The match referee for Saturday’s local derby with Bolton Wanderers is Andy Davies, making his first trip to Deepdale this season.
It is in fact the officials’ second-only time of taking charge in PR1, making the long trip up from Hampshire for the game.
His first trip here was back in January, when he was referee for the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City. Whilst that was his first game as Deepdale, the match official has taken charge of North End games in the past, including the opening game of the 2016/17 at Reading.
This is his seventh year on the EFL lists, but only his fifth ever PNE game. He took charge of 2015/16's goalless draw at Brighton & Hove Albion back in October 2015, having previously been the match official for a Lilywhites fixture back in 2012 at Leyton Orient.
This will be his seventh game of the new season, having issued 19 cautions and no red cards in the previous six games, the last two being Forest Green Rovers’ 1-1 draw with Phil Brown’s Swindon Town last weekend and Wednesday night’s victory for Watford at Reading in the Carabao Cup.
He will be assisted by Shaun Hudson and Jonathan Hunt and the fourth official will be Sebastian Stockbridge.