Southport Vs Preston North End Match Preview
Pre-season Friendly Saturday 14th July 2012
Venue: Haig Avenue, Southport
Graham Westley and Peter Ridsdale promised supporters wholesale changes at Deepdale over the summer and insisted that rebuilding work would be ongoing throughout the summer months in a bid to entice more season ticket holders, or Ambassadors as it were.
With 12 players already through the door and, reportedly, more imminent it is fair to say that the Deepdale supremos have been true to their word thus far.
The Lilywhites' first game of pre-season is a trip across to Lancashire/Merseyside border to take on former North Ender Liam Watson's Southport side.
The Conference National-outfit narrowly missed out on a place in the Blue Square Premier play-off positions last season and will be looking to make amends this term.
Traditionally, North End's first pre-season outings have been against the likes of Bamber Bridge and Chorley.
Consequently, The Lilywhites' maiden pre-season outing will be a tough test for what will, largely, be a brand-new Preston North End side with Graham Westley preparing his side for a steeper incline heading into the long Football League campaign.
Previous Meetings
North End's last notable bout with the Sandgrounders was way back in the mid-60s when it was the Lilywhites who were the hosts.
It was the 11th August 1967, The Doors were at number one with Light My Fire and the matchday programme cost just 3d.
As it wasn't a competitive match no records of score or team sheet can be provided.
Team News
It is widely expected to be just goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann from the 2011/2012 squad who will feature at Haig Avenue with the likes of Iain Hume, Danny Mayor, Jamie Proctor and Paul Coutts seemingly not wanted by Graham Westley.
The latter is rumoured to have flown out to Portugal to join up with Peterborough United during their pre-season training camp and negotiate a second round of talks over a possible move back to London Road.