mushy peas
and gravy for only £3.50.' There are also a couple of nearby clubs that welcome away fans. First there is St Gregory's Catholic Club, which is around a five minute walk away on Blackpool Road. The Club offers reasonably priced drinks, hot pies, plus has SKY television. You can also park at the Club at a cost of £3. Secondly, there is the Fulwood Conservative Club, situated around ten minutes walk away from Deepdale, at the junction of Blackpool Road and Garstang Road across from Moor Park. Parking is available at the Club at a cost of £3 per car and non-members are admitted free into the club on matchdays. Paul Billington adds; 'In all honesty visiting fans should avoid town centre pubs simply because the Police will move you on quickly if they see you and most pubs will refuse to serve away fans. If you arrive by train I would recommend the Vic and Station not for the decor but simply convenience.' Otherwise alcohol is served within the ground. Whilst John a visiting Chelsea fan informs me; 'We went to Preston and had a great day. The Yates pub located about a 15 minute walk from the station towards the ground was fine and was okay for us away fans and family friendly. My only criticism of the ground was that it was difficult inside to get a drink as there was no proper queuing system and hence it was a mad scrum at the bar'. |
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| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park | |
| Leave
M6 at Junction 31 and follow signs Left for Preston.
Go up a steep hill (often a police speed trap on the
hill, so stick to 30) and follow the road down
to a mini roundabout (speed
camera by the BP garage on the left). At the
roundabout with the Hesketh Arms turn
right
into Blackpool Road. Go straight on over
three sets of lights and just before a fourth set, the
ground appears set slightly back on the left. Parking
is mainly in the streets surrounding the ground. Mike Holroyd adds; 'as you turn right at the Hesketh Arms roundabout into Blackpool Road and then pass a park on the left there is now another speed camera to watch out for. The Police also sometimes set up another mobile speed trap on the forecourt of the fire station on the left, so watch your speed. Plus as you near the ground don't be tempted to park up on the grass verges, you are likely to find after the game that you have been given a ticket for it!' Steve Thornley informs me; 'Parking for cars is available for £3 a car at Moorfields Special School. The car park is manned by volunteers from the school and all proceeds go into school funds. Just follow the directions above and at the last set of traffic lights continue straight on for about 200 yards, and you will see the school on the left near Moor Park'. Whilst Andrew Weston tells me; 'If approaching the ground by car along Blackpool Road (A5085), parking is available at the Preston Fire Station. It costs £3 and all fees are divided between the Fire Fighters Charity and the Preston Fire Station Welfare Club. Getting to the ground from the fire station car park is about a 5 minute walk and is very straightforward - leave the parking through the gate you DIDN'T enter it by, walk along Harewood Road and turn right onto Skifferton Road. The ground is in front of you'. Kate Abbatt suggests; 'If you want to avoid the pre and post-match traffic, here's a handy tip to avoid it. Instead of leaving the M6 at Junction 31, carry on to Junction 31a signposted, Preston East and Longridge. (This is a limited junction as you can only leave northbound and join southbound.) Keep in the right hand lane and go across the roundabout signposted Preston east, football ground and museum. Across the next roundabout (Anderton Arms on your right) and then left at the next one. At the next lights, go right onto Watling Street. You will go past the White Hart and a row of shops. At next lights by Fulwood Barracks, keep in the left hand lane. You can either park in Sumners, (turn left straight after the lights) or follow the road up to the big junction at Blackpool Road and the ground is on your left and take your chances with on-street parking. Sumners is better as you are the right side of the ground to get away quick after the game. Blackpool Road gets badly snarled up after games and the lights don't help it'. Map showing the location of the Deepdale football ground (at the bottom of this page). |
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| Sir Tom Finney Stand | |
| By Train | |
| Preston railway station is
around a mile and a half from the ground and takes
around twenty five minutes to walk, although you will
pass some good pubs on the way. Leave the Preston
railway station via the main entrance, and head right
at the top of the drive. This is the main High Street.
Continue along the High Street, passing all the regular
big name shops. Some good pubs and eateries
can be found down side streets off
the High Street, so if you have time,
take a look. Try the Old Black Bull,
and Academy, the later
being about the last place on the High
Street that will allow away
supporters before you get to Deepdale.
Colours are not recommended around town. The High
Street (or Church Street/Fishergate as it's known) is about a mile long,
and you will pass a church and a bike shop as you come
to its end. Simply carry on
walking along this street, and when you reach the ring
road, you head straight over the large traffic lights,
heading towards Preston Prison.
Turn left at the Prison into
Church Street, then left into Deepdale Road.
Continue straight along Deepdale Road and after
about a mile you will reach the ground. Thanks to Kevin Wrenn for supplying the directions and general information. |
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| Local Rivals | |
| Blackpool, Burnley & Blackburn Rovers. | |
| Admission Prices | |
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Home
Fans*: * Under 8's can be admitted
free with a paying adult if they
join the 'Mini Whites'
membership scheme. |
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| Fixtures 2012-2013 | |
| Preston North End fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website). | |
| Programme Price | |
| Official Programme £3. | |
| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website. | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| Record Attendance: 42,684 v Arsenal, Division One, April 23rd, 1938. Modern (all seated) Attendance Record: 23,119 v Chelsea FA Cup Round 4, January 23rd, 2010. Average Attendance: 2010-2011: 11,768 (Championship League) 2009-2010: 12,935 (Championship League) 2008-2009: 13,426 (Championship League) |
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| Fans Reviews Of Deepdale | |
| Dan
Brennan (Sheffield Wednesday) 31/12/11 Steve Ellis (Exeter City) 20/8/11 Bobby Rooney (Everton) 24/07/10 David Kemp (Newcastle United) 23/11/09 James Flynn (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 20/09/08 Andrew Fleet (Portsmouth) 17/02/08 Steven Hunt (West Bromwich Albion) 29/01/08 |
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| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If
you require hotel accommodation in the area then first
try a hotel booking service provided by Late Rooms.
They have a huge choice of places to stay and their
booking facility is straightforward to use. Yes this
site will earn a small commission if you book through
them, but it will go to help with the running costs of
keeping the Guide going. Hotels are listed giving
details of their distance from the ground. Access their Preston Hotels and Guest Houses page. Remember that you can use the above link or panel below to book any other hotels that you may need for business or leisure, either in the UK or abroad. |
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| Other Places Of Interest | |
| You are only 20 minutes or so by car from Blackpool, which is Britain's premier seaside resort, so why not make a weekend of it? If you're feeling brave then try the UK's largest and fastest roller coaster, 'The Big One' at the Pleasure Beach. I braved it, but I think I was in shock afterwards! So much so that I had to seek out the Pleasure Beach bar for medicinal purposes. Only one word of caution, look at the other fixtures being played the same day in Manchester/Bolton/Blackpool etc... as your game. Simply because other away supporters attending these games will also be probably be heading to Blackpool after the game as well. So if there is a particular group of supporters from a club who you would rather avoid, then don't say I didn't warn you to check first. | |
| Map showing the location of the Deepdale football ground, railway station and listed pubs | |
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Instructions for using
the map:
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| Feedback | |
| If anything is incorrect or you have
something to add, please e-mail me duncan@footballgrounds.net
and I'll update the guide.
* The ground was opened
in 1875 as an athletics, rugby and cricket ground.
Football was first played later on the site in 1881. |
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All rights
reserved
Last Updated: 24
December 2012
