Classic PNE game series: Fulham 0 Preston North End 1

Preston North End's 1970/71 Third Division title-winning squad on the steps of the Harris Museum with thousands of PNE fans on the flag market below

This is the first in the series, a flashback to 1971 as PNE clinched silverware in thrilling style.

In May 1971 Preston North End took the idea of making a late run for the title and turned it into an art form.

The 1970/71 season saw them play in the Third Division for the first time in their history after finishing bottom of Division Two.

PNE manager Alan Ball Snr holds aloft the Third Division title trophy

Alan Ball Snr led the charge to get North End straight back up and they did so in dramatic style.

Until May 1, Fulham had led the table for 24 weeks and pretty much had one hand on the title trophy.

In fact the silverware was at Craven Cottage for PNE’s visit to London on May Day.

Ball’s men arrived in the capital in second place and backed by an army of fans.

This was Fulham’s last game of the season but North End had one in hand against Rotherham three days later.

The Cottagers needed only a draw to clinch top spot but PNE turned the title chase on its head.

In the 22nd minute they forced a corner on the right, one which Clive Clark put into the box.

It was flicked on at the near post, Ricky Heppolette flinging himself forward to send a diving header into the net.

It was a fine set-piece move from the training ground.

North End had plenty of defending to do after that but the defence and goalkeeper Alan Kelly held firm for a famous victory.

It moved them a point behind Fulham ahead of their game in hand and the PNE fans began to sense the title was theirs.

At the final whistle, Ball embraced all of his players and started the job of getting them ready to face Rotherham on the Tuesday night. The equation was simple, beat the Millers and the title was theirs.

They did just that in front of a crowd of 28,224 at Deepdale, the superb Alan Spavin scoring twice and Clark netting the other goal.

There was a Town Hall reception for the players and an appearance on the steps of the Harris Museum.

Thousands of Prestonians gathered on the Flag Market (below) to cheer their heroes, Ball receiving a tremendous ovation for the job he’d done in his first season in charge.