No player sticks around forever, but some Preston North End departures have been particularly painful to take over the years.
Whether it be moving to a rival, leaving unexpectedly or simply seeking a new challenge, it’s a feeling every PNE fan will have experienced at some stage. But, which players were the hardest to see walk away from Deepdale? We asked you, the North End faithful, on social media and the comments poured in.
There are bound to be more, but here are 17 former Lilywhites who stood out...
9. Graham Alexander
A Preston North End legend. Grezza had a longer contract offer put on the table by Burnley in 2007 and he made the move there. Alexander scored 64 goals in 400 games prior to the Turf Moor switch. | Ian Robinson
10. Mike Elwiss
Signed for £70,000 in 1974, Elwiss netted 60 goals in 192 outings. Crystal Palace paid £200,000 for him in 1978 - though Elwiss would return for a brief loan stint in 1980. | National World
11. Alex Dawson
Dawson scored a whopping 132 goals for Preston, across six seasons. He moved to Bury in 1967. | Archive
12. Billy Jones
A tenacious, aggressive and probably underrated defender, Jones spent four years at Preston and played more than 150 games. He signed for West Brom in 2011 and played in the top flight for several seasons. | Archive