North End signed a talented youngster from Whalley aged 11, but after eight years of coming through the ranks he chose to leave North End, then in the bottom division, for the bright likes of St James' Park, the official website caught up with Chris Holland to preview the visit of his former side back to where it all started for him.

"I signed under Les Chapman, having been at the school of excellence with Walter Joyce," he remembers. "Les wasn't there for long once I signed and then when I was in my youth team days John Beck took over as manager with Gary Peters in a supporting role. This didn't really suit my style of football.

"Big Sam Allardyce was the youth team manager, so I had some good times in the youth team. I was there from 11-years-old and I made my debut under John Beck, we won the game 2-0 and I think Tony Ellis scored a couple of goals.

"John Beck tried to get me to sign a pro contract at Preston and there was nothing wrong with the club, but I had been brought up to play a certain way, pass the ball about, keep it on the floor and John Beck's style of football wasn't for me, so I thought the best thing was to leave. This was a bit upsetting for me because I had been there for such a long time, but I felt I had to get out for purely football purposes."

Looking back, Holland was at Deepdale before all the changes took place and the club now is almost recognisable to the one he was at: "We trained behind the old Town End on what was like the old running tracks, so when it was winter it was a bit slippy! We trained there on a Monday and Tuesday night and I have some fond memories of my time at Preston.

"I remember when John Beck first took over and we had to sweep the corners of the pitch for the ball to hopefully land in and stay in play. It was a great club and I still go back now and again and I still look for the results.

"It is great to see them doing well in the Championship; they've been unfortunate a few times and hopefully they will get up to the Premiership some time soon.

"As it is now, Preston would have been a League Two club when I was there and Newcastle were in the Premier League, under Keegan, so it was a big change. When I joined Southport a few years ago I did a piece with the Evening Post and I had my photo taken in the stadium and it was amazing to see how much it had changed and the gap between the clubs now is nowhere near as big.

"I think under Alan Irvine - who I actually trained with for a week when I left Preston when he was youth team boss at Blackburn; choosing to go to work with Keegan though - they have a great chance."

Holland joined the Magpies as they were about to ride a crest of a wave that almost delivered two Premiership crowns, only to finish second to Manchester United two years in a row.

"Newcastle was going places when I joined," he continued. "Players like Barry Venison, Paul Bracewell and Peter Beardlsey were the older crop of players, but as I spent more time there the likes of Ginola came in, Asprilla, Philippe Albert, Ruel Fox and at the end of it Alan Shearer.

"So in the three and a half years I was there the players I got to play with were superb. It was a great time under Kevin Keegan. I got to learn to play football the right way. He was a very attack-minded and it was all passing the ball to feet and keeping it and I had some good times with Keegan, McDermott and Arthur Cox.

"On my debut I was playing right midfield and set up goals for Scott Sellars and Andy Cole. I'd being playing against Blackburn Rovers reserves and I got pulled off at half-time. I couldn't understand what was going on as I thought I was doing all-right in the game, but Keegan told me to give my dad a ring as I would be involved in the game against Ipswich.

"I set the goals up in each half and it wasn't a bad debut to remember, playing in front of 30-odd thousand. My dad and my sister were both there to see it, so it was a great experience."

And with the game tonight the first time the teams have met since Holland started and finished his league career, it is one he is looking forward to: "I can't wait for the game tonight. I'll be watching it on the television and I'll be a bit torn who I would want to win, so a draw might be the best for me!"

With the game live on Sky Sports there are hundreds of potential bets available both before the game and 'in-running' during the game, so log on to PNEBetting.com and try and back the biys and win some cash at the same time!