Preston needs your vote as it reaches the quarter-finals of first-ever FA Cup of Flags

Preston has qualified for the quarter-finals of a new competition to find the UK’s favourite flag.
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The FA Cup of Flags is being hosted by the The Flag Institute via Twitter polls and Preston has made it through to the quarter-finals.

Yesterday (May 13), the city faced off against minnows Willenhall, a West Midlands market town near Walsall, with a population of just 30,000.

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Voting had been open between 9am and 9pm and a total of 900 votes were cast in the competition's highest 'scoring' game to date.

The flags were nearly tied as the game entered the final hour, but in a thrilling climax just moments before voting closed, Preston snatched victory with a handful of last-minute votes.

It means Preston's flag has made it through to the quarter-finals after winning 51.2% of the vote, against Willenhall's 48.8% share.

A number of fixtures are still to be played, but the mighty Preston flag will be a force to be reckoned with in the later rounds.

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But to be crowned the first ever champions of the FA Cup of Flags, the city must overcome a number of challengers from across Britian.

The Preston and South Ribble Civic Trust commissioned the flag for the city 10 years ago. (left) Civic Trust Member Aiden Turner-Bishop & (right) Flag Designer - Philip Tibbetts at the fag raising ceremony at Preston Minster in June 2012The Preston and South Ribble Civic Trust commissioned the flag for the city 10 years ago. (left) Civic Trust Member Aiden Turner-Bishop & (right) Flag Designer - Philip Tibbetts at the fag raising ceremony at Preston Minster in June 2012
The Preston and South Ribble Civic Trust commissioned the flag for the city 10 years ago. (left) Civic Trust Member Aiden Turner-Bishop & (right) Flag Designer - Philip Tibbetts at the fag raising ceremony at Preston Minster in June 2012

Flags still hoping to book themselves a place in the quarter finals include Heathfield - an affluent market town in East Sussex, Four Elms - a rural village in Kent, and North West rivals Penrith in Cumbria.

Philip Tibbetts, 34, designed the Preston flag whilst living in the city in 2010. He has since left Preston to become a professional vexillologist (studying the history, symbolism and usage of flags) in Scotland.

He created the flag design 10 years ago whilst living in Preston, after being inspired by his manager’s North End mug.

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The Preston Civic Society liked it so much that they formally requested its registration with the Flag Institute, which was accepted in 2012.

The Preston Flag design by Philip Tibbetts was inspired by a Preston North End mugThe Preston Flag design by Philip Tibbetts was inspired by a Preston North End mug
The Preston Flag design by Philip Tibbetts was inspired by a Preston North End mug

It also got used on some city merchandise, including souvenir stationary sold at the Harris.

He said: "It was fantastic to see the comments the Preston flag was getting in the last round, some called it the prettiest flag in the competition.

"Personally it’s a lovely reminder of my time living in Preston. I guess this goes to show Preston never really leaves you!”

What the Flag Institute says about the Preston flag

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"The Preston Flag is a community flag proclaiming the unique identity of this Lancashire city.

"The flag is white in reference to the 'Lilywhite' nickname of Preston North End, while the navy blue references the stripes that appear in the traditional kits of both the football socks and rugby club strip shirts.

"The navy blue is formed of two crosses, which leaves a thin white gap between them. These represent how Preston is a transport hub central to Lancashire, being a crossroads for both the motorway and railway networks.

"The two crosses form the impression of a larger cross indicating the religious heritage of the town – the name Preston deriving from Priest’s Town. The paschal lamb, the traditional symbol of the city that recalls St Wilfrid, is placed on the centre of the cross.”

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Today (May 14), Four Elms and Heathfield will battle it out to secure a place in the quarter-finals, with Penrith facing Coventry on Saturday (May 16) and Wadhurst v Newbury on Sunday (May 17).

You can get behind the Preston flag and help it win the first ever FA Cup of Flags by voting here.

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