Ryan Lowe is hoping for a special occasion this weekend as North End head to Vicarage Road for the latest Gentry Day.
The unique tradition which sees PNE fans remember those connected with the club who have passed away during the previous year will take place at Saturday’s game.
Having experienced two of them in the past – in the victory over Barnsley and defeat to Middlesbrough – the gaffer is looking forward to his latest experience of the day.
Ryan said: “It’s a fantastic day and tradition remembering all the ones we’ve lost. It’s always special when you win also. The last one was Barnsley away, and I actually wore the bowler hat myself which was nice so hopefully we can replicate that again on Saturday.
“It is special because when you go to clubs you find out what they’re all about and what special occasions are.
“Preston North End fans have been fantastic with Gentry Day since I’ve been here and we want that to continue.
“The tradition of it is always nice and you have special days out which is pleasing, and as I said before we do it for the ones who are no longer with us.
“Obviously we have to do our bit on the pitch to make sure it’s a fantastic occasion and a fantastic day.”
The Lilywhites will face the Hornets looking for a result to keep them in touch with the top six, with that gap currently standing at five points.
After Watford is a home clash against Huddersfield Town, before sixth-placed Norwich City come to Deepdale that weekend.
“They’re important for different reasons,” Ryan said, about the upcoming games. “With seven games to go, they are ticking off. I think [it will be good] if we can stay in and around the mix until the Norwich game and collect some points before that.
“You look at that Norwich game and you think, ‘Okay, this could be a game where most things could ride on it’.
“If you’re – I don’t know – two points away from them and you win, you’re a point ahead. If you’re four points away, you can be one point behind, it changes.
“We’ve got to make sure we stay in the mix for as long as we can to give ourselves a fighting chance.”
North End will unfortunately still be without Ben Whiteman and Brad Potts this weekend, with their injury situations being monitored on a game-by-game basis.
Ched Evans and Ryan Ledson will also be unavailable, but they are both back on the grass, while skipper Alan Browne may not be fit to return after illness ruled him out in Birmingham on Easter Monday.
Ryan said: “Browney was ill and he’s been suffering with his calves as well which have been a little bit tight. We’ll get him out on the grass today and see how he is.
“The illness took a toll on him for a few days so we’ll get him back out there today.
“Liam Millar’s been struggling with his groin which is not healing as we’d like it to. He’ll be out on the pitch to do a little bit and we’ll see how they are. Hopefully we can get them fit and ready and wrap them up in cotton wool to make sure they’re available.
“The squad’s taken a little bit of a hit at the moment but we’ve got some good players, some young players in there who’ve stepped in, like Noah [Mawene] who made his first Championship start and done fantastically well.
“Whatever we need to do, we’ll do, but the quicker we can get them back fit the better.”
