Preston North End youngster heads out on loan after signing pro deal

Young Preston North End defender Nathan Snowball has joined FC United of Manchester on loan until September.

Snowball, 18, was one of five PNE scholars to sign pro deals earlier this week, along with Ed Nolan, George Gryba, Harry Stringfellow and Troy Tarry. The versatile, left-sided defender joined North End’s academy last summer from Morecambe, where he won the Shrimps’ First Year Player of the Season for the 2024/25 campaign.

He was loaned out to Bamber Bridge in February and picked up the Player of the Match award on his debut, but suffered an injury just days later when he was playing for PNE’s under-18s and his loan spell was cut short. While with Morecambe the season before, he spent a month at Morpeth Town.

Now, Snowball has joined FC United, who are in the same division as Brig: the Northern Premier League Premier Division. He will stay at Broadhurst Park until the start of September.

After committing his future to PNE until 2028, he said: ““It's amazing. As a boy, it's what you always want to do: be a pro footballer. I've been here about a year now, had a full season, missed out on pre-season, but all the coaches, all the lads have been class and I have really enjoyed every minute of it. Had a couple of injuries, a few ups and downs, but I'm really excited for next year and hopefully kick on and push into that first team.”

Snowball is eligible to play in FC United of Manchester’s friendly away to Southport on Friday night (July 24). Their competitive season starts on Saturday, August 8 when they travel to Warrington Rylands, before they host Leek Town three days later.