In our latest look back at the history of Preston North End we examine the last goal of a whole-hearted player from the 1990s and find out about a team who honoured the Lilywhites.
The 1990s saw North End give debuts to a hole host of players, who came and went, some leaving more indelible memories than others.
One player who certainly gave his all during the plastic pitch era and left with a positive impression was striker Micky Norbury, who had 15 months with the club.
The all-action forward scored on his debut for the club against Exeter City on 28th December 1992, having joined just before Christmas from Cambridge United for a small fee.
He went on to play exactly 50 times for the club, 42 of those in the league, with his final goal coming on this day in 1994 – the last of 14 times he found the net in a lilywhite shirt, before joining Doncaster Rovers.
This day is also the birthday for a couple of more recent former PNE players. It is Kevin Davies’ 43rd birthday today. In his two years at the club, as well as playing his part in promotion from League One and Wembley, what proved to be his final career goal was the Lilywhites’ 7,000th goal in the Football League, in a 1-0 win over Coventry City at Deepdale.
Another player celebrating today is full back Matt Hill. Matt signed from home town club Bristol City in January 2005 and went on to make almost 120 appearances in all competitions over three years, before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 1998. Matt still lives locally in Preston and his son James made his professional debut for Fleetwood Town last year.
Happy birthday to both of them today!
We had a debutant on this date as well. Jim Humes made his debut aged 17 back in 1960. He only played for two years before joining Bristol Rovers.
One memorable game from this date comes from over 100 years ago, against a club that were named in honour of the Lilywhites.
It was this day 1904 when the club drew 2-2 at Glossop North End! This was one of 12 league games we played against the Derbyshire club.
Glossop named themselves in honour of the Invincibles and the Hillmen represented the smallest town ever to have hosted a first division Football League club.