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.
