During the 1998–99 English football season, Preston North End F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division.
Season summary Preston North End started the season by only losing one of their first 12 fixtures. The defeat in question was against Stoke City. Five games after Christmas the Lillywhites went top of the table. The arrival of Steve Basham, on loan from Bournemouth, gave the side fresh impetus as he scored ten goals in 17 appearances. However, Preston's end to the season saw them win only one of their final nine games and finish in fifth place.
Preston were paired with fourth place Gillingham in the play off semi-final. Despite David Eyres giving Preston the lead in the first leg, the Kent side equalised 11 minutes before time. In the second leg, the Gills opened scoring early which was enough for Preston to miss out on going to Wembley.
In the FA Cup, home victories against Ford United and Walsall gave Preston a third round tie against Arsenal. After an exciting start that saw Preston take a two-goal lead, the Premiership side scored four to knock North End out of the cup.
Final league table
Results Preston North End's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League Second Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 8 August 1998 York CityH3–08,656Appleton, Rankine, Nogan 15 August 1998 Luton TownA1–15,392Macken 22 August 1998 Stoke CityH3–411,587Nogan (2), Eyres 29 August 1998 Lincoln CityA4-34,130Eyres, Macken (2), Nogan 31 August 1998 ChesterfieldH2-09,249Harris, Kidd 5 September 1998 Bristol RoversA2-26,702Harris, Jackson 8 September 1998 Wycombe WanderersA1-03,800Nogan 12 September 1998 ReadingH4-09,836Jackson(2), Eyres(2) 19 September 1998 Oldham AthleticA1-08,205Appleton 26 September 1998 GillinghamH1-110,506Harris 3 October 1998 WalsallA0-15,802 12 October 1998 Manchester CityA1-028,779Gary Parkinson (pen) 17 October 1998 Colchester UnitedH2-010,483Eyres, Nogan 20 October 1998 Macclesfield Town H 2-210,316Harris, Jackson 24 October 1998 Northampton Town A 1-16,085Colin Hill(og) 07 November 1998 Burnley H 4-115,888Rankine, Nogan, Eyres, Byfield 10 November 1998 Millwall H 0-110,228 21 November 1998 Blackpool A 0-010,868 28 November 1998 Wigan Athletic H 2-211,562Macken, Rankine 12 December 1998 Notts County A 3-25,096Gregan, Cartwright, Harris 19 December 1998 Fulham H 0-112,321 26 December 1998 Stoke City A 1-023,272Jackson 28 December 1998 Wrexham H 3-111,562Nogan, Cartwright(2) 09 January 1999 York City A 1-05,744Nogan 16 January 1999 Luton Town H 2-111,034Nogan, Harris 23 January 1999 Chesterfield A 1-06,138Kidd 26 January 1999 AFC Bournemouth A 1-36,170Nogan 30 January 1999 Wrexham A 5-06,394Jackson, Nogan, Macken, Eyres, Kidd 06 February 1999 Bristol Rovers H 2-212,170Cartwright, Nogan 13 February 1999 Wycombe Wanderers H 2-110,686Basham (2) 20 February 1999 Reading A 1-210,937Basham 23 February 1999 Lincoln City H 5-09,849Basham (2), Nogan (2), Macken 27 February 1999 Oldham Athletic H 2-112,965Nogan, Jackson 06 March 1999 Gillingham A 1-19,581Gregan 14 March 1999 Burnley A 1-011,561Nogan 20 March 1999 AFC Bournemouth H 0-112,882 27 March 1999 Northampton Town H 3-010,686Basham (2), Macken 02 April 1999 Colchester United A 0-15,644 05 April 1999 Manchester City H 1-120,857Basham 10 April 1999 Macclesfield Town A 2-34,325Basham (2) 13 April 1999 Wigan Athletic A 2-25,396Murdock, Eyres 17 April 1999 Blackpool H 1-215,337Nogan 20 April 1999 Walsall H 1-013,337Gregan 24 April 1999 Millwall A 2-26,016Darby, Jackson 01 May 1999 Notts County H 1-111,862Macken 08 May 1999 Fulham A 0-317,176
Football League Playoffs
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 16 May 1999 Gillingham H 1-118,584Eyres 19 May 1999 Gillingham A 0-110,505
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR114 November 1998 Ford UnitedH3–010,167Rankine, Harris, DarbyR25 December 1998 WalsallH2–08,488Nogan, McKennaR34 January 1999 ArsenalH2–421,099Nogan
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 1st Leg12 August 1998 Grimsby TownA0–03,008R1 2nd Leg18 August 1999 Grimsby TownH0–0 (lost 6–7 on penalties)5,650
Football League Trophy
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1N8 December 1998 Burnley A1–03,366MackenR2N19 January 1999 Hartlepool UnitedA2–2 (Hartlepool won on penalties)1,205 Parkinson, Darby
Staff
Board PositionNameClub President Tom FinneyChariman Bryan GrayDeputy Chairman Derek ShawVice Chairman Malcolm WoodhouseVice Chairman Keith LeemingChief Executive Peter ChurchFinance Director Tony ScholesNon-Executive Director David Taylor
Club Management
PositionNameClub Secretary Mick WearmouthManagerDavid MoyesYouth Development OfficerGeoff McDougleYouth CoachNeil McDonaldCentre of Excellence Manager Gary PetersPysiotherapist Mick Rathbone Chief Scout Alan FogartyClub DoctorDr N S McCraithChaplainRev. Chris NelsonOperations Manager Nigel WebsterMerchandising Director Steve WhitePublications Manager John Booth
Statistics
Goals and Appearances
|colspan=14|Player(s) who featured whilst on loan but returned to parent club during the season:
|colspan=14|Out on loan:
Awards and Nominations
Club Awards Award Player Notes Player of the Year Michael Jackson
References