9th round, Leage One

Preston North End FC  3 (0) - (1) 2  Yeovil Town FC

Deepdale

Attendance: 8,520

Goals:

Y: 6`(pen)Williams 87`Burn

P: 58`Monakana 64`Beardsley 86`Burn(own)

Red card: 80`Upson (Y)

Read full match report here

Players on Twitter

Now a days you can keep in touch with players online. You can read their written emotions and you can write them hoping for a response or a retweet. And if you are a decent looking partyprincess (slag) you can actually get a follow. If you`re a boy wanting a follow don`t worry, just be a Premiership footballer (in our case Championship also works) and you`re there.

So how do they present themselves for the fans to see? And does it matter really? I`d like to think so. Because I do belive it`s not just to keep in touch with their family and old friends they are on twitter so their profile is a short statement to the world. And what would they like to tell us? Let`s just look at a few North End players:

Stuart Beavon is keeping is simple. He is a pro footballer and he is a member of the Preston North End squad. So nothing wrong with that. He also has a modest amount of tweets so far. Can it be done in an even more fan friendly matter?

John Welsh actually gives the impression that he really likes being a pro footballer and that being a member of the Preston North End squad actually is a great f*cking thing. This is a nice text to read if you`re a football fan. The player seems to be happy with his choice and it gives you some reasurance that he might be staying for a while. He`s also close to have written 10,000 tweets. That`s better than most 14 year old girls!

David Buchanan has chosen another angel. He wants us to know that he`s married and he has two daughters. And they are beautiful. This we do not doubt for one second. But mr Buchanan also wants us to know that he is only currently playing for Preston North End FC. Why would you write that and not just that your playing for the club? With all due respect, you`re also currently married to your wife. You should be consistent. 

We`re keeping an eye on how our beloved players are communicating with the world, because that is what it`s all about isn`t it - legit stalking. 

Folding your flag

This is one way to fold a flag to a practical size to carry with you to games or to the pub. It`s done in a hurry and is not up to military standards.

3rd round, League Cup

Preston North End FC  1 (1) - (2) 3  Middlesbrough FC

Deepdale

Attendance: 4,959

Goals:

M: 13`Ledesma 18`Zemmama 61`Smallwood

P: 40`King

Read full match report here

Still representing

 ...until the next guild comes along. Long Live Proud Preston!

8th round, League One

Walsall FC  3 (1) - (1) 1  Preston North End FC

Banks`s Stadium

Attendance: 4,189 (890 away fans)

Goals:  P: 10`Byrom  W: 38`Baxendale 55`(pen)58`Bowerman

Read full match report here

What makes us special?

In the past Preston was famously successful, being the first winner of "The Double" in English football. In 1888/-89 Preston became the only team to go throughout an entire season unbeaten in both the league and FA cup – also with the record of never conceding a goal in the FA Cup. Arsenal, in 2003/-04, also managed to have an unbeaten season in the top flight (although Arsenal played 38 games to Preston's 22) but went out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage.   Wikipedia

7th round, League One

Preston North End FC  5 (2) - (0) 0  Hartlepool United FC

Deepdale

Attendance: 8,132

Goals:  P: 28Byrom `29`Beavon 65`King 84`Laird 87`Laird

Read full match report here

Licence to..

New licence plate`s good to go. Now where did I park that Range Rover of mine..?

6th round, League One

Preston North End FC  1 (0) - (0) 2  Crawley Town FC

Deepdale

Attendance: 9,812

Goals:  C: 54` 58`Alexander  P: 90`Huntington

Read the full match report here

In the news

When driving to the airport on sunday Katie got a text from Dickie (in yellow between the Sherriff`s legs) saying a Branch man was in today`s Sunday Mirror sport section. We stopped at a local shop by the road and got a couple. A nice memory to take home.

2012/2013, Bury away

Representing North End in Manchester

Going to England to watch Preston is a big fucking thing for us. And if you know anything about Preston fans you would know why. A great bunch of supporters who embrace you like their own. They recognize passion and commitment when they see it.

Leaving our mark when leaving Oslo

Getting to Preston is always a little adventure on its own. The old tram, buss, plane, taxi ride never gets worn out. After the friday tacos with gather our stuff and head for the airport. At the airport we normally get into friendly arguments with other Norwegian supporters, normally Liverpool or Manchester United. But sometimes even Leeds, Bolton and Blackburn. This tme around there was no Premier League games so we drank our beers in peace while playing cards.

Going through security

Arriving in Manchester around midnight the trains have stopped running so the best way to reach the heart of Lancashire is by taxi. We bargin a bit on the price before getting in. It`s not supposed to cost 130 pounds to travel less than an hour in a cab. The taxi driver drove breakneck to Preston so we got to the hotel around 01:00.

All you need basically

Before getting on the train Paul swung by the hotel and picked us up and took us to breakfast with Clem and Bamber. A nice English breakfast. Or breakfast as they say over there. Getting on the train we got to see some new and old faces. Good to see Kearnsey, Ted and Tim again. Everyone in a great mood as the sun makes it`s appearance.

On the train to Manchester

Getting to Manchester we all went to the Old Wellington and put up fort there waiting for the rest of the Prestonian army to arrive. And appart from a couple of hen dos we dominated the old pub.

The Preston fort

To entertain the masses 3 groups of Morris men put on a medieval show for us. Armed with sticks and swords dressed in flowers and bells they fought each other leaving no man behind and no eye dry. It`s hard to say how far the 7 pounds the Branch donated will last but hopefully some spare bells will be bought.

Brothres in arms

The weather this saturday was brilliant specially at this point. Later it would turn Gigg lane in to an oven. The beer cooled us down an set the mood. We also got to know that it`s possible for a grown man to to enjoy a pint or two of strawberry cider. The flag was put up and Prestonians kept on coming in. It`s a great feeling to have a drink amongst friends in the sun watching your teams colors hanging high.

Dickie showing off his dog

To get to Gigg lane we took the good old tram. Getting into the stadium was a great experience. Just under 3000 North End fans was standing in two stands making the home fans hear their presents. The stands where packed and we ended up below pitch level. Yes, below. About 3 feet something that made it even more necessary to stand up.

Preston 1 up

To get a good match review you should go to bbc.com or pnefc.net. The heat was on from the start at least in the stands. And when the first goal of the day came it became even hotter. The game was all in all pretty sloppy in our opinion. The passing game was a bit off and a lot of balls being lost both ways.

Preston 2 up

That did not get in the way of the second goal celebration. The crowd went mental on the second goal and we all felt a bit more secure. No thanks to the Greater Manchester Police and their tactical riot squad. Trying to pick a fight with everyone they made a poor impression. We stand as long as your in the fucking way, twat.

Things getting even more heated

When Bury kicked back a goal it got more exciting than we appreciated. The goal came just into overtime and made the 5 min overtime feel like an hour and a half. Finally the ref blew his whistle and we had it in the bag. Three very important points and the road to a great night out was wide open.

Our seat

The atmosphere at Gigg lane was very good and the close to 3000 North End fans made their way back to Manchester to hydrate. After about to hours we where all desperate to neck a couple of cold ones. Along with Paul, Phil, Jonny, Susie, Sam, Dickie, Henri, Gas And Jonsey we went to Bar 21 to cool down.

Leaving Gigg lane with 3 points

After a pint or two at Bar 21 we started on our way home to Preston and the parade. A nice ending to the very well executed 2012 Preston Guild. It was close to impossible to make it back to the hotell with about 100,000 people out in the streets. After a quick shower we went back out on the town and watched the parade before going to the Roper Hall. A very nice surprise was the welcome gift from Trevor - custom made t-shirts and stickers. Thank you mate - a very nice gesture we really appreciate.

Custom made

It was a great ending to a great day. And the choice of curry restaurant did not spoil a day for the history books.
"I hope your meal was nice..?"
"You know it wasn`t mate.. It was pretty shit." :-)
Sunday was spent with Paul and Katie in Sherwood for a sunday lunch before driving to Manchester to do a bit of shopping before going back.

X-footballer Katie wearing the Branch scarf

A special thanks to Paul and Phil for everything. And to the rest of you lot for making us feel at home and always having our backs. The Guild pins are worn proud Sam. Thank you all for a great weekend. And happy birthday again to Foggy.

Long live Preston and it`s brilliant Prestonians!!

5th round, League One

 

Bury FC  1 (0) - (1) 2  Preston North End FC

Gigg Lane

Attendance: 5,213 (ca 2,700 away fans)

Goals:  P: 30`Sodje 66`Cansdell-Sherriff  B: 90`Skarz

Read full match report here

The 2012/13 Home Jersey

King to represent the Kingdom

Yes, we know he`s not longer a Preston North End player and his stay at the club was not that long. But he was at the club, he scored and he could have been great if given the time to shine. (Screw you Fergie!) Anyways Preston`s 1000th player is in the squad that`s playing Island and Slovenina on the 7th and 11th of september.
We are som proud to have had a Norwegian at Deepdale who scored for the Lillywhites. We are trying to get an interview with him on his stay at the club, but he`s a busy young man.

We wish you the best of luck, buddy! Make the other king proud.

1st round, Johnstone`s Paint Trophy

Carlisle United FC  1 (0) - (0) 1*  Preston North End FC

Brunton Park

Attendance: 3,471

Goals:  P: 3`Beardsley  C: 68`McGovern

Red card: 83`Noble

*Carlisle 1 - 3 Preston on penalties.

Read full match report here

5000 views so far...

Our blog just reached 5000 views. So who cares and who`s counting? We care about this blog because it`s our way to participate. Besides going to football matches this is how we show our support. Along with the Twitter account this is the way we express ourselves about PNE. If we have an opinion or an idea this is where we post it and put it into the huge mass that is Preston North End supporters.

So far it`s Norwegians in the lead with 1485 visits to this site, Brits with 1120, Americans with 1061 and Germans with 500. That the Norwegian Preston North End fan site have over 1000 visits from 3 different countries is fun to know, it basically means people actually read what we write here. If they agree or not, find it as totally bullocks or a great laugh is hard to tell. We only listen to the nice things people say anyway. We are football supporters not politicians. COYW!!

4th round, League One

Preston North End FC  4 (3) - (0) 1  Swindon Town

Deepdale

Attendance: 10,372

Goals:  

P: 5`Sodje 10`Wroe 43`Beavon 68`Welsh 

S: 58`De Vita

Read full match report here

A great birthday present for the Branch`s top boy turning 30 today. Hip hip!!