As North End return to Deepdale after the international break for a Good Friday clash, take a look through the following matchday information to see what you can expect.
Fan Zone
The Gentry Bar will be open as usual on Friday, while a brand-new pop-up bar, The Bowler Hat will open its doors for the very first time.
Located just next to The Gentry Bar, the new bar – which can accommodate 400 people, including an outside segregated area – will be open from 11am. The Gentry Bar and The Bowler Hat will both reopen after the game.
More details about The Bowler Hat can be found here, including the drinks available, while a full list of drinks being served in The Gentry Bar can be found below.
Birra Moretti
Neck Oil
Strongbow
Wine, Bitter and Cider
Gentry Pale Ale
Dark Fruits Cider
Amstel
Soft Drinks
Female duo Chique will be performing hits from the ‘80s and the ‘90s in The Gentry Bar ahead of kick-off, and James Gelson will be on PA duty.
Within the outside area of the fan zone, the famous Hot Potato Tram will once again be present, as well as Willow Catering, and there are other options around the ground.
Turnstiles will open from 1.30pm and once you’re on the concourse, you can try out two brand-new specials for this fixture: Jerk chicken with rice and peas (£6.50), and a Korean BBQ chicken waffle cone (£6). Each special will be available from one kiosk per home stand.
Shuttle Bus
Supporters can use the matchday shuttle bus to get to and from Deepdale, with the service beginning at Leyland and making its way through Bamber Bridge on its way to the stadium.
Return tickets cost £6 on-board and full timings for the service can be found below:
Leyland Tesco (Stop A – Car Park) – 1.20pm
The Railway Pub, Leyland – 1.30pm
Ye Olde Hob Inn, Bamber Bridge – 1.35pm
Beam and Brycg Pub, Bamber Bridge – 1.40pm
Arrive at Deepdale, Lowthorpe Road – 2pm
Reporting Abuse, Discrimination & Anti-Social Behaviour
The club recently released an important message to fans about behaviour at recent matches and possible sanctions for behaviours strongly condemned by the club. Click here to read more.
While at Deepdale, fans can report any abuse, discrimination or anti-social behaviour. Fans can text 66777 and messages must start with ‘PNE’ followed by details of the incident. An example of how to use this service can be found below:
“PNE I’m in the Sir Tom Finney Stand, row 10, seat 34. Person sitting directly in front of me shouting racist abuse.”
All incidents can also be reported to the club by email on enquiries@pne.com, but fans are strongly advised to use this text service at the time to allow these matters to be dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Provisions For Disabled Supporters
The club recently introduced ear defenders at Deepdale, which are available from the disabled window at the ticket office on a matchday, and they will then need to be returned after the game to the Sir Tom Finney reception or to a nearby steward.
There is also a quiet zone being trialled at home matches, located on the bottom rows of Block A in the Family Zone of the Sir Tom Finney Stand.
For supporters who may wish to indicate to staff or fellow fans that they need additional support, help, or a little bit more time, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards are available to wear. The free-of-charge lanyards can be collected from the ticket office.
Accessibility Passports are available by post or collection from the ticket office by calling 0344 856 1966 or by emailing lucy@pne.com, while audio descriptive commentary of the match is available for partially-sighted supporters, from the accessible window at the ticket office from 1pm.
Arthur Wharton Plaque
At 10am on Friday morning, a blue plaque will be unveiled to commemorate the career of the first black professional footballer, Arthur Wharton.
As part of their ‘Invincibles’ Project and in collaboration with the football club and the Preston Historical Society, PNE Community and Education Trust are creating a legacy at the stadium for the former goalkeeper, who represented North End during the Invincibles era.
The plaque reveal will start at 10am next to the Dick, Kerr Ladies memorial and fans are welcome to attend free of charge.
Smoking & E-Cigarettes Not Permitted
The club would like to remind supporters that smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes is strictly not permitted inside Deepdale.
Ground regulations state that “EFL stadia are smoke-free and smoking or the use of electronic cigarettes is not permitted inside the ground.”
As a club, we hope sanctions would not be necessary, although anyone found in breach of ground regulations could be subject to ejection from the stadium.
Applause For Young Supporter
There will be an applause taking place in the 11th minute, in memory of 11-year-old Tommie-Lee Billington who sadly passed away in March.
Fans are encouraged to join in with the tribute for the young Preston North End supporter, who lost his life doing a TikTok trend “chroming”.
Tommie-Lee’s family are looking to make people aware of the dangerous trend, which involves the inhalation of toxic chemicals.
Love Football, Protect The Game
As confirmed at the end of July 2023, new measures were taken across all of football to help ensure the sport remains safe and enjoyable for all.
To challenge the totally unacceptable presence of football tragedy abuse, regulation changes and tough new measures have been introduced which will see people who are found guilty of offences face stadium bans and criminal prosecution.
This builds on measures to address dangerous and illegal crowd behaviour which were introduced in 2022 and continue through the 2023/24 season, including bans and reports to the police for activity such as entering the pitch without permission, carrying or using smoke bombs or pyrotechnics and throwing objects – as well as drug use and discriminatory behaviour.
Supporters can find consequences of such behaviour in the club’s Banning and Sanctions Policy.
Multi-Faith Prayer Rooms
There are two multi-faith prayer rooms available for home supporters to use at Deepdale both before and during the game.
Supporters can find the Sir Tom Finney Stand multi-faith prayer room between the two block F entry points on the concourse, while another can be found between blocks E and F of the Invincibles Pavilion.
The prayer rooms will be open 90 minutes before kick-off through until full-time.
Flags
Supporters in the Alan Kelly Town End and Sir Tom Finney Family Stand are, as always, invited to pick up a flag from the concourse as they enter the stadium.
However, fans are urged to return the flags to where they were picked up at the end of the match.
Please be aware, the EFL has advised that clubs should not allow flags which represent Israel or Palestine to be brought into the stadium. Any other flag should comply with club protocols and Ground Regulations.
Refreshments Service For Disabled Supporters
Those supporters situated on the disabled platforms, and disabled fans on the front row of each stand, are able to place orders before the match for half-time.
Members of staff will come to these supporters to place orders which will be delivered shortly before half-time. Please note, this service excludes alcohol sales due to no alcoholic beverages being allowed inside the stadium bowl.
Please also be aware only card payments can be made for our refreshments service for disabled supporters.
