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Second team

Second team

Okay, so here's my story.

When I was a kid I LOVED playing footy (always have and always will) but I really didn't care to watch it or support a team, don't know why. I had a Liverpool kit as most of my friends did, but really didn't have an 'affinity' to them as such. It was weird cause I used to play for Springfields and a good bunch of the lads in the team were North End fans (including Ben Astley, who you all know of) but as I say, I just wasn't really into watching games so I guess that's why it never pulled me in.

Fast forward to 1996, I was living in Leeds (final year at Uni) and would come back to Preston every now and again (mostly virtually living in the Fighting Cock). Anyway, I rock up one weekend (at the FC) and Euro 96 was happening and I got swept up in it all and found myself enjoying the matches as well as the atmosphere (pile ons in the road, Marsh Lane, whenever England scored). THIS is what got me into watching and supporting footy. I ended up coming back to the FC for every England game and then after it was all over I found myself wanting to watch and have a team to follow and, again, cause I had a good few mates who were Liverpool fans, and I figured, well, I used to have the kit, I would follow them. So I did.
Side note: it wasn't long after that we started Fighting Cock FC and played Sunday league, fun times (apart from getting my ribs broken by some fat cunt from the Lovatt).

On to 1998, my mate wanted to go to a PNE game for his birthday and then out on the town afterwards. There was a bunch of us and we sat on the Pavilion. I absolutely LOVED it and from then I never looked back. I ended up going on the next match on the Town End with some other friends who were long term Nobbers and then went on every game possible, eventually getting a season ticket for many years.
I still watched Liverpool games when they were on TV with my mates (and yes, in the pubs of Preston, but not in a Liverpool top), and always wanted them to win, but my full support by now was with PNE and always will be.

The last 4 years I've barely even followed the Prem, but I guess unless we're in the Prem ourselves then I'd still want Liverpool to win the title.

@MrHodgeheg123 maybe we can be friends? Lol 😛😄
 
Back in the 50’s and 60’s lots of fans supported North End one week and would go and watch either Blackpool or Blackburn on the weekends that North end were away. They didn’t necessarily support Blackpool or Blackburn as their second team but they would rather watch a game than have a free week. I guess it wasn’t easy back in those days to get to away games. I’m sure the ones that did that back in the day wouldn’t entertain that thought now. It’s how time changes things I suppose.
 
Ayr United - went to uni in Scotland and my best mate was an Ayr fan. I adopted Ayr as my Scottish team and he adopted PNE as his English team. Also watch out for Stirling Albion - they were my local team, so I went on a few times every season.
 
Preston North End reserves is my second team…..

Because my wife is from Bury, I did use to go on the odd occasion to Gigg Lane before the football league put paid to their existence.
 
Arsenal became my second team when they beat Liverpool 2-0 to win the league at Anfield in 89, greatest ever finish to the top division, they carried on as my "couch/TV team" through the Wenger years due to the football they played and my hatred of Man U, but the last 2 years ive swapped to West Ham because of Moyes-My favourite North End manager..
 
Don't really believe in having a second team. But I lived in Orlando for a while and used to go watch their games which was always entertaining. They certainly know how to do Fanzone etc to be fair to them.
 
got some family in Eindhoven so they've always been my 2nd team, not much chance of PNE and PSV ever meeting in a competitive game so will never have that conflict of interest
 
Ayr United - went to uni in Scotland and my best mate was an Ayr fan. I adopted Ayr as my Scottish team and he adopted PNE as his English team. Also watch out for Stirling Albion - they were my local team, so I went on a few times every season.
The Honest Men...Only 2nd to Queen of the South in the Arch rivalry stakes of Stranraer. ( Even though Ayr is a fair bit closer in distance )
Been to Somerset Park a couple of times a few yrs back when they played in the same division. Proper old school ground albeit a bit of a dump which is part of the attraction.
The Twa Dugs in town is a decent watering hole and about a Mile walk to the ground which is close to the Racecourse.

Have never been to the footy in Stirling but they are in the same league. Good luck for the season apart from the matches v The Blues. 🙂
 
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