Here’s a little midweek treat to help all of our loyal readers survive the boredom of not having a single first team match report to read between weekends!

We received the following email from Mike Payne, a longtime Preston afficionado, after our recent match against Brackley.  It seems he spotted a familiar face in our dugout and sent us the photographic evidence to prove it…

I went to the Brackley game today, I live in Bucks, and was thrilled to spot that Chris Holland is one of the coaches of your side.  I am a fanatical Preston North End fan and remembered him from his days at my club and I was delighted to be able to have a word with Chris, who was an ex-North Ender in his very young days.  Everyone felt he had an exciting career ahead of him back in 1993-4, although sadly his PNE career was shortlived and mainly through his youth days only.  He did have a good career though and I followed it avidly.

I took a photo of Chris today and I have attached it for you, along with a picture taken at Deepdale when he was in the first team squad at Preston.  Although, like everyone else, age does eventually catch up with you, you can still see it is him as his boyish good looks remain!!

Give Chris my best wishes and thank him for the autograph he gave me and good luck to the club for the rest of the season.  They were unlucky to lose today and it was only ever going to be one goal in it I think, and the lucky bounce fell to Brackley.  A good game though and very enjoyable.  I thought your two central defenders were outstanding.

All the best

Mike Payne

Author of Proud Preston and PNE club historian.

Thanks for your email Mike!  Here are the photos (click for full size):