Preston North End

Two-time club player of the year, Sean Gregan was a key figure in the Lilywhites’ ascent from League One to the Championship, and then very nearly the Premier League, in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Having signed from home-town club Darlington in November 1996, where he started his career, Gregan went on to become an iconic captain in an almost six-year stay at Deepdale.

‘Greegs’ made his PNE debut a month later in a 2-0 away victory against Chesterfield, but his first two seasons were perhaps the most challenging of his spell in PR1, twice finishing 15th in League One.

However, the skipper led the Lilywhites to the title in his third season, finishing ahead of Burnley in the 1999/2000 campaign.

Gregan played an equally important role the following campaign as North End finished in the Play-Off places, but unfortunately lost the Final against Bolton Wanderers.

The PNE No.6 enjoyed one more season at Deepdale, this time narrowly missing out on the top six with an eighth place finish, before moving on to West Brom in August 2002.

That was the Baggies’ first campaign in the Premier League, ending in relegation before Gregan moved on to Leeds United a year later.

He later represented Oldham Athletic, Fleetwood Town and Kendal Town before his career came full circle with a final stint at Darlington, where he still coaches.

The once much-loved skipper made over 500 appearances during his lengthy career, but it was arguably his 255 game-long spell with PNE, also resulting in 12 goals, which brought him the most success.