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Your all new but still abrasive guide to Deepdale!
Ground Guide – The all new and improved but slightly abrasive guide to fortress Deepdale
For all those unsuspecting away fans its what you’ve all been waiting for! Its better than Christmas day, the Millennium, a lottery win and a derby victory (well maybe not the latter) all rolled into one its ……
The rough (at times slightly abrasive) guide to Deepdale, the home of the world’s greatest football club …….. Preston North End. Before I start I must warn you that a trip to Deepdale is a life changing experience. Nowhere else in the world can offer such a fantastic and fluctuating football team, if Newcastle used to play ‘sexy football’ some of the stuff North End play is ‘pornographic’. I must warn you that a number of away fans have left Deepdale shocked, stunned and quite frankly bewildered after watching the display of ‘liquid’ football from the home side. So you’ve been warned!
So what’s the ground called again, its slipped my memory?
The home of North End is called Deepdale. Also known round these parts as ‘the fortress’ ‘Mecca’ and ‘heaven’!
Any basic facts about the ground that I should know before we get started?
Deepdale is currently going through a period of redevelopment and the face of Deepdale is quite literally changing. With the new Town End being built the capacity is restricted and at a push only 17-18,000 can get in so it should be full-ish for most game’s this season so get your tickets early, its not like Blackburn were you have more empty seats than full ones ! Also North End are have situated The National Football Museum in the Tom Finney stand which was built with a little help from a bit of Lottery funding (they should give us some for players as well!). This will be situated between the Sir Tom Finney Stand and the Bill Shankly Kop, The museum is just further proof that the ground is moving in the right direction (it doesn’t sway or anything, eh Liverpool !). Once the Town end is finished this October the decrepit Pavilion Stand will be pulled down and replaced (at last) with a 8,700 seater stand. Hopefully the team will still be good enough to grace such a great stadium !! ‘Shit ground, no fans’ you just wait !!
So what’s this museum malarkey all about then?
As you may have heard Deepdale is the ‘home to the world’s greatest football collection’. At first I was shocked when the decision was announced that our country’s national football museum would be given a home at Deepdale and I’m sure other fans were too. But you only need to have a limited knowledge of the game to know that Preston North End is a club with steeped in history. The Whites were one of the founder members of the football league and were the first winners of the league in 1888-89 and went on to win it again the following year on top of this Deepdale is the oldest remaining ground in the country (however it is half way through its re-development) so it seems right that the home of the museum is based at where the roots where planted for our national game.
Yeah but is it worth parted with my hard earned doe just to have a look in a museum?
After paying my admission fee they didn’t tell me I would start to feel queasy, then sort of faint and then actually die and be transported to footballing heaven! The museum (just as the beautiful game) is split into two halves. The first half contains one main gallery, entitled ‘More Than a Game’ where the game we know and love is placed in its social context by the ‘Bigger picture’. On the right hand side you can enjoy looking at allsorts of different exhibits from our national game called the ‘Fans life’ exhibition as you get engrossed with the wonderful game and all its highs and lows a quick glance to the left and you can see football’s place in the world with the perfectly named ‘bigger picture’ gallery. In one glance you can go from Wembley in 1966 and joyous scenes of Geoff Hurst with the World Cup to Buckingham Palace engulfed in flowers and tributes to the late Princess Diana. This had an overawing effect on me as I walked through the museum under a shower of aluminous blue light. The museum wasn’t under any illusions that the game of football is the be all and end all of the world and the way this was put across was quite superb. I could harp on all day about the quality of the museum but I’ll let you judge for yourself, just one thing you must go in its absolutely fantastically fabulous!
It all sounds good, but just wait, I don’t know how to get there yet ?
Right if you’re coming from the North Take the M6 then M55 to junction 1. Follow signs for Preston A6. After 2 miles turn left at the crossroads into Blackpool Road (A5085). Turn right after 0.75 miles into Deepdale. If you’re coming from the South and East ( that’s all you soft southerners. Palace, Fulham and all that lot !) Exit M6 at 31 and follow Preston signs. You’ll go up a steep hill (watch the speed trap on the hill) and then make sure you take it easy as there is another camera by the BP garage on the left. After avoiding the police traps in ‘Bond’ like fashion, take the 2nd exit at the roundabout into Blackpool Road. Turn left after 1.25 miles into Deepdale. You will go through three sets of traffic lights, just before the fourth, heaven will glow slightly to the left, yep you’ve arrived !! If your coming from the West Exit M55 at junction 1. Then as North. If you coming from the bus station, hop on the number 19 which will take you down Sir Tom Finney Way.
So where can I park my motor ?
Parking round Deepdale is mostly in the streets, but you may face a long wait getting out as it does get congested. Its not Liverpool so don’t worry about getting your radio lifted ! There is also parking on the Finney car park as well as some room on Moor Park. North End have also sorted out a bus service from all over Preston and surrounding areas. It going to help stop congestion round the ground so have a look into it !
Once I’ve found the ground and parked my car what stand should I be heading for and how much of my well earned cash will I have to part with to get in ?
Right for the moment away fans should be heading for either the Pavilion paddock (adjacent to the massive Finney stand) or the seating at the back of the Pavilion (1,000 seats). For adults it will cost £15 in these areas (but check because it may change). You might get wet in the paddock I’m afraid as there’s no roof , but there is a food outlet at the back so you don’t miss any action. Always a bonus ! However with North End currently under redevelopment in October its all change again. And its good news for you away fans, because no longer will you be housed in the unroofed pavilion terrace but you will have the luxury of the Bill Shankly Kop which is a fantastic stand with sensational views from just about everywhere.
If you’ve just popped to Deepdale as a neutral the views in the impressive all seater stands is second to none. The Sir Tom Finney Stand holds 8,000 and the Bill Shankly holds 6,000. Both stands have the face of the respective former great (made in a mosaic style out of seats) looking down on the pitch. Beer is readily available in these stands, which is always good news !
Directly opposite the Shankly you can see the all new singing and dancing Town End being erected. The club are to name the new Town End stand at Deepdale after former goalkeeping great and longest ever-serving player Alan Kelly. It will be known as the Alan Kelly Town End and will hopefully be in open in time for the televised clash against Manchester City on October 21.
I’ve just walked through the turnstile and I’m bombarded with shouts of lottery draws, programmes and fanzines, what’s worth spending a couple of quid on ?
The lottery draw usually brings in about £500 quid for the winner, but away fans never win (something fishy going on ?). The programme costs £2 and is nicely presented and gives all the up to date news on what’s going on at Deepdale, but I’m not a footy programme man. 2 quid (price of a pint!) you get to read what you can read for free on the official North End website plus an array of endless adverts.
At the moment North End don’t have a fanzine which I think is quite illegal. However a new ‘zine is in the pipeline nicknamed ‘Nobender’ so keep your eyes peeled.
Ok then, I’ve decided to take in a game at Deepdale as a neutral and go into one of the ‘notorious’ home ends. I am welcomed by a crescendo of noise as the locals below out a song and I get a little bit nervous! How do I become one of the locals and fit in?
Well to start with don’t even contemplate saying anything remotely positive about the scum that go by the name of Bur**ey, Black**rn and especially not B****pool. If you do it will immediately result in a quick slap or in extreme cases a good hiding or even death. Point 2: never join in a song if you don’t know the words! There’s nothing worse than an outsider trying to join in North End’s famous anthem ‘Take my Hands’ only to end up with egg (or a butter pie) all over their face. So just keep quiet to be safe on the safe side. Also never ask ‘whose that wearing number six for us’ or anything of that nature, you’ll just get stared at like you’ve got 4 eyeballs, a green tongue and a tattoo on your forehead saying Blackpool for ever. If you fancy shouting something once the inevitable carnival atmosphere has died down go for one of the following. ‘Rankine you crab, pass it forward!’ or ‘Murdock if your worth £500,000 my blind auntie in the Philippines is worth a million!’ these are the sort of things the other £15,000 + people shout when paying homage at Deepdale so you can’t really go wrong!
Right let’s get down to the series stuff
Where’s the best place for a swift ale before the game ?
The Sumners, just up Tom Finney Way (used to be Deepdale Rd) from the ground is Preston’s best boozer. Go towards Sainsbury's and away from the Town Centre and it should take five minutes from the ground, it's on the right at the junction with Watling Street Rd. About a month ago The Sumners underwent a £280,000 refurbishment and is the number one drinking establishment in the area. On match days it should be full and there will be a good friendly atmosphere. Oh yeah the Boddingtons served at the Sumners is second to none ! Most away fans are welcome and you’ll be absolutely delighted as that first cold pint of Bodies slowly and succulently slips down your dehydrated throat. Oh let them taste buds go mental!
The Garrison is on the opposite side of the road and is also worth a look but you won’t get any Boddington’s though I’m afraid ! Again it will fill up on match days.
The Legends bar/night club at the back of the Sir Tom Finney stand is also a good bet for a swift ale and is quite spacious inside.
If I’m feeling a bit peckish before or after the game where do I go to get a good feed ?
The Toy Solider, on the Deepdale retail park serves some top quality food as well as pulling a good pint. It’s well worth a look, You’ll find it just off Blackpool Road before Deepdale if you come off the M6 at junction 31.There’s a Pizza shop about 2 minutes away from the ground on Deepdale road, but if you really need feeding its worth heading nearer town to one of the many chippies.
What’s the food and drink like on the ground ?
Our pies are the best in the land. Treat yourself to a meat and potato or butter pie and let your taste buds go crazy ! You can also get a selection of burgers, sausage rolls, baked duck and mushroom, curry’s, four course meals and all sorts of other top quality meals ! All food is served by topless maids all at your service! Beer is available in the Finney and Shankly stands and is not priced over the odds.
So sum the match day experience at Deepdale in a couple of sentences ?
A trip to Deepdale will enlighten you for the rest of your life, you will be transported to footballing heaven, be dent back in time in the museum to relive the ‘beautiful games’ history before settling into your seat to be quite simply taken a back by the football on the pitch. On top of the exquisite display of football you will watch you will also experience a carnival atmosphere one which will have you singing, dancing, getting naked, nearly exploding with anger and experiencing the full roller coaster of emotions, oh yeah and our pies are the best in the land!
Pete Glynn PNE FTT editor
**If any of the info is incorrect drop us a line.
But if you find that the butter pies aren't a sheer explosion of tantalizing taste and amazement that leave you begging for more, your wrong !
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9 May 08 
Liverpool Football Club