Iconic former Preston North End manager and captain among guests at fan reunion night

A ‘night of nostalgia’ is promised for Preston North End fans later this month when the club’s ISA (Independent Supporters’ Association) reunite.

Chew’s Yard (Market Street, PR1 2HB) will host the reunion, which has been organised by former members of the association, on Wednesday, 29 April from 7pm. The venue is owned by Ben Casey, who played a big part in the redesign of Deepdale in the 1990s.

There will be live music, an array of memorabilia and match-day programmes from the 1990s and early 2000s - the period during which the ISA was active. Guest speakers will also be in attendance on the night, including the manager and captain who oversaw PNE’s promotion from the third division in 1996: Gary Peters and Ian Bryson.

One of the reunion’s co-ordinators John Billington, formerly a member of the ISA and part of the Preston Supporters Collective, told the Lancashire Post: “We had some really good nights back in the day. We used to meet at London Road Labour Club and it turned into a big thing for the fan base.

“We had four hundred people turn out when John Beck was presented with an honorary flat cap. John Beck brought a strong feel-good factor around the club and I’m not saying we’re going to recreate that with this reunion, but it’s a chance for people to come together in a non-pressured social event and remember the ISA. It should be a good evening.”

The reunion night comes at a fitting time. It will happen just four weeks after David Moyes and Bryan Gray - two other huge figures during the club’s BAXI era - unveiled a Preston North End-themed locomotive. It is also in the same month as this year’s Gentry Day, which was a huge success on and off the pitch as PNE won 2-1 at Charlton Athletic.

“I think the squad and staff right now ‘get it’,” said Billington. “On Saturday everything seemed to click and the Gentry is something special and unique to the club. There’s a bit of optimism around the club at the moment and it will be good to see a lot of the people who started the ISA and are still going on games now... they’re passionate.

“I know people who are coming from Kendal, from Yorkshire, so there’s a fair bit of appetite for it. There’s loads of supporters who want to get involved. It can’t do them any harm and Chew’s Yard is a great venue for it.”

There continues to be growing speculation and discussion among North End supporters surrounding US-born Saudi businessman Amr Zedan’s interest in the club, of which he has made no secret in recent weeks. Billington is hopeful that, whatever the ownership of PNE looks like in the future, this could be the start of a deeper connection between the club and the fan base.

“It’s about trying to bridge any disconnect and there may be a few people of a certain age who have stopped going to games, but they remember when the ISA were around,” said Billington. “Bryan Gray and David Moyes spoke so well at the locomotive launch and they clearly love the club.

“The ISA used to have a football team and Gary Peters played a few games for them when they were at home. They won a tournament over in Mansfield and Gary played for them out there too! It was obviously an independent association and this is an independent event.

“It’s a reunion at the end of the day but things might just develop from here if people enjoy it. People are welcome to turn up with any bits of memorabilia and it might just trigger some good memories.”

Limited tickets remain available. Entry is free but you must book in advance to secure your place at the reunion by following this link.