North End Souls follow-up book tells the stories of more Deepdale legends

Looking towards the Kop end in Deepdale Pic: Blog Preston

A new Preston North End book is lifting the lid on some of the club’s biggest games over the past 70 years.

North End Souls 2, which has been brought together by author Keith Harrison, is the follow-up to last year’s successful first volume.

The new book features first-hand accounts from some of the club’s biggest names including Alex Bruce, Mike Elwiss, Gareth Ainsworth, Brian Mooney and Paul McKenna.

Former managers Gary Peters and Simon Grayson also contribute, as well as modern-day stars Paul Huntington and current captain Tom Clarke.

Lifelong PNE fan Keith said: ‘There are some amazing stories in the book – it’s been fantastic to put together.

Keith Harrison — Author Keith is a lifelong PNE fan

“All the chapters are different, but some of my favourites are from Eric Jones and Peter Higham, who played with Sir Tom Finney in the 1950s. The stories of what life at Deepdale was like back then are absolutely fascinating – worlds apart from the modern era.

“Eric, for example, didn’t make the team for the 1954 FA Cup Final, so had to watch from the stands, just in front of the Royal Box. The lady behind kept dropping ash from her cigarette on to his best suit, but when he turned round to complain, it was Princess Margaret. So he said nothing and sat back down, perhaps wisely!”

Other players tell of encounters with a vast array of some of the game’s biggest names including Pele, Sir Matt Busby, Billy Wright, Thierry Henry, Gareth Southgate, Terry Venables and Kenny Dalglish.

The book is a limited edition of 2,000 copies and ten per cent of any profits will go to the Baby Beat Appeal, which supports the Royal Preston Hospital’s Maternity and Neonatal Units.

Baby Beat spokesperson Cathy Skidmore said: ‘We hope North End fans enjoy these fascinating stories, and we want to thank Keith for this wonderful gesture.”

North End Souls 2 is available from www.northendsouls.com.

Will you be buying North End Souls 2? Let us know in the comments.