Preston North End was, without doubt, the most successful club of the 80s, the 1880s that is. Preston North End started out purely as a cricket team, that played its games at Moor Park, which was at the northernmost end of the town, in the 1860s. There was already a Preston West End Club. North End Cricket Club, became North End Preston in 1867, then Preston North End in 1868. The club extended its activities into athletics, rugby, and association football, playing its first game of association football in 1878. The club then moved to Deepdale Farm adjacent to Manor Park in 1875. By the mid-1880s, only football was being played at Deepdale, and Preston North End rapidly became one of the strongest teams in the land, being founder members of the Football League in 1888. “The North End” has another nickname, “The Lilywhites”, which refers to the white shirts the team wore from about 1888.
The team did not display a badge on their shirts prior to 1933. The present badge is not unlike the first one used, as it has been adopted from the town coat of arms. Three Lancashire roses have been added, and the number of roses is insignificant. Three just looks nice and balanced over the area of the shield. They, of course, represent the county in which Preston lies. This original badge was worn on the shirts from 1933-1974. (PIC 1) The present badge also has a lamb sat with a sword, and a banner flies from the sword, while the sun or halo shines behind it. The initials PP appear underneath, and under the shield is a scroll with the date the club was established. (PIC 2) There are variations on this theme that appear on shirts, cups, keyrings, and the like, and they only differ in colour. The arms of Preston were granted in March 1950, but a seal of the same design goes back as far as 1613. (PIC 3) In the shield of the arms sits a lamb, and this is the lamb of St Wilfrid, who is the Patron Saint of Preston. Also, Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God in the Bible book of John 1:29. The P.P. means, Princeps Pacis or in English, Prince of Peace, which is a name given to Jesus Christ in the Bible book of Isaiah 9:6. Anyone who lives in Preston will tell you otherwise, as they will tell you it means Proud Preston. Proud of Preston they may be, but they will have to settle for the Proud Prince of Peace. Which actually is quite apt, as earlier arms had three P’s depicted on them. The reason for the three letters was, like the roses, just to give it a general balance, but it was modernised and one of the letters was left out. The sword is representative of the sword given to Jesus in his heavenly role of Archangel Michael, as he battles Satan and his evil demons in the Bible book of Revelation. These arms can be found all over Preston wherever the Council can find a place to put them. (PIC 4)
The first badge was used until 1974, then 1984 till 1994. It was redesigned in 1995 when the initials P.P. were replaced by Preston North End. (PIC 5) The lamb lost its shepherd the Prince of Peace, and went walkies in 1975, when the initials PNE were used until 1977. This was at a time when a few clubs were following the fashion set by the likes of Leeds. (PIC 6) Then, in 1978, the letters FC were added. These were used up until 1984, with occasional changes in the typeface. In addition to these, there was an attempt to use a modern-looking stylised lamb, with the initials PNE on the banner flying from the sword, but this was short-lived, as it was not at all popular with the fans. (PIC 7) The badge prior to the present badge bore more than just a striking resemblance to the 1995 badge, with different colours being used. (PIC 8)
Many thanks, to Peter Holme, Research Assistant at the National Football Museum, for replying to my letter in such detail. Thank you, Peter, you have been a great help. The National Football Museum was attached to Deepdale on Sir Tom Finney Way, but funding was withdrawn, and the more financially viable Manchester was chosen as the new location, and it moved there in 2010. If you are anywhere near it, go and take a look, and if you’re not then make a detour as it’s full of interesting footballing history.
Tom Finney, after whom the road is named, was and is Preston’s most famous son. Sir Tom signed for Preston in 1939, but had to wait until 1946 before he made his League debut due to the outbreak of the Second World War. Tom spent his whole career at Preston and played 433 games, scoring 187 goals before retiring in 1960. The name Preston is derived from the old English words, préost meaning priest, and tun, meaning settlement or village, later becoming town. So, Preston North End means, from the north end of the priest’s village. Deepdale has been the home of PNE since 1878, and holds about 23,404 fans at the moment. Preston’s local rival is Burnley, other rivals are Blackburn and Blackpool. If you would like to know more on Preston North End then like the lamb follow Mary to www.pnefc.net
