Three more fixtures have now been confirmed for Preston North End’s preparation for the 2025/26 season. PNE will begin the pre-season schedule with a double-header against local sides Bamber Bridge and Chorley, and the Lilywhites will then take on Bolton Wanderers on the final weekend of July. These three fixtures, in addition to the home friendly against Liverpool and the clash in Spain with Getafe, complete the pre-season schedule which supporters will be able to attend. Bamber Bridge vs PNE – Tuesday 8th July, 7pm, SFC Stadium Pre-season will begin with the traditional trip down the road to Bamber Bridge. Tickets will be available to purchase on the night at the following prices: Adults £10 Concessions (Over 65s and U16s) £5 U11s Free Chorley vs PNE – Wednesday 9th July, 7.30pm, Victory Park The night after Bamber Bridge, PNE will head to Victory Park to take on National League North side Chorley. Tickets for this match are available to purchase online now at the following prices: Adults £12 Concessions (65+ and students with student card) £8 U18s £5 U12s Free with parent All fans under the age of 14 must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or over. There will be an option to pay on the night, however fans are advised to pay in advance to avoid queues. Bolton Wanderers vs PNE – Saturday 26th July, 3pm, Toughsheet Community Stadium The final pre-season fixture which supporters can attend will take place at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, with North End set to face League One side Bolton Wanderers. Ticket details for this fixture will be confirmed in due course. Confirmed Pre-Season Schedule Bamber Bridge (A) – Tuesday 8th July, 7pm, SFC Stadium Chorley (A) – Wednesday 9th July, 7.30pm, Victory Park Liverpool (H) – Sunday 13th July, 3pm, Deepdale Getafe (A) – Friday 18th July, 7pm (CEST), Oliva Nova Sports Center Bolton Wanderers (A) – Saturday 26th July, 3pm, Toughsheet Community Stadium
Michael Ayodele got on the scoresheet as Preston North End’s Academy were beaten 2-1 by Bamber Bridge in a pre-season clash at the SFC Stadium. The side predominantly made up of scholars battled well with the Northern Premier League side, who came out on top thanks to a Mark Cullen double. North End capitalised on a spell of pressure when Ayodele smartly pulled one back in the 73rd minute, but they couldn’t quite find a late leveller. There was a great atmosphere ahead of kick-off as the first team squad and management came down to meet supporters, sign autographs and take photos. Attention soon turned to PNE’s youngsters – in the new 2025/26 away kit – who started brightly, with Charlie Forwood providing a threat down the left and Somto Ifezue causing problems up top. It was at the other end that the deadlock was broken, though, on the 15-minute mark when Cullen looped the ball over the head of the onrushing James Pradic and ensured it crossed the line on the other side of the ‘keeper. Ewan Bange sent a header just wide 24 minutes in, before Cullen’s second of the night arrived in the 33rd minute. Isaac Abankwah broke down the right and picked out the forward waiting in the middle to cushion home from close range. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image North End made a triple switch at the break and looked lively in the opening stages of the second 45. Ben Robinson and Joe Blake worked well together down the right to create an opening, but goalkeeper Aiden Dowling claimed the latter’s cross. One of the half-time changes, goalkeeper Li-Bau Stowell made an astonishing reaction stop in the 54th minute when it looked for anything that he’d been beaten by Billy Bould’s effort. Another triple change soon followed for PNE and in the 65th minute one of those introduced, George Gryba came closest of anyone when his header from eight yards on the end of a brilliant Forwood cross was kept out by Dowling. North End’s youngsters were really growing in the contest and Gryba was crucial to the goal which they pulled back with just more than a quarter of an hour left on the clock. He kept the ball alive inside the area to pull back for fellow substitute Ayodele, who superbly found the top corner with a smart, first-time finish. PNE kept pushing for a leveller and had a promising opportunity with a quick counter just a few minutes from time, but the offside flag against Marshall Longson brought the attack and North End's chances of an equaliser to an end. PNE starting XI: Pradic (Stowell, 45); Blake, Nolan, Brindle; Robinson (Jackson, 76), Stringfellow (Muir, 45), Gerrard (Whalley, 64), Forwood (Longson, 81); Wilson (Lam, 45), Haji (Gryba, 64); Ifezue (Ayodele, 64). Attendance: 1,021
Stefán Thórdarson scored the only goal in Preston North End’s pre-season opener away to Chorley. Paul Heckingbottom used the first friendly to field two entirely different XIs, with a mixture of first team players, young professionals and scholars on show. PNE dominated in the first 45 but couldn’t find a breakthrough, before Thórdarson opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with what proved to be the winner. Kaedyn Kamara, starting at left wing-back, created the first opportunity of the night as he found Troy Tarry on the opposite side, but he couldn’t quite climb high enough to make a meaningful connection. At the other end, Daniel Iversen was called into action in the ninth minute, diving low to his right to keep out Scott Wilson’s powerful snapshot. There wasn’t too much goalmouth action in the play which followed, with North End retaining the majority of possession, albeit the hosts were keeping them at bay. On the half-hour mark, there was another opportunity for Tarry as Andrew Hughes’ floated ball forward found the pacey wing-back, who cushioned a first-time effort just over the bar. Liam Lindsay headed over in the next attack, while Jeppe Okkels and captain Ali McCann saw efforts blocked before the half was up. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Wholesale changes were made at the break and seven minutes into the second half, North End were ahead. New signing Pol Valentín knocked the ball past his man down the right and pulled it back into the danger area where Thórdarson was waiting to slot beyond the ‘keeper. Within a minute, PNE were in again as Will Keane touched it round the corner for Felipe to run on to, but the young striker dragged his effort inches wide of goal. The Argentine was proving lively, as was Thierry Small on his first North End appearance, as he showed his trickery on the ball on both flanks, and in the 73rd minute he sent a left-footed strike just over the bar. Small appeared desperate to make an impact in his unofficial and again tried his luck with a minute left on the clock, only to see his effort rise too high. First half XI: Iversen; Offiah, Lindsay, Hughes; Tarry, Carroll, McCann, Lescott, Kamara; Okkels, Osmajić. Second half XI: Cornell, Valentín, Storey, Gibson, Pasiek; Mawene, Whitean, Thórdarson, Small; Felipe, Keane. Unused sub: Wilson. Attendance: 1,983.
LIVERPOOL 13/7/2025 1500HRS please log in to view this image Extremely hot at kick off time and will be an odd game due to recent events, believe the club have set up several event's to mark the death of Jota. Not going even though, it's on the box would probably not watch it
Preston North End and Liverpool commemorated the lives of Diogo Jota and André Silva as they met at Deepdale for a pre-season friendly. In the first match since the tragic passing of the brothers, Arne Slot’s side came out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo, while Liam Lindsay was on the scoresheet for the Lilywhites with a powerful header. There were moving scenes ahead of kick-off as Claudia Rose Maguire performed incredible renditions of Can’t Help Falling In Love and You’ll Never Walk Alone, while captain Ben Whiteman walked over to the Bill Shankly Kop to place a wreath in front of the Liverpool fans. Everyone inside the stadium then impeccably observed a minute’s silence in memory of Diogo and André. It was a day where football felt secondary to the occasion, but eight minutes in new man Thierry Small was exciting the home fans by showing great trickery and crossing deep towards Milutin Osmajić and forcing a Liverpool man to deal with the danger. After Lewis Gibson soon whistled an effort wide from distance, Ali McCann came up with a great block at the other end to deny the lively Rio Ngumoha who had cut inside to shoot. It looked for anything like Federico Chiesa was going to put the Reds in front in the 20th minute, but Gibson made up ground on the striker and hooked his leg around to make a brilliant last-ditch challenge. Chiesa was heavily involved in the opening goal in the 33rd minute as his cutback was touched on by Dominik Szoboszlai and Bradley made the most of the situation, finding the far corner. PNE responded well and ended the half really strongly, with Milutin Osmajić cushioning an effort just off target before Andrew Hughes nodded over the bar in the final minute of the opening 45. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Daniel Jebbison came on at the break for his first appearance for club while Liverpool made wholesale changes. One of those introduced, Darwin Núñez capitalised on a backpass from Jordan Storey eight minutes into the second half and rounded Daniel Iversen to double the Reds’ advantage. Osmajić did brilliantly in the 56th minute to cleverly spin past Andy Robertson and sprint towards goal, although his effort was sliced wide. Paul Heckingbottom began to ring the changes himself, offering opportunities to a number of youngsters to test themselves against England’s best. North End were giving a good account of themselves and Jebbison so nearly marked his introduction with a stunning solo effort, only for former PNE goalkeeper Freddie Woodman to deflect his effort onto the top of the crossbar. He was beaten, though, in the 83rd minute when Jeppe Okkels’ corner from the right was met by a thumping Lindsay header which flew into the top corner. Kaedyn Kamara came close to drawing level shortly after with a header of his own, but Gakpo’s finish from inside the 18-yard box in the 88th minute meant the visitors left with a 3-1 win. PNE line-up: Cornell; Storey (Lindsay, 60), Gibson (Offiah, 60), Hughes (Pasiek, 70); Valentin (Tarry, 70), Thórdarson (Kamara, 70), Whiteman (Carroll, 70), McCann (Mawene, 70), Small (Okkels, 70); Osmajić (Felipe, 70), Keane (Jebbison, 45). Attendance: 21,289 (5,797 Liverpool fans).
0-0 Hundreds of PNE fans travelled out to Spain to watch their team take on Getafe. The competitive game ended goalless in the sweltering Valencian heat, with Mads Frøkjær coming as close as anyone for North End to breaking the deadlock late on, while Daniel Iversen came up with some big stops on the night. There was a great atmosphere pre-match as the PNE fans arrived at Oliva Nova Sports Center for a friendly as part of the pre-season training camp. The first chance of the night fell for Milutin Osmajić, who couldn’t quite connect with a bouncing ball inside the box. At the other end, Iversen’s job was made slightly easier when David Cordon’s shot from distance was slowed down by a deflection and he made a comfortable stop. Thierry Small was looking lively every time he got the ball down the right and saw an effort blocked in the 18th minute of a game which had plenty of bite, with youngster Theo Carroll often in the thick of the action. The best chance of the half fell for Coba da Costa when the ball was slipped through to him and out rushed Iversen to spread himself wide and make a super save. He was called into action again in the 39th minute from a 20-yard free-kick, tipping Mauro Arambarri’s effort over the bar. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image The Dane was proving busy in between the sticks and made two good saves early in the second half, firstly to deny Christiantus Uche and then Adrián Liso’s left-footed effort. Trialist Andrija Vukčević was impressing with his pace and power, and in the 53rd minute he charged down the left before whipping a dangerous cross in for Daniel Jebbison, who jumped to meet the ball in the air but couldn’t direct on target. Two minutes later Vukčević was involved again, this time pulling back for Carroll, and the midfielder prodded his low strike just wide of goal. Getafe had a big opportunity 20 minutes from time when the ball was laid off for Mykyta Aleksandrov, but he dragged his shot the wrong side of the post. Substitute Frøkjær had North End’s best chance of the night in the 83rd minute at the end of a great team move, seeing his low effort go wide, seemingly with a touch from the goalkeeper although a goal-kick was awarded. PNE line-up: Iversen; Offiah (Storey), Lindsay (Kamara), Hughes (Gibson); Small (Valentín), Carroll, McCann (Potts), Thordarson (Mawene), Vukčević (Brady); Osmajić (Keane), Jebbison (Frøkjær). Sub not used: Cornell.
Preston North End were beaten 2-0 by Bolton Wanderers as preparations for the new season continued. As the 2025/26 third kit had its first outing, so did striker Michael Smith who had PNE’s best chance of the first half, while Milutin Osmajić came closest in the second. Daniel Iversen was relatively unchallenged by the League One side for most of the day, but Amario Cozier-Duberry and Joel Randall’s goals within four minutes of each other in the second half earned victory for the hosts. Almost 2,000 North End fans made the short journey to the Toughsheet Community Stadium for the pre-season friendly, which started brightly for Thierry Small. The summer recruit skipped past his man in the 17th minute and slipped the ball through for Osmajić, but his pass towards Smith was intercepted. Four minutes later, Daniel Iversen became the first of the goalkeepers to be tested when he comfortably kept out Cozier-Duberry’s curling left-footed effort. At the other end, Teddy Sharman-Lowe came up with an impressive stop to deny Smith from inside the area as he side-footed a volley goalwards in the 40th minute, after Osmajić had flicked on Robbie Brady’s cross. A minute later, the ‘keeper was tested again by Ben Whiteman, although a deflection on his effort made things easier for Bolton’s number one. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Paul Heckingbottom introduced Daniel Jebbison at the break and he got straight into the action, laying off for captain Whiteman, whose left-footed looping effort landed just wide. The Bournemouth loanee was proving a threat and in the 53rd minute had a decent chance to break the deadlock after being played through by strike partner, Osmajić. The Canadian opted to go for power, but his strike rose too high to trouble Sharman-Lowe. Bolton had a good opportunity themselves ten minutes later to go ahead, as Josh Sheehan’s free-kick found the head of Josh Dacres-Cogley, however his flick went over the bar. Jebbison continued to cause problems and in the 69th minute he slotted the ball through for Osmajić to run on to, and the Montenegrin was thwarted by the right leg of Sharman-Lowe. Four minutes on and Steven Schumacher’s side took the lead through Cozier-Duberry, whose deflected shot wrongfooted Iversen on its way in. Bolton had their second soon after as Randall side-footed a close-range effort on the end of Thierry Gale’s cross into the back of the net to all but seal the pre-season win. PNE line-up: Iversen; Offiah (Storey, 66), Gibson, Hughes (Valentín, 82), Brady (Vukčević, 63); Small, Potts (McCann, 63), Whiteman, Frøkjær (Thórdarson, 63); Osmajić, Smith (Jebbison, 45). Subs not used: Walton, Cornell, Keane, Okkels, Mawene.
