Tom Sandells' Press View: Spain trip was everything Presotn North End fans have been crying out for

North End spent six days there in total, flying back on Thursday night after squeezing in a final training session that day.

There were several aims for the trip, team bonding, fitness and of course to get a game in whilst they were out there – they played La Liga side Getafe and lost 2-1 after taking the lead in a fast start to the game.

The game itself was an entertaining watch, as hundreds of North End fans can atest to having made the journey – initially to Benidorm and then to the golf resort where the match was played.

It was the first chance to see Robbie Brady in action and having been just a few feet away from the former Burnley man during the game, you can hear that he is a top class player. That might sound odd but his communication during the game is fantastic, his body language is brilliant and even his quips to the referee and other players just show he has a little extra about him.

Football is played with both the feet and the head and you can see his experience at the top level with the way he approaches the game.

Dana Amaral was another to standout, though he only played half an hour, and he looks like a real talent that could be nurtured and thrust into Championship football straight away – although there will be three internationals, a former player of the season and the most picked midfielder from last season in his way.

PNE showed great intensity and application and that was about as much as you could ask for, the result was the only downside though in pre-season it does not really matter.

Instead, however, the main thing was what went on around the pitch.

The game was something of a focus to the Spain trip but it was not what the whole trip was about, it was instead about the coming together of the club and the fans.

In fairness to PNE supporters, they were not given an awful lot of notice to make their way to Spain but still did so admirably, just over a month after its announcement. I’m sure it was a tough sell for some to their other halves to tailor their summer holiday around the Lilywhites.

The imminent arrival of the North End faithful was the sub plot in all of the players’ time on the trip. They were there to work, and to train, but they all knew that there was a generally unknown but sizeable amount of fans set to embark towards Campoamor ready for the clash with Getafe.

Most generally arrived in Spain on Sunday or Monday, ahead of the game on Tuesday. Then social media came into its own.

The PNE takeover of Benidorm began and pictures flooded Twitter with flags, towels, shirts and masses of people all in the rather unsuspecting holiday destination.

There were certainly some worse for wear when the game did come around, and unfortunately due to some delays, they did miss PNE’s goal, but there were still plenty that had got there in time and made their voices heard.

The herd of North Enders migrating down the hill towards the game was described by Ryan Lowe as something out of a film.

The egdes of the pitch were full with fans and the large picture of all the supporters and players at the end epitomised what the trip was really about. It was something that Preston fans had been desperate for, an away game abroad that they could share with their friends and family following their side.

For many it was somewhat of a bucket list experience, described as unmissable or an ‘I was there’ moment.

It was exactly that.

But that was the culmination of multiple days of their support being felt from afar and the drips of fans that had progressed over those days.

There were North End fans staying at the same hotel as the team and it gave them a chance to meet the players, have pictures and chats. There were no barriers or stewards to block them, there was no tannoy blasting out eardrum bursting pop music, just genuine interactions.

The players all had plenty of time for anyone that stopped them, they are a good bunch.

I stayed at the same golf resort as the players and where the game was played.

PNE were accomodating and allowed the media to speak to a player and the manager before and after the game and we were also able to watch Lowe work on tactics in training setting up for the Getafe game. But bumping into the players or staff as you went about your day was inevitable.

Skipper Alan Browne, who was the last to leave the pitch on Tuesday making sure every single fan had got what they wanted, stopped as he walked past to have a chat with us, just asking about our summer and when we arrived.

It was a relaxed environment that was all about promoting unity, whether it be inside the PNE camp or outside.

That was very much felt by PNE fans and they have certainly risen to the occasions of late. There has been calls for several things over recent years, as is the way with many supporters, but they have backed it up.

A fan zone was provided by the club – and is well utilised - inviting ticket prices were put on this summer – over 11,000 were bought – a summer training camp was scheduled abroad with a friendly – five coaches travelled over an hour to see the game.

Both the club and the fans seem to be in good harmony at the moment and it benefits both sides.

The trip to Spain will be many supporters’ favourite in following their club and it is certainly up there for me.