Preston North End

Value$28MGhostGeography of Erasure Heartbreak#10813.6

Preston, Preston · England · Championship

League titles

last 1890

Major cups

last 1938

Top-2 finishes

Top-4 finishes

Power-ranking history

Against expectation

Every English top-flight match this club has played, scored against the odds an Elo rating gave it before kick-off. Over 46 seasons from 1888-89 to 1960-61 it has fallen short of them by −6.1 match points.

1888-89 to 1960-61one bar per season · height in match points

Best season against expectation

1888-89 +14.3 league pts

40 points on 25.8 expected as Preston North End

Worst season against expectation

1893-94 −10.4 league pts

23 points on 33.4 expected as Preston North End

Season points use that season’s own scoring, two for a win before 1981-82 and three after; the bars use match points so the whole series is comparable. The rating only starts telling you much after about 1960. Before that, knowing the era’s home-and-away split is almost as good as knowing the teams.

Preston against expectation →How this is measured →

Who controls the club

The entity that holds control today, one per franchise; co-controllers and minority holders are listed, never summed.

How this is measured

Exactly one control entity is recorded per franchise, so a portfolio can never count a club twice. Co-controllers and minority holders are shown as published and carry no weight in any total.

The chip names the evidence. Sourced: a primary source is linked (league, club, filing or tier-one outlet). Cross-checked: matched against the ownership-change sweep. Contested: disputed or mid-sale. Rows are reviewed weekly.

Stakes are as published, often only “majority”, and are not pro-rated. A record of control is not a claim about anyone’s intent or conduct.

Who controls the clubHemmings family (Wordon Limited)

Hemmings family (Wordon Limited)family· Owner (sale talks ongoing)

Cross-checkedas of 14 Aug 2026

Trevor Hemmings died in 2021 and his family has kept the club through Wordon Limited. In August 2026 the chairman confirmed negotiations with bidders on terms acceptable to the family, with Amr Zedan widely linked, but no completion is confirmed.

Hemmings family (Wordon Limited) on the owners board →

Greatest games

Preston North End's top matches by the club Game Score: closeness, stakes, quality and upset over one unified rating of league and European play. H, A and N mark home, away and a neutral venue; a ★ is a curated all-time classic (tap it for the model's own score).All-time board.

Sort by

West Bromwich Albion

1954-05-01 · FA Cup · Final

83.5

game score

Everton

1893-03-20 · FA Cup · Semifinals

77.0

game score

Notts County

1890-03-27 · Football League

75.1

game score

Derby County

1953-04-29 · First Division

74.9

game score

Tottenham Hotspur

1922-03-25 · FA Cup · Semifinals

74.0

game score

Huddersfield Town

1922-04-29 · FA Cup · Final

72.3

game score

Huddersfield Town

1938-04-30 · FA Cup · Final

69.7

game score

Bolton Wanderers

1890-02-15 · FA Cup · Round 3

68.6

game score

Aston Villa

1938-03-26 · FA Cup · Semifinals

68.6

game score

Arsenal

1938-02-12 · FA Cup · Round 5

68.5

game score

#		Stage	Result
1	1954-05-01	FA Cup · Final	neutral venue L 2-3 v West Bromwich Albion	game score 83.5
2	1893-03-20	FA Cup · Semifinals	neutral venue L 1-2 v Everton	game score 77.0
3	1890-03-27	Football League	away W 1-0 v Notts County	game score 75.1
4	1953-04-29	First Division	away W 1-0 v Derby County	game score 74.9
5	1922-03-25	FA Cup · Semifinals	neutral venue W 2-1 v Tottenham Hotspur	game score 74.0
6	1922-04-29	FA Cup · Final	neutral venue L 0-1 v Huddersfield Town	game score 72.3
7	1938-04-30	FA Cup · Final	neutral venue W 1-0 v Huddersfield Town	game score 69.7
8	1890-02-15	FA Cup · Round 3	home L 2-3 v Bolton Wanderers	game score 68.6
9	1938-03-26	FA Cup · Semifinals	neutral venue W 2-1 v Aston Villa	game score 68.6
10	1938-02-12	FA Cup · Round 5	away W 1-0 v Arsenal	game score 68.5

Footprint

Tiers played

L1, L2, L3, L4

Top-flight (L1) seasons

Lower-tier league seasons

First season

1889

Most recent season

2026

The Heartbreak Index13.6 · #108

The Damned · Major trophy, 1938

13.6

Heartbreak

#108

of 1,138 clubs

#50

in Football

8.2

agony · 5.4 despair

The clocks

Major trophy since 19384.0
Major final appearance since 19642.0
League title since 18901.2

Heaviest wounds

league runner-up, 1958 · league runner-up, 1953 · lost the national cup final, 1954 · relegated from the top flight, 1961

One formula, every club the site covers. See the whole board →

Season-by-season

Most recent season first. Covers Levels 1 through 5 of the English pyramid. Rows tagged "national playoff" are pre-modern formats where the workbook records only playoff participants, not round-robin standings.

2027

Championship (2) · P24● live

13 P · 1-2-10 · 10:27 · -17

pts

2026

Championship (2) · P14

46 P · 15-15-16 · 55:62 · -7

pts

2025

Championship (2) · P20

46 P · 10-20-16 · 48:59 · -11

pts

2024

Championship (2) · P10

46 P · 18-9-19 · 56:67 · -11

pts

2023

Championship (2) · P12

46 P · 17-12-17 · 45:59 · -14

pts

2022

Championship (2) · P13

46 P · 16-16-14 · 52:56 · -4

pts

2021

Championship (2) · P13

46 P · 18-7-21 · 49:56 · -7

pts

2020

Championship (2) · P9

46 P · 18-12-16 · 59:54 · +5

pts

2019

Championship (2) · P14

46 P · 16-13-17 · 67:67 · 0

pts

2018

Championship (2) · P7

46 P · 19-16-11 · 57:46 · +11

pts

2017

Championship (2) · P11

46 P · 16-14-16 · 64:63 · +1

pts

2016

Championship (2) · P11

46 P · 15-17-14 · 45:45 · 0

pts

Year	League	Team	Pos	Notes	Domestic Cup	P	W	D	L	Pts	GF	GA	GD
2027● live	Championship(2)	Preston North End	24			13	1	2	10	5	10	27	-17
2026	Championship(2)	Preston North End	14			46	15	15	16	60	55	62	-7
2025	Championship(2)	Preston North End	20			46	10	20	16	50	48	59	-11
2024	Championship(2)	Preston North End	10			46	18	9	19	63	56	67	-11
2023	Championship(2)	Preston North End	12			46	17	12	17	63	45	59	-14
2022	Championship(2)	Preston North End	13			46	16	16	14	64	52	56	-4
2021	Championship(2)	Preston North End	13			46	18	7	21	61	49	56	-7
2020	Championship(2)	Preston North End	9			46	18	12	16	66	59	54	5
2019	Championship(2)	Preston North End	14			46	16	13	17	61	67	67	0
2018	Championship(2)	Preston North End	7			46	19	16	11	73	57	46	11
2017	Championship(2)	Preston North End	11			46	16	14	16	62	64	63	1
2016	Championship(2)	Preston North End	11			46	15	17	14	62	45	45	0
2015	League One(3)	Preston North End	3	promoted (PO)		46	25	14	7	89	79	40	39
2014	League One(3)	Preston North End	5	Playoffs		46	23	16	7	85	72	46	26
2013	League One(3)	Preston North End	15			46	14	17	15	59	54	49	5
2012	League One(3)	Preston North End	15			46	13	15	18	54	54	68	-14
2011	Championship(2)	Preston North End	22	relegated		46	10	12	24	42	54	79	-25
2010	Championship(2)	Preston North End	17			46	13	15	18	54	58	73	-15
2009	Championship(2)	Preston North End	6	Playoffs		46	21	11	14	74	66	54	12
2008	Championship(2)	Preston North End	15			46	15	11	20	56	50	56	-6
2007	Championship(2)	Preston North End	7			46	22	8	16	74	64	53	11
2006	Championship(2)	Preston North End	4	Playoffs		46	20	20	6	80	59	30	29
2005	Championship(2)	Preston North End	5	Not Promoted (PO)		46	21	12	13	75	67	58	9
2004	First Division(2)	Preston North End	15			46	15	14	17	59	69	71	-2
2003	First Division(2)	Preston North End	12			46	16	13	17	61	68	70	-2
2002	First Division(2)	Preston North End	8			46	20	12	14	72	71	59	12
2001	First Division(2)	Preston North End	4	Not Promoted (PO)		46	23	9	14	78	64	52	12
2000	Second Division(3)	Preston North End	1	promoted		46	28	11	7	95	74	37	37
1999	Second Division(3)	Preston North End	5	Playoffs		46	22	13	11	79	78	50	28
1998	Second Division(3)	Preston North End	15			46	15	14	17	59	56	56	0
1997	Second Division(3)	Preston North End	15			46	18	7	21	61	49	55	-6
1996	Third Division(4)	Preston North End	1	promoted		46	23	17	6	86	78	38	40
1995	Third Division(4)	Preston North End	5	Playoffs		42	19	10	13	67	58	41	17
1994	Third Division(4)	Preston North End	5	Not Promoted (PO)		42	18	13	11	67	79	60	19
1993	Second Division(3)	Preston North End	21	relegated		46	13	8	25	47	65	94	-29
1992	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	17			46	15	12	19	57	61	72	-11
1991	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	17			46	15	11	20	56	54	67	-13
1990	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	19			46	14	10	22	52	65	79	-14
1989	Fourth Division(3)	Preston North End	6	Playoffs		46	19	15	12	72	79	60	19
1988	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	16			46	15	13	18	58	48	59	-11
1987	Fourth Division(4)	Preston North End	2	promoted		46	26	12	8	90	72	47	25
1986	Fourth Division(4)	Preston North End	23			46	11	10	25	43	54	89	-35
1985	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	23	relegated		46	13	7	26	46	51	100	-49
1984	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	16			46	15	11	20	56	66	66	0
1983	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	16			46	15	13	18	58	60	69	-9
1982	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	14			46	16	13	17	61	50	56	-6
1981	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	20	relegated		42	11	14	17	36	41	62	-21
1980	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	10			42	12	19	11	43	56	52	4
1979	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	7			42	12	18	12	42	59	57	2
1978	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	3	promoted		46	20	16	10	56	63	38	25
1977	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	6			46	21	12	13	54	64	43	21
1976	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	8			46	19	10	17	48	62	57	5
1975	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	9			46	19	11	16	49	63	56	7
1974	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	21	relegated		42	9	14	19	31	40	62	-22
1973	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	19			42	11	12	19	34	37	64	-27
1972	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	18			42	12	12	18	36	52	58	-6
1971	Third Division(3)	Preston North End	1	promoted		46	22	17	7	61	63	39	24
1970	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	22	relegated		42	8	12	22	28	43	63	-20
1969	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	14			42	12	15	15	39	38	44	-6
1968	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	20			42	12	11	19	35	43	65	-22
1967	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	13			42	16	7	19	39	65	67	-2
1966	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	17			42	11	15	16	37	62	70	-8
1965	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	12			42	14	13	15	41	76	81	-5
1964	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	3		FA	42	23	10	9	56	79	54	25
1963	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	17			42	13	11	18	37	59	74	-15
1962	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	10			42	15	10	17	40	55	57	-2
1961	First Division(1)	Preston North End	22	relegated		42	10	10	22	30	43	71	-28
1960	First Division(1)	Preston North End	9			42	16	12	14	44	79	76	3
1959	First Division(1)	Preston North End	12			42	17	7	18	41	70	77	-7
1958	First Division(1)	Preston North End	2			42	26	7	9	59	100	51	49
1957	First Division(1)	Preston North End	3			42	23	10	9	56	84	56	28
1956	First Division(1)	Preston North End	19			42	14	8	20	36	73	72	1
1955	First Division(1)	Preston North End	14			42	16	8	18	40	83	64	19
1954	First Division(1)	Preston North End	11		FA	42	19	5	18	43	87	58	29
1953	First Division(1)	Preston North End	2			42	21	12	9	54	85	60	25
1952	First Division(1)	Preston North End	7			42	17	12	13	46	74	54	20
1951	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	1	promoted		42	26	5	11	57	91	49	42
1950	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	6			42	18	9	15	45	60	49	11
1949	First Division(1)	Preston North End	21	relegated		42	11	11	20	33	62	75	-13
1948	First Division(1)	Preston North End	7			42	20	7	15	47	67	68	-1
1947	First Division(1)	Preston North End	7			42	18	11	13	47	76	74	2
1939	First Division(1)	Preston North End	9			42	16	12	14	44	63	59	4
1938	First Division(1)	Preston North End	3		FA	42	16	17	9	49	64	44	20
1937	First Division(1)	Preston North End	14		FA	42	14	13	15	41	56	67	-11
1936	First Division(1)	Preston North End	7			42	18	8	16	44	67	64	3
1935	First Division(1)	Preston North End	11			42	15	12	15	42	62	67	-5
1934	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	2	promoted		42	23	6	13	52	71	52	19
1933	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	9			42	16	10	16	42	74	70	4
1932	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	13			42	16	10	16	42	75	77	-2
1931	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	7			42	17	11	14	45	83	64	19
1930	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	16			42	13	11	18	37	65	80	-15
1929	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	13			42	15	9	18	39	78	79	-1
1928	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	4			42	22	9	11	53	100	66	34
1927	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	6			42	20	9	13	49	74	72	2
1926	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	12			42	18	7	17	43	71	84	-13
1925	First Division(1)	Preston North End	21	relegated		42	10	6	26	26	37	74	-37
1924	First Division(1)	Preston North End	18			42	12	10	20	34	52	67	-15
1923	First Division(1)	Preston North End	16			42	13	11	18	37	60	64	-4
1922	First Division(1)	Preston North End	16		FA	42	13	12	17	38	42	65	-23
1921	First Division(1)	Preston North End	16		FA SF	42	15	9	18	39	61	65	-4
1920	First Division(1)	Preston North End	19			42	14	10	18	38	57	73	-16
1915	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	2	promoted		38	20	10	8	50	61	42	19
1914	First Division(1)	Preston North End	19	relegated		38	12	6	20	30	52	69	-17
1913	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	1	promoted		38	19	15	4	53	56	33	23
1912	First Division(1)	Preston North End	19	relegated		38	13	7	18	33	40	57	-17
1911	First Division(1)	Preston North End	14			38	12	11	15	35	40	49	-9
1910	First Division(1)	Preston North End	12			38	15	5	18	35	52	58	-6
1909	First Division(1)	Preston North End	10			38	13	11	14	37	48	44	4
1908	First Division(1)	Preston North End	12			38	12	12	14	36	47	53	-6
1907	First Division(1)	Preston North End	14			38	14	7	17	35	44	57	-13
1906	First Division(1)	Preston North End	2			38	17	13	8	47	54	39	15
1905	First Division(1)	Preston North End	8			34	13	10	11	36	42	37	5
1904	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	1	promoted		34	20	10	4	50	62	24	38
1903	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	7			34	13	10	11	36	56	40	16
1902	Second Division(2)	Preston North End	3			34	18	6	10	42	71	32	39
1901	First Division(1)	Preston North End	17	relegated		34	9	7	18	25	49	75	-26
1900	First Division(1)	Preston North End	16			34	12	4	18	28	38	48	-10
1899	First Division(1)	Preston North End	15			34	10	9	15	29	44	47	-3
1898	First Division(1)	Preston North End	12			30	8	8	14	24	35	43	-8
1897	First Division(1)	Preston North End	4			30	11	12	7	34	55	40	15
1896	First Division(1)	Preston North End	9			30	11	6	13	28	44	48	-4
1895	First Division(1)	Preston North End	4			30	15	5	10	35	62	46	16
1894	First Division(1)	Preston North End	14			30	10	3	17	23	44	56	-12
1893	First Division(1)	Preston North End	2		FA SF	30	17	3	10	37	57	39	18
1892	First Division(1)	Preston North End	2			26	18	1	7	37	61	31	30
1891	First Division(1)	Preston North End	2			22	12	3	7	27	44	23	21
1890	First Division(1)	Preston North End	1	champion		22	15	3	4	33	71	30	41
1889	First Division(1)	Preston North End	1	champion	FA	22	18	4	0	40	74	15	59

Domestic Cup Finals

Most recent first. Every domestic cup final the club has played, including losses. Scheduled finals (date not yet passed) are flagged.

1964

FA Cup

Runner-up

1954

FA Cup

Runner-up

1938

FA Cup

Won

1938

Community Shield

Runner-up

1937

FA Cup

Runner-up

1922

FA Cup

Runner-up

1889

FA Cup

Won

1888

FA Cup

Runner-up

Year	Competition	Result
1964	FA Cup	Runner-up
1954	FA Cup	Runner-up
1938	FA Cup	Won
1938	Community Shield	Runner-up
1937	FA Cup	Runner-up
1922	FA Cup	Runner-up
1889	FA Cup	Won
1888	FA Cup	Runner-up

Discussed in

The Geography of Erasure Essay on Substack · 5 Jun 2026

Power-ranking history

Against expectation

Who controls the club

Greatest games

Footprint

The Heartbreak Index13.6 · #108▸

Discussed in

The Heartbreak Index13.6 · #108