1995–96 Preston North End F.C. season

During the 1995–96 English football season, Preston North End F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division.

Season summary During the summer of 1995, with extra funds made available, Gary Peters brought in strikers Andy Saville and Steve Wilkinson. Russ Wilcox and Dean Barrick were also brought in to strengthen the defense.

Preston North End started the season with a loss at home against Lincoln City, however, they followed this up with a 21-match unbeaten run. Preston didn't lose again in the league until the 6th January. Preston sealed promotion with a 2-0 victory against Leyton Orient on 20th April and clinched the Championship a week later against Hartlepool United.

Not only were Preston champions, they were the highest scoring outfit in the division with 78 goals. Andy Saville was the Divisions joint top scorer.

There were important changes off the pitch too as the West Stand had been demolished over the summer and replaced with the 8,000 seater Sir Tom Finney Stand, which opened on 16th March.

Final league table

Results Preston North End's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League Third Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 12 August 1995 Lincoln City H 1-2 7,813 Saville 19 August 1995 Plymouth Argyle A 2-0 6,862 Hammond (og), Bryson 26 August 1995 Wigan Athletic H 1-1 6,837 Atkinson 29 August 1995 Bury A 0-0 4,682 02 September 1995 Cambridge United H 3-3 7,034 Saville, Wilkinson, Lancashire 09 September 1995 Hereford United A 1-0 3,124 Saville 12 September 1995 Colchester United A 2-2 2,869 Cartwright, Bryson 16 September 1995 Scunthorpe United H 2-2 7,397 Atkinson, Bryson 23 September 1995 Fulham A 2-2 5,209 Bryson, Davey 30 September 1995 Chester City H 2-0 8,544 Wilkinson, Saville 07 October 1995 Scarborough H 3-2 7,702 Saville, Wilkinson, Davey 14 October 1995 Torquay United A 4-0 4,058 Bryson(2), Saville(2) 21 October 1995 Mansfield Town H 6-0 8,981 Wilkinson(3), Saville(3) 28 October 1995 Doncaster Rovers A 2-2 4,413 Davey(2) 31 October 1995 Northampton Town A 2-1 4,695 Wilcox, Saville 04 November 1995 Leyton Orient H 4-0 9,823 Saville(3), Davey 18 November 1995 Exeter City A 1-1 3,350 Moyes 25 November 1995 Hartlepool United H 3-0 9,449 Moyes, Atkinson, Saville 09 December 1995 Fulham H 1-1 8,422 Bryson 16 December 1995 Chester City A 1-1 5,004 Wilkinson 23 December 1995 Gillingham H 0-0 10,669 01 January 1996 Cardiff City H 5-0 8,354 Davey, Brown, Saville(2), Atkinson 06 January 1996 Barnet A 0-1 2,737 13 January 1996 Plymouth Argyle H 3-2 11,126 Bryson, Davey, Cartwright 20 January 1996 Lincoln City A 0-0 5,185 30 January 1996 Darlington A 2-1 2,599 Cartwright, Saville 03 February 1996 Wigan Athletic A 1-0 5,567 Kilbane 10 February 1996 Barnet H 0-1 9,974 17 February 1996 Colchester United H 2-0 9,335 Saville(2) 24 February 1996 Scunthorpe United A 2-1 3,638 Saville, Lancashire 27 February 1996 Hereford United H 2-2 9,761 Atkinson, Saville 02 March 1996 Rochdale H 1-2 9,697 Saville 09 March 1996 Gillingham A 1-1 10,602 Davey 12 March 1996 Rochdale A 3-0 4,597 Birch, Wilkinson, Moyes 16 March 1996 Darlington H 1-1 12,070 Bryson 23 March 1996 Cardiff City A 1-0 3,511 Saville 26 March 1996 Bury H 0-0 12,260 30 March 1996 Scarborough A 2-1 3,771 Davey, Bennett 02 April 1996 Torquay United H 1-0 11,965 Wilkinson 06 April 1996 Doncaster Rovers H 1-0 12,773 Birch 08 April 1996 Mansfield Town A 0-0 4,661 13 April 1996 Northampton Town H 0-3 11,774 16 April 1996 Cambridge United A 1-2 2,831 Saville 20 April 1996 Leyton Orient A 2-0 5,170 Saville(2) 27 April 1996 Hartlepool United A 2-0 5,076 Davey, Saville 04 May 1996 Exeter City H 2-0 18,700 Saville, Wilkinson

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 11 November 1995 Carlisle United A 2-1 7,046 Cartwright, WilcoxR2 02 December 1995 Bradford City A 1-2 7,602 Wilkinson

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR1 1st Leg 15 August 1995 Sunderland H 1-1 6,323 KiddR1 2nd Leg 23 August 1995 Sunderland A 2-3 7,407 Carwright, Bryson

Football League Trophy

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNR1 17 October 1995 Hull City A 0-1 753 NR1 07 November 1995 Scarborough H 2-1 5,639 Atkinson, KiddNR1 28 November 1995 Lincoln City A 1-2 1,729 Saville

Statistics Appearances and goals

|colspan=14|Player(s) who featured whilst on loan but returned to parent club during the season:

|colspan=14|Player(s) who left during the season

|colspan=14|Player(s) out on loan:

Awards and Nominations

Club Awards Award Player Notes Player of the Year Andy Saville

References