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Preston North End

GhostGeography of ErasureHeartbreak#10613.7

Preston, Preston · England · Championship

League titles
2
last 1890
Major cups
4
last 1938
Top-2 finishes
8
Top-4 finishes
12

Power-ranking history

Hover a season for its rank and score
Rank (1 = best)1235Score (per-season normalised)0.00.51.059/60

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.

Preston North End: surplus against expectation, 1888-89 to 1960-611888-89: +14.3 league points vs expected (40 on 25.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +7.1 match points1889-90: +3.7 league points vs expected (33 on 29.3, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.8 match points1890-91: −2.3 league points vs expected (27 on 29.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.2 match points1891-92: +3.1 league points vs expected (37 on 33.9, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.5 match points1892-93: −2.8 league points vs expected (37 on 39.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.4 match points1893-94: −10.4 league points vs expected (23 on 33.4, 2 for a win) · bar height −5.2 match points1894-95: +4.3 league points vs expected (35 on 30.6, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.2 match points1895-96: −3.0 league points vs expected (28 on 31.1, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.5 match points1896-97: +2.4 league points vs expected (34 on 31.6, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.2 match points1897-98: −5.8 league points vs expected (24 on 29.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.9 match points1898-99: −3.3 league points vs expected (29 on 32.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.7 match points1899-00: −2.3 league points vs expected (28 on 30.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.1 match points1900-01: −4.1 league points vs expected (25 on 29.1, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.0 match points1904-05: +3.6 league points vs expected (36 on 32.4, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.8 match points1905-06: +7.6 league points vs expected (47 on 39.4, 2 for a win) · bar height +3.8 match points1906-07: −4.8 league points vs expected (35 on 39.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.4 match points1907-08: −0.7 league points vs expected (36 on 36.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.3 match points1908-09: +0.6 league points vs expected (37 on 36.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.3 match points1909-10: −0.5 league points vs expected (35 on 35.5, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.3 match points1910-11: −0.2 league points vs expected (35 on 35.2, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.1 match points1911-12: −1.9 league points vs expected (33 on 34.9, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.0 match points1913-14: −1.3 league points vs expected (30 on 31.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.7 match points1919-20: +1.6 league points vs expected (38 on 36.4, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.8 match points1920-21: −0.5 league points vs expected (39 on 39.5, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.3 match points1921-22: −1.2 league points vs expected (38 on 39.2, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.6 match points1922-23: +0.7 league points vs expected (37 on 36.3, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.3 match points1923-24: −2.0 league points vs expected (34 on 36.0, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.0 match points1924-25: −5.8 league points vs expected (26 on 31.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.9 match points1934-35: +3.4 league points vs expected (42 on 38.6, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.7 match points1935-36: +3.9 league points vs expected (44 on 40.1, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.0 match points1936-37: +0.0 league points vs expected (41 on 41.0, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.0 match points1937-38: +5.2 league points vs expected (49 on 43.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.6 match points1938-39: −0.7 league points vs expected (44 on 44.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.3 match points1946-47: +1.5 league points vs expected (47 on 45.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.7 match points1947-48: +1.9 league points vs expected (47 on 45.1, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.0 match points1948-49: −5.9 league points vs expected (33 on 38.9, 2 for a win) · bar height −3.0 match points1951-52: +3.6 league points vs expected (46 on 42.4, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.8 match points1952-53: +8.2 league points vs expected (54 on 45.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +4.1 match points1953-54: −5.7 league points vs expected (43 on 48.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.8 match points1954-55: −8.2 league points vs expected (40 on 48.2, 2 for a win) · bar height −4.1 match points1955-56: −7.8 league points vs expected (36 on 43.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −3.9 match points1956-57: +11.8 league points vs expected (56 on 44.2, 2 for a win) · bar height +5.9 match points1957-58: +8.6 league points vs expected (59 on 50.4, 2 for a win) · bar height +4.3 match points1958-59: −10.0 league points vs expected (41 on 51.0, 2 for a win) · bar height −5.0 match points1959-60: −1.6 league points vs expected (44 on 45.5, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.8 match points1960-61: −9.2 league points vs expected (30 on 39.2, 2 for a win) · bar height −4.6 match points
1888-89one bar per season · height in match points · hover for that season1960-61
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 →

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.All-time board.

#DateStageResultScore
11954-05-01FA Cup · FinalNL 2-3 v West Bromwich Albiongame score 83.5
21893-03-20FA Cup · SemifinalsNL 1-2 v Evertongame score 77.0
31890-03-27Football LeagueAW 1-0 v Notts Countygame score 75.1
41953-04-29First DivisionAW 1-0 v Derby Countygame score 74.9
51922-03-25FA Cup · SemifinalsNW 2-1 v Tottenham Hotspurgame score 74.0
61922-04-29FA Cup · FinalNL 0-1 v Huddersfield Towngame score 72.3
71938-04-30FA Cup · FinalNW 1-0 v Huddersfield Towngame score 69.7
81890-02-15FA Cup · Round 3HL 2-3 v Bolton Wanderersgame score 68.6
91938-03-26FA Cup · SemifinalsNW 2-1 v Aston Villagame score 68.6
101938-02-12FA Cup · Round 5AW 1-0 v Arsenalgame score 68.5

Footprint

Tiers played
L1, L2, L3, L4
Top-flight (L1) seasons
46
Lower-tier league seasons
81
First season
1889
Most recent season
2026

The Heartbreak Index13.7 · #106

The Damned · Major trophy, 1938

13.7
Heartbreak
#106
of 1,139 clubs
#49
in Football
8.4
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) · P23● live
7 P · 1-0-6 · 6:13 · -7
3
pts
2026
Championship (2) · P14
46 P · 15-15-16 · 55:62 · -7
60
pts
2025
Championship (2) · P20
46 P · 10-20-16 · 48:59 · -11
50
pts
2024
Championship (2) · P10
46 P · 18-9-19 · 56:67 · -11
63
pts
2023
Championship (2) · P12
46 P · 17-12-17 · 45:59 · -14
63
pts
2022
Championship (2) · P13
46 P · 16-16-14 · 52:56 · -4
64
pts
2021
Championship (2) · P13
46 P · 18-7-21 · 49:56 · -7
61
pts
2020
Championship (2) · P9
46 P · 18-12-16 · 59:54 · +5
66
pts
2019
Championship (2) · P14
46 P · 16-13-17 · 67:67 · 0
61
pts
2018
Championship (2) · P7
46 P · 19-16-11 · 57:46 · +11
73
pts
2017
Championship (2) · P11
46 P · 16-14-16 · 64:63 · +1
62
pts
2016
Championship (2) · P11
46 P · 15-17-14 · 45:45 · 0
62
pts
Show all 128 seasons
2015
League One (3) · P3↑
46 P · 25-14-7 · 79:40 · +39
89
pts
2014
League One (3) · P5PO
46 P · 23-16-7 · 72:46 · +26
85
pts
2013
League One (3) · P15
46 P · 14-17-15 · 54:49 · +5
59
pts
2012
League One (3) · P15
46 P · 13-15-18 · 54:68 · -14
54
pts
2011
Championship (2) · P22↓
46 P · 10-12-24 · 54:79 · -25
42
pts
2010
Championship (2) · P17
46 P · 13-15-18 · 58:73 · -15
54
pts
2009
Championship (2) · P6PO
46 P · 21-11-14 · 66:54 · +12
74
pts
2008
Championship (2) · P15
46 P · 15-11-20 · 50:56 · -6
56
pts
2007
Championship (2) · P7
46 P · 22-8-16 · 64:53 · +11
74
pts
2006
Championship (2) · P4PO
46 P · 20-20-6 · 59:30 · +29
80
pts
2005
Championship (2) · P5PO
46 P · 21-12-13 · 67:58 · +9
75
pts
2004
First Division (2) · P15
46 P · 15-14-17 · 69:71 · -2
59
pts
2003
First Division (2) · P12
46 P · 16-13-17 · 68:70 · -2
61
pts
2002
First Division (2) · P8
46 P · 20-12-14 · 71:59 · +12
72
pts
2001
First Division (2) · P4PO
46 P · 23-9-14 · 64:52 · +12
78
pts
2000
Second Division (3) · P1↑
46 P · 28-11-7 · 74:37 · +37
95
pts
1999
Second Division (3) · P5PO
46 P · 22-13-11 · 78:50 · +28
79
pts
1998
Second Division (3) · P15
46 P · 15-14-17 · 56:56 · 0
59
pts
1997
Second Division (3) · P15
46 P · 18-7-21 · 49:55 · -6
61
pts
1996
Third Division (4) · P1↑
46 P · 23-17-6 · 78:38 · +40
86
pts
1995
Third Division (4) · P5PO
42 P · 19-10-13 · 58:41 · +17
67
pts
1994
Third Division (4) · P5PO
42 P · 18-13-11 · 79:60 · +19
67
pts
1993
Second Division (3) · P21↓
46 P · 13-8-25 · 65:94 · -29
47
pts
1992
Third Division (3) · P17
46 P · 15-12-19 · 61:72 · -11
57
pts
1991
Third Division (3) · P17
46 P · 15-11-20 · 54:67 · -13
56
pts
1990
Third Division (3) · P19
46 P · 14-10-22 · 65:79 · -14
52
pts
1989
Fourth Division (3) · P6PO
46 P · 19-15-12 · 79:60 · +19
72
pts
1988
Third Division (3) · P16
46 P · 15-13-18 · 48:59 · -11
58
pts
1987
Fourth Division (4) · P2↑
46 P · 26-12-8 · 72:47 · +25
90
pts
1986
Fourth Division (4) · P23
46 P · 11-10-25 · 54:89 · -35
43
pts
1985
Third Division (3) · P23↓
46 P · 13-7-26 · 51:100 · -49
46
pts
1984
Third Division (3) · P16
46 P · 15-11-20 · 66:66 · 0
56
pts
1983
Third Division (3) · P16
46 P · 15-13-18 · 60:69 · -9
58
pts
1982
Third Division (3) · P14
46 P · 16-13-17 · 50:56 · -6
61
pts
1981
Second Division (2) · P20↓
42 P · 11-14-17 · 41:62 · -21
36
pts
1980
Second Division (2) · P10
42 P · 12-19-11 · 56:52 · +4
43
pts
1979
Second Division (2) · P7
42 P · 12-18-12 · 59:57 · +2
42
pts
1978
Third Division (3) · P3↑
46 P · 20-16-10 · 63:38 · +25
56
pts
1977
Third Division (3) · P6
46 P · 21-12-13 · 64:43 · +21
54
pts
1976
Third Division (3) · P8
46 P · 19-10-17 · 62:57 · +5
48
pts
1975
Third Division (3) · P9
46 P · 19-11-16 · 63:56 · +7
49
pts
1974
Second Division (2) · P21↓
42 P · 9-14-19 · 40:62 · -22
31
pts
1973
Second Division (2) · P19
42 P · 11-12-19 · 37:64 · -27
34
pts
1972
Second Division (2) · P18
42 P · 12-12-18 · 52:58 · -6
36
pts
1971
Third Division (3) · P1↑
46 P · 22-17-7 · 63:39 · +24
61
pts
1970
Second Division (2) · P22↓
42 P · 8-12-22 · 43:63 · -20
28
pts
1969
Second Division (2) · P14
42 P · 12-15-15 · 38:44 · -6
39
pts
1968
Second Division (2) · P20
42 P · 12-11-19 · 43:65 · -22
35
pts
1967
Second Division (2) · P13
42 P · 16-7-19 · 65:67 · -2
39
pts
1966
Second Division (2) · P17
42 P · 11-15-16 · 62:70 · -8
37
pts
1965
Second Division (2) · P12
42 P · 14-13-15 · 76:81 · -5
41
pts
1964
Second Division (2) · P3
42 P · 23-10-9 · 79:54 · +25
56
pts
FA
1963
Second Division (2) · P17
42 P · 13-11-18 · 59:74 · -15
37
pts
1962
Second Division (2) · P10
42 P · 15-10-17 · 55:57 · -2
40
pts
1961
First Division (1) · P22↓
42 P · 10-10-22 · 43:71 · -28
30
pts
1960
First Division (1) · P9
42 P · 16-12-14 · 79:76 · +3
44
pts
1959
First Division (1) · P12
42 P · 17-7-18 · 70:77 · -7
41
pts
1958
First Division (1) · P2
42 P · 26-7-9 · 100:51 · +49
59
pts
1957
First Division (1) · P3
42 P · 23-10-9 · 84:56 · +28
56
pts
1956
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 14-8-20 · 73:72 · +1
36
pts
1955
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 16-8-18 · 83:64 · +19
40
pts
1954
First Division (1) · P11
42 P · 19-5-18 · 87:58 · +29
43
pts
FA
1953
First Division (1) · P2
42 P · 21-12-9 · 85:60 · +25
54
pts
1952
First Division (1) · P7
42 P · 17-12-13 · 74:54 · +20
46
pts
1951
Second Division (2) · P1↑
42 P · 26-5-11 · 91:49 · +42
57
pts
1950
Second Division (2) · P6
42 P · 18-9-15 · 60:49 · +11
45
pts
1949
First Division (1) · P21↓
42 P · 11-11-20 · 62:75 · -13
33
pts
1948
First Division (1) · P7
42 P · 20-7-15 · 67:68 · -1
47
pts
1947
First Division (1) · P7
42 P · 18-11-13 · 76:74 · +2
47
pts
1939
First Division (1) · P9
42 P · 16-12-14 · 63:59 · +4
44
pts
1938
First Division (1) · P3
42 P · 16-17-9 · 64:44 · +20
49
pts
FA
1937
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 14-13-15 · 56:67 · -11
41
pts
FA
1936
First Division (1) · P7
42 P · 18-8-16 · 67:64 · +3
44
pts
1935
First Division (1) · P11
42 P · 15-12-15 · 62:67 · -5
42
pts
1934
Second Division (2) · P2↑
42 P · 23-6-13 · 71:52 · +19
52
pts
1933
Second Division (2) · P9
42 P · 16-10-16 · 74:70 · +4
42
pts
1932
Second Division (2) · P13
42 P · 16-10-16 · 75:77 · -2
42
pts
1931
Second Division (2) · P7
42 P · 17-11-14 · 83:64 · +19
45
pts
1930
Second Division (2) · P16
42 P · 13-11-18 · 65:80 · -15
37
pts
1929
Second Division (2) · P13
42 P · 15-9-18 · 78:79 · -1
39
pts
1928
Second Division (2) · P4
42 P · 22-9-11 · 100:66 · +34
53
pts
1927
Second Division (2) · P6
42 P · 20-9-13 · 74:72 · +2
49
pts
1926
Second Division (2) · P12
42 P · 18-7-17 · 71:84 · -13
43
pts
1925
First Division (1) · P21↓
42 P · 10-6-26 · 37:74 · -37
26
pts
1924
First Division (1) · P18
42 P · 12-10-20 · 52:67 · -15
34
pts
1923
First Division (1) · P16
42 P · 13-11-18 · 60:64 · -4
37
pts
1922
First Division (1) · P16
42 P · 13-12-17 · 42:65 · -23
38
pts
FA
1921
First Division (1) · P16
42 P · 15-9-18 · 61:65 · -4
39
pts
FA SF
1920
First Division (1) · P19
42 P · 14-10-18 · 57:73 · -16
38
pts
1915
Second Division (2) · P2↑
38 P · 20-10-8 · 61:42 · +19
50
pts
1914
First Division (1) · P19↓
38 P · 12-6-20 · 52:69 · -17
30
pts
1913
Second Division (2) · P1↑
38 P · 19-15-4 · 56:33 · +23
53
pts
1912
First Division (1) · P19↓
38 P · 13-7-18 · 40:57 · -17
33
pts
1911
First Division (1) · P14
38 P · 12-11-15 · 40:49 · -9
35
pts
1910
First Division (1) · P12
38 P · 15-5-18 · 52:58 · -6
35
pts
1909
First Division (1) · P10
38 P · 13-11-14 · 48:44 · +4
37
pts
1908
First Division (1) · P12
38 P · 12-12-14 · 47:53 · -6
36
pts
1907
First Division (1) · P14
38 P · 14-7-17 · 44:57 · -13
35
pts
1906
First Division (1) · P2
38 P · 17-13-8 · 54:39 · +15
47
pts
1905
First Division (1) · P8
34 P · 13-10-11 · 42:37 · +5
36
pts
1904
Second Division (2) · P1↑
34 P · 20-10-4 · 62:24 · +38
50
pts
1903
Second Division (2) · P7
34 P · 13-10-11 · 56:40 · +16
36
pts
1902
Second Division (2) · P3
34 P · 18-6-10 · 71:32 · +39
42
pts
1901
First Division (1) · P17↓
34 P · 9-7-18 · 49:75 · -26
25
pts
1900
First Division (1) · P16
34 P · 12-4-18 · 38:48 · -10
28
pts
1899
First Division (1) · P15
34 P · 10-9-15 · 44:47 · -3
29
pts
1898
First Division (1) · P12
30 P · 8-8-14 · 35:43 · -8
24
pts
1897
First Division (1) · P4
30 P · 11-12-7 · 55:40 · +15
34
pts
1896
First Division (1) · P9
30 P · 11-6-13 · 44:48 · -4
28
pts
1895
First Division (1) · P4
30 P · 15-5-10 · 62:46 · +16
35
pts
1894
First Division (1) · P14
30 P · 10-3-17 · 44:56 · -12
23
pts
1893
First Division (1) · P2
30 P · 17-3-10 · 57:39 · +18
37
pts
FA SF
1892
First Division (1) · P2
26 P · 18-1-7 · 61:31 · +30
37
pts
1891
First Division (1) · P2
22 P · 12-3-7 · 44:23 · +21
27
pts
1890
First Division (1) · P1★
22 P · 15-3-4 · 71:30 · +41
33
pts
1889
First Division (1) · P1★
22 P · 18-4-0 · 74:15 · +59
40
pts
FA
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