Preston North End, founder members of the Football League in 1888, were among the early giants of the League following their formation in 1880.

Preston North End were the first winners of an FA Cup and League Championship double in 1888-89, landed the League title again the next season and were runners-up the following three campaigns - earning the nickname 'The Invincibles'.

Further FA Cup success followed in 1938, but that was Preston's last major trophy. In the 50s Preston Football Club came within touching distance with the legendary Tom Finney in their ranks. The England forward helped the Lilywhites finish second twice in the League, in 1953 and 1958, and reach the FA Cup final in 1954. But this was the football club's last period in the top flight.

Preston North End were runners-up again in the FA Cup in 1964, but in 1970 they were relegated to Division Three for the first time.

Manager Alan Ball guided North End to the Division Three title the following year, but in 1974, managed by another England World Cup winner, Bobby Charlton, Preston slipped back into Division Three.

The Preston football club's darkest hour came when a 91st-place finish in the League in 1986 meant the Lilywhites had to apply for re-election.

Preston North End survived and have not looked back, winning the Third Division title in 1996 and returning to the second tier in 2000,under David Moyes, with a club-record 95 points, with 25-goal Jon Macken and ever-present Graham Alexander the key men, after a gap of almost 20 years.

The following season was even better, with Preston Football CLub finishing fourth in Division One and winning a place in the play-offs, only to lose in the final to Bolton.

Preston North End suffered the same fate under Billy Davies in 2005, going down to West Ham in the final, and in the following season were beaten by Leeds in the play-off semi-finals.