This Tuesday night the Lilywhites entertain Watford at Deepdale and the programme’s cover star is January signing Ben Whiteman.
Speaking to The One And Only, Ben says two former North Enders have helped him on the road to Deepdale.
The midfielder used to clean one-time PNE caretaker manager David Unsworth’s boots at Sheffield United and it was ex-Lilywhites defender Russ Wilcox who helped Ben’s move to Doncaster Rovers, where he snapped him from.
“David Unsworth was my U23s coach at Sheffield United and he, along with Chris Morgan, helped me massively. They were old school. I used to clean Unsy’s boots and he was brilliant, he was just honest. I prefer people who say it as it is and Unsy is one of them, he is straight down the line.
“Russ knew me from Sheffield United, he did some training there, and he was the head scout at Doncaster Rovers and he was a big part of my move there, it was pretty much tied up I was going there.”
Despite being only 24, Ben has had a varied career so far and has learnt valuable lessons with ups and downs along the way.
From Rochdale, he was spotted playing for junior team Bridge Colts where he was a striker.
“My grandma promised me £1 for every goal I scored and I ended up scoring 105 one season! I remember she had £1 coins everywhere and she just used to give them me. She always paid up!”
Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Manchester United were looking at him when he was around six, but there was only one place his family wanted him to go.
“My family are massive Manchester United fans, I can’t remember a lot about it, but I ended up going there. My dad was definitely more made up than me!
“I played in the same age group as Josh Harrop, Otis Khan who is now at Tranmere and James Wilson who is a striker at Salford.
“When I was around 11 or 12 I had to drop down an age group as I was really small. It’s weird as I struggled, I had a growth spurt when I was 15 or 16 and I am 6ft2in now, but it took ages for my body to catch up with my bones and I was dead tiny and struggled to move, I had problems with my knees.
“Probably the most famous name in that lower age group was Scott McTominay who is doing really well for Manchester United now. I always say things happen for a reason and that helped me as I played more games, I was more of a stand-out player and I enjoyed my football.”
There’s loads more from Ben in Tuesday’s edition of the programme, plus interviews and features with Brad Potts, Joe Rafferty, Jayson Molumby and Greg Cunningham, plus, much, much more, on sale now.
To place your order, just click here now, where you can buy this latest edition, plus back copies of any programmes you have missed during the rest of the season. Get yours now here.
The game, which kicks-off at 7pm, will be live on iFollow PNE, on air from 6.30pm, with Jonathan Breeze joined by a former player for full-match commentary of the clash with Xisco Munoz’s Watford side – click here now to sign up for your match pass for just £10.