PNE retro: Preston fans in carnival mood at Shrewsbury as the Lilywhites avoid relegation in 1990
Rarely have Preston North End fans been happier after a defeat than they were on May 5, 1990, at Shrewsbury’s quaint Gay Meadow ground.
The Lilywhites were beaten 2-0 but more than 3,000 PNE supporters were in carnival mood in the Shropshire sunshine.
Many went in fancy dress, an assortment of costumes in a packed away end which provided Shrewsbury with their biggest attendance of the season – 5,319.
The PNE fans’ fanzine ‘53 Miles West of Venus ‘ had organised the big day out, that the power of print in the pre-internet and social media age.
Those who travelled did so knowing North End were in danger of being relegated.
Les Chapman’s side did themselves no favours, this a 22nd defeat of the season.
Thankfully, results at two other grounds did the job of preserving their Third Division status for them.
Bury beat Cardiff City at Gigg Lane and Leyton Orient won at Fulham.
Had Cardiff and Fulham won, North End would have been relegated.
Shrewsbury had no such worries, safe in mid-table and ready for their summer holidays. They still got the better of North End with two goals in the second half.
However, that didn’t stop the away terrace being a place of joy – relegation avoided and fun in the sun on a boiling hot weekend.
Shrewsbury, who had future PNE manager David Moyes at the heart of their back four, must have felt like the away side when they took to the pitch.
The 3,000 following from Preston was a conservative estimate and they certainly outnumbered their hosts.
Defences were on top in a goalless first half but it needed a fine save from PNE goalkeeper Alan Kelly to keep parity.
Kelly leapt through the air to push away an acrobatic volley from John McGinley.
At the other end, Ian Bogie fired a shot over the bar and Sammy McIlroy put a volley wide from 18 yards.
The game burst into life after half-time, with the Shrews taking the lead.
Willie Weir’s cross into the box wrong-footed the North End back four and McGinley bundled the ball over the line from close in.
PNE skipper Warren Joyce came within a whisker of a swift equaliser.
His shot was parried by keeper Steve Perks, the rebound hitting Joyce on the knee and going wide.
Shrewsbury scored their second goal in the 55th minute to effectively put the game beyond Preston.
Tony Kelly’s ball into the box found Dean Spink who powered a header past Kelly.
PNE threw on subs Graham Shaw and Adrian Hughes into attacking roles.
Shaw and John Thomas forced Perks into late saves.
After the final whistle, fans and players shared several minutes in mutual appreciation, that despite the team never having been in the top half of the table all season.
PNE: Kelly, Williams, Atkins, Wrightson, Swann, Mooney, Bogie, McIlroy (Hughes 75), Joyce, Harper (Shaw 60), Thomas.