Ex-Files: The Loan Rangers Part 1
As part of our Ex-Files features we will also being taking the time to look at those who have spent time on loan at Deepdale.
Loan signings - whether it is to add firepower to a team in need of goals or to seek defensive assurances when the team is leaking too many at the other end, over the years Preston North End have made the most of the loan system when need be.
As well as the more long term loan deals, some of those loan signings played as little as just one game for the club nevertheless; here is a reminder of just who those players are starting with the goal keepers and defenders.
Chris Day was brought in by Billy Davies during a goalkeeping crisis at Deepdale in February 2005. Day, who had found himself out of favour at QPR was allowed to go out on loan and subsequently eased Billy Davies' goalkeeping concerns. Day featured 6 times for North End in the season where the Lilywhites narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League.
Paul Reid came on loan from Glasgow Rangers in 2002 and made just the one appearance for Preston North End during his loan spell which was in the 4-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 5th February 2002. Reid got himself on the score sheet that night, scoring Preston's 3rd of the evening. Reid is currently on loan to Carlisle from his current club, Barnsley.
Rob Kozluk is another player who just featured the once for Preston. Kozluk, who was brought in to add cover to the Preston backline, featured in the 2-0 FA Cup defeat to West Bromwich Albion on the 8th January 2005.Kozluk is now a team mate of Paul Reid at Barnsley.
John Halls was brought in by Paul Simpson in 2007 to fill in at right full back following the sale of Graham Alexander. Due to lack of first team opportunities at Reading, Halls opted to try his luck at Preston making four appearances for the Lilywhites. During the month he spent on loan, Preston sacked Simpson which seemed to limit his time at Deepdale. New manager Alan Irvine cited reasons of him not being able to guarantee Halls the games he would want for sending him back to Reading once his month loan was up.
Neil Clement, now with newly promoted West Brom, spent a short term loan deal at Deepdale back in 1999. Clement didn't have the best of times in Lancashire as he was sent off on his debut in a 1-0 defeat to Colchester United on April 2nd 2001.
Matt Jackson, once an FA Cup winner with Everton, played four matches for Preston on loan in 1991. Before the FA Cup dream became a reality, Everton sent a 20 year old Jackson to nearby Preston to gain some valuable experience and later went on to become a regular for the Toffees. Jackson is currently at Watford.
Next time we will be looking at the on loan midfielders, including the likes of David Beckham, Gareth Ainsworth and Frank Songo'o.