The final hours of 2019 are upon us, and with them, the final hours of the decade.
It’s been an eventful decade for North End. From relegation in 2011 to the Graham Westley era, from the final day heartbreak at Colchester United to promotion at Wembley Stadium and finally some playoff joy in 2015, it’s been unforgettable.
We’ve seen five managers take charge of North End this decade, and all manner of players have passed through Deepdale’s doors, with a real mixed bag of quality along the way.
On Monday, North End confirmed their Team of the Decade, as voted for by the fans. Liverpool’s Andrew Lonergan was named as the goalkeeper despite competition from Jordan Pickford and Sam Johnstone, with a back four of Graham Alexander, Sean St Ledger, Ben Davies and Greg Cunningham ahead of him.
Ben Pearson partnered Paul Gallagher in midfield, with Aiden McGeady and Callum Robinson out wide. Unsurprisingly, Joe Garner and Jermaine Beckford were named as the front two.
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Fans have had their say, and some may disagree with the final choices. After all, Graham Alexander played 21 games for Preston this decade, and they weren’t at right back. Paul Huntington can count himself unlucky to have been ousted by St Ledger, too.
What do the players themselves think though? Well, left back Cunningham may now be playing for neighbours Blackburn, but he has put that rivalry aside after seeing himself in the team.
Cunningham took to Twitter to thank North End and the fans for voting him into the side, admitting he is ‘very grateful’ – and his message was unsurprisingly met with calls from Preston fans to come back to Deepdale when his year-long loan at Blackburn comes to an end.