16 Facts About Preston North

1. Preston North was the club's fifth manager in four seasons, after Irvine, Darren Ferguson, Phil Brown and Graham Westley.

2. In January 2001, Preston North beat their club transfer record by paying £1.5 million to Manchester United for David Healy.

3. Preston North won five games on the trot in March 1986, but by then it was too late.

4. Preston North End's first ever season in Division Four saw further reverses for the club.

5. Preston North were the first club to achieve the league and cup "Double" and they did so with a majority of their team being made up of "Scotch Professors" - as the professional Scottish players of the time were known.

6. Preston North reached the 2001 play-off final but were defeated by Bolton Wanderers.

7. Preston North is generally considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time and, being local, was nicknamed the "Preston Plumber" due to his professional business as a plumber.

8. Preston North became one of the first professional clubs by hiring players from Scotland.

9. Preston North have faced serious financial issues and were twice in danger of closure.

10. Preston North will look to develop plans to upgrade the South Fylde and East Lancashire rail lines, enabling the doubling of service frequencies; a parkway station at Cottam – important for the North West Preston urban extension; and interchanges for intra-urban busses, cycling and walking.

11. Preston North was keen on Leahy while he was Dundalk boss, and the Lilywhites were looking at winger Dan Kelly before he accepted an offer to go on trial with Bolton.

12. Preston North have a keen eye on the Irish market having recruited extensively from the League of Ireland with mixed results.

13. Preston North completed his Leaving Cert last summer after finishing his studies in tandem with a full-time commitment to Rovers through their partnership with fee-paying school Ashfield College.

14. Preston North responded well and almost extended their lead again when Browne's header was cleared off the line.

15. Preston North have won their last two matches against Millwall and Nottingham Forest to climb to 15th in the Championship table.

16. Preston North was a parliamentary constituency in Lancashire, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.