The Championship will be a long road trip for Preston North End next season

The final day of the Premier League season saw Watford and Bournemouth join Norwich City in taking the drop.

Wycombe Wanderers have come up from League One via the play-offs which means another trip south.

Fellow promoted sides Coventry and Rotherham are within easier reach though, League One champions Coventry played their games at St Andrew’s – the home of Birmingham – this season.

With regards to the clubs dropping down, North End have only had one-season’s grace from the camel ride to Norfolk to face Norwich.

However, they did host the Canaries at Deepdale in the FA Cup in January.

Not since February 2011 have PNE had a trip to Watford’s Vicarage Road.

Phil Brown was in charge that night to oversee a 2-2 draw as North End battled against relegation.

PNE and Bournemouth have not met in league action since their League One days in 2013 – John Dreyer’s only game as caretaker boss saw a 2-0 win over the Cherries.

They haveve crossed swords twice in the League Cup since, the September 2016 trip to the South Coast memorable for Simon Makienok’s hat-trick.

The great Dane found his scoring touch to cause a cup upset as North End ran out 3-2 winners in a game which went to extra-time at the Vitality Stadium.

Leaving the Championship for the top flight are Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.

Who will join them via the play-offs, we’ll know by August 4.

Elland Road and the Hawthorns were both within quite easy reach, although the ticket prices which Leeds charged will not be missed.

Dropping out of the division are Hull, Charlton and Wigan – subject to them appealing a 12-point deduction for entering administration.

Wigan was a short trip, Hull within a couple of hours’ drive, while Charlton is the loss of a London trip which are always popular with the Preston faithful.

At what point PNE will have the backing of their fans for away games again is up in the air.

Although supporters are set to return to stadiums from October, away supporters are unlikely to be able to attend to start with.

The general consensus seems to be that grounds will operate at reduced capacity for some months, with priority given to home fans.