After the first public screening ahead of the Leeds United fixture of a unique documentary film about the club’s amazing support and its annual Gentry Day celebration, the film is now available on iFollow PNE.
The film, made by the club’s supporters themselves and produced by Wet Zebra Media in association with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), and can be watched now by clicking on the video above.
This short documentary celebrates a passionate, fun day away at the football for the followers of the club and their guests – as the film demonstrates, fans of other clubs are made welcome at Gentry Day.
A club spokesman said: “The club really appreciates the vocal, loyal support, especially away from home – they play a huge part in the team’s efforts on the road.
“Gentry Day is a special part of the season and day we all look forward to. It’s more than football – it’s a celebration of community, and the bond between the club and its fans.
“We’re delighted to screen the film, made by a team of true North End fans in association with UCLan.
“Gentry Day is unique in football and this further illustrates what it is about - having this club-supporter relationship that is so important to a football club that has its roots in the community as Preston North End has.”
One of the film’s directors, Martin Baker, a lifelong PNE fan, said: “On one level, Gentry Day is a big party at an away fixture chosen by the fans, with bowler hats and other types of fancy dress. But it’s more than that. Gentry Day’s evolved into a football Mardi Gras, a form of remembrance and thanksgiving for terrace friendships and memories of fellow fans, players and servants of Preston North End who have passed away.”
The story of this once-a-season event is told through the voices of the fans, using studio-recorded interviews and social media material from North End followers who participated in the project by using the hashtag #GentryDay.
The narrative traces the origins of Gentry Day from the 1970s through to its modern manifestations of party-cum-wake, sparked into life as they were by the tragic early death of a prominent PNE supporter.
Part-social history, part-remembrance celebration, Gentry Day is one hundred per cent a jubilant exposition of the beating heart of football and its fans.