His first experience of a PNE derby was that memorable 3-2 triumph at Bloomfield Road back in 1992, when Tony Ellis got up groggily from Gary Briggs' 'tackle' to complete a hat-trick, and he went on to be a veteran of double figures in terms of Blackpool and Burnley derbies, so Lee Cartwright was an apt interviewee for the Blackpool edition of The One And Only.

More than 450 appearances for the Lilwyhites, slotting in between Sir Tom Finney and George Ross in the all-time appearances list, Lee Cartwright can quite rightly claim the title of PNE legend.

He experienced a lot of playing time in derby fixtures down the years and the Rawtenstall midfielder admits that despite players wanting to treat these games as just like any other, the emotion surrounding 'derby day' takes over and plays a big part in making matches such as today's so appetising to the watching supporters.

"For the players I don't think it is quite the same as what it is for the supporters. They put a lot of weight on it, whereas the players try to keep that away and try and treat it as a regular game.

"Obviously it doesn't really ever turn out that way and it can often turn out to be a little bit nasty and there is more on it, but you just try and take it as a regular game. They are better games to play in and the fans are always up for it and it adds that little bit of needle to it."

Cartwright, now 39 and retired from the game, was born, brought up and still lives in the east side of the county, so to him the biggest local rivalry was always Burnley and in fact his only derby day goal came against the Clarets in a 4-1 league cup defeat back in 1993, but he knows that for the North End faithful the game they all look for first is the clash with our Fylde coast neighbours.

"I enjoyed the Blackpool games, but for me Burnley always had that little bit of extra edge. The majority of my friends are either Manchester United or Burnley supporters, so I used to get quite a bit of ribbing - but that worked both ways!

"If they beat us you could see all the Burnley supporters coming out and giving you a bit of a stick if you were on a night out, but if we'd beaten them you could see them turning their heads the other way, so it was funny, but I always enjoyed a derby.

"It can definitely be that proverbial six-pointer. I wouldn't say Preston are in a rough patch at the moment, but Blackpool are above them in the table and a win today could be a springboard. You get a big win in a derby game and it can do a massive amount for your confidence and you can carry it on into the next game, training during the week and just carry on from there."



Cartwright's first experience of a derby game was back in one of the most famous of modern day meetings between the two sides in 1992, when Tony Ellis grabbed a hat-trick and North End, managed by Sam Allardyce, won 3-2 on enemy turf and he agrees that whilst their may be bigger derbies that get more national recognition, this one is the most important in our area.

"It was a memorable one [in 1992]… although any game we won against Blackpool was a big one, but that game in particular was fantastic. Tony obviously went on to play for both clubs and that adds a bit extra to the story now.

"There are some big derby games in this country, the likes of the Manchester derby and the Liverpool one and they are good to watch for the neutrals, but for a supporter of Preston or Blackpool this is the biggest game in the country this weekend or even this season and there will be a great atmosphere around the ground and a bit of needle no doubt as well.

"It always seems to bring that little bit extra out of players; it is wrong for that to be the case, but you can understand it when all the supporters are behind them. You want to play in front of big crowds and in great atmospheres as a professional footballer, you want it every week, so you look forward to these games. These are the games you live for and everyone today will be looking forward to it.

"For me personally I didn't get the fixture list and immediately search out the derby games, of course I probably enjoyed most the Blackpool and Burnley games and the big cup games, but once we got in the Championship every week we were playing a big club, so I looked forward to every game.

"If you are playing well you do look forward to every game, irrespective of the opposition and obviously I had some good times at the club. Obviously we were a bit more sheepish when we weren't on such a good run, but when things were going well every game couldn't come quick enough, home or away."

The dressing room is a mythical place to many supporters and what is said between those four walls is never repeated, but the former Stockport and Rochdale man says that different managers had different ways of dealing with the big games.

"All the managers dealt with these games differently. Some would come in the dressing room and tell you that 'this is the big one for the supporters', but the players knew that. Others would say 'this is just a regular game, let's get on with it', but leading up to the game it starts to take over everyone and I am sure that is the same for the managers as well.

"On the day the team talk is almost done by the crowd, the manager doesn't necessarily need to say a lot, everyone knows it is a massive game. Games like this always mean more to the local lads, just like the Burnley games did to me. Those players who are local lads, who are and have been Preston supporters will love playing against Blackpool, especially if they beat them and they take that with them out onto the pitch and it gives them that extra motivation."



The former North End No.7, who had a testimonial against Middlesbrough back in 2004, has been a regular at Deepdale recently and he loves coming back and is introducing the next generation of Cartwrights to the Club he loved.

"I love coming back. I enjoy bringing my little lad down as well. He is really into watching his football, so every chance I have had over the past couple of months I have got myself down to Deepdale. I enjoy watching it and he does too.

"I wasn't one for keeping much memorabilia from my playing days and looking back I wish I had done. I've got one or two shirts lying around and little things like that, but I was never one for collecting programmes or things like that.

"At the games I have been into the box [one of the Invincibles Pavilion boxes are named after him] and introduced myself to Mr Woodhouse and obviously my lad saw the pictures of me on the walls, so he knows I played for the Club, but he was quite young when I played at Preston, but I am sure it will mean something to him as he grows up."

Nowadays, the man who made his debut way back in 1991 against Shrewsbury, has moved into a very different career and works at a children's home, trying to help rehabilitate youngsters who have fallen on hard times and he admits that this is a very different, but equally as enjoyable an experience.

"I can be really rewarding. I am dealing with kids who have a lot of issues, who are away from their family and some have behavioural problems, so some of them are very difficult to change, but even if you see a slight change for the better it is very rewarding.

"I really enjoy getting them out and experiencing things outside the home. I'm an active person myself so it is good to take them fishing, football, swimming, anything and everything to keep them occupied and hopefully I am doing something that will help them change their lives."

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