The last game of a four-day-four-matches-tour in 2009. Arrived early Monday afternoon since I had been in Stoke the previous day and located my hotel. Around 5 I headed for the Tom Finney pub, which I had visited on my previous visit to Deepdale in 2003. Inside the pub, I was met by a large, barking German shepherd. I had planned on eating, but soon realised that the pub was no longer in the same state as on my previous visit. I left after a beer to find a place to eat in the street leading up to Deepdale. Before the game, I had time to visit the National Football Museum, which still was at Deepdale by this time.

Deepdale has a prestigeous history to say the least. The team that won the first Fotball League 1888/89 played here and by then football had already been played there for 10 years. Clearly, a special place if you have some sense of football history. 

I watched the game from the Tom Finney stand sitting right next to the celebrity stand. I remember seeing David Moyes and Mike Ashley, who then was yet to become a football paria. The game was a locked affair, Kevin Nolan scored the only goal 15 minutes from time. Chris Hughton was the NUFC manager, Andy Carroll, Marlon Harewood and Alan Smith played upfront. Nile Ranger was still regarded as a future prospect and probably did his best season ever. He came on as a sub for Carroll with half an hour to go. Andy Lonergan was in goal for his hometown team. He made over 200 appearances for PNE before becoming a footballing journeyman. 

The next morning I had an early start from the hotel to catch a train to Manchester and fly to the Netherlands to do work there.