Paul Heckingbottom’s message to ‘top class’ Preston North End fans as Championship season begins

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom knows how important the fans will be this weekend and beyond.

North End begin their Championship campaign this Saturday when they visit Bolton Wanderers at a packed Toughsheet Community Stadium; PNE’s allocation has sold out.

Heckingbottom spoke in Thursday’s pre-match press conference about how crucial the fans could be on Saturday, but also at Deepdale as the season progresses.

The PNE boss told the Lancashire Post: “You can't underestimate the importance of the fans. I say it all the time, I speak about the atmosphere at Deepdale, I want it to go up another level this season.

“I felt, last year, it was better, our away support last season was top, top class. Speaking to the fans, I think they recognised it as well and felt that there were more bodies travelling away. They enjoyed the occasions more, they enjoyed the performances more.

“We want that to be better again, particularly at home. No one enjoys coming to Deepdale when it's full, when it's rocking, when the fans are behind the team. But in both ways we have a responsibility, regardless of how the result is at that moment in time.

“We have to keep performing, we have to keep pushing the players to be brave to take the ball. Likewise, the fans have to keep pushing the players by getting behind them. If they see something they like, make the noise.

“We don't want negativity, we don't want people not appreciating the fact that players are putting in 100% effort. Because they will be, I guarantee that.

“Some days we have to accept we're not going to be good enough, but if we do fall short, we have to make sure we fall short giving everything.”

Heckingbottom sees the trip to Bolton as the ideal curtain-raiser. It will be the first time the two teams have faced each other in a competitive game since 2019, and the North End chief says it is something to be relished.

He said: “Yeah, we spoke about it this morning as a group. For me, it's the best game we could have had.

“I spoke last week about having the man sent off and how I thought it prepared us better for the season.

“In terms of the first game, a derby away from home, the atmosphere, a Sky game, an early kick-off, full house, both sets of fans, it's perfect really to kick off the season.

“We need to make sure that we enjoy that and play a game which matches that occasion, because it is an occasion.”

Heckingbottom added to the Lancashire Post: “Whenever you go and it's a big atmosphere, you want to be the one that can hear your fans.

“We have to do that with our performance. But there's going to be occasions when, no matter how on top you are or you want to be, the home fans are going to try and get behind their players. So you've got to enjoy that.

“I used to love playing away from home as a player. I don't know why, [but] I enjoyed it more, so the atmosphere is a big, big part of it, managing that.

“But if we play well, if we do things well, I'm sure we have fans that you can hear as well.

“It's an occasion that we're all looking forward to. I am, it's the season starting, starting properly.

“I've said a lot of times, I'm not a fan of pre-season. So we're playing for three points, which is huge. The fans will be looking forward to it, both sets of fans.

“I know rivalries and derbies can include a lot of things away from the game and away from the pitch. We don't want that.

“I want all our fans to concentrate on getting behind us, making the noise for us, getting us over the line, because we are going to be outnumbered.

“We want to make sure that we stick together on and off the pitch and get the result.”