The season Preston North End's crowds dipped when the floodlights were switched off

Preston North End's remaining Championship games this season will be played in front no paying spectators.
Action from PNE's Freight Rover Trophy clash with Bury in January 1986Action from PNE's Freight Rover Trophy clash with Bury in January 1986
Action from PNE's Freight Rover Trophy clash with Bury in January 1986

Never before have the Lilywhites played in front of an attendance numbering zero, not even the Second World War preventing the turnstiles clicking.

These are unprecedented times though, the Covid-19 pandemic meaning playing in empty stadiums is the only way to get this season played to a finish.

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A week on Saturday (July 27) there will be a hollow ring around Deepdale when North End play Cardiff City in their first home game behind closed doors.

Nigel Greenwood has a shot for PNE against BuryNigel Greenwood has a shot for PNE against Bury
Nigel Greenwood has a shot for PNE against Bury

That is followed by the milestone 5,000th league game against Derby County on Wednesday, July 1, that with a 5pm kick-off.

North End's other home games are against Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City.

Whether an official attendance of zero is recorded, remains to be seen. Records of the games might just have an asterisk against them and an explanation as to why no supporters were allowed in.

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There have been dark days in Preston's history when attracting crowds was difficult.

Preston's clash with Scunthorpe in November 1985 attracted the lowest league crowd at DeepdalePreston's clash with Scunthorpe in November 1985 attracted the lowest league crowd at Deepdale
Preston's clash with Scunthorpe in November 1985 attracted the lowest league crowd at Deepdale

During the 1985/86 season, attendances took a dip at Deepdale not only because of the football on show but because the floodlight pylons were condemned as unsafe.

That safety inspection happened in the autumn of 1985 and it wasn't until March 1986 that new floodlights were put in place.

In between that meant an earlier start for PNE's home games - 2pm to start with and 1.30pm as the dark evenings drew in

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Two games had to be played on Tuesday afternoons, with no opportunity to switch them to a weekend.

PNE midfielder Dale Rudge in action against Scunthorpe at a sparsely populated DeepdalePNE midfielder Dale Rudge in action against Scunthorpe at a sparsely populated Deepdale
PNE midfielder Dale Rudge in action against Scunthorpe at a sparsely populated Deepdale

The infamous one was the Fourth Division clash with Scunthorpe United on November 5, 1985.

It attracted a crowd of 2,007, the lowest ever for a Preston home league game - one which Scunthorpe won 1-0.

Mind you, the number of people who claim to have been at the match was probably double that!

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It meant an afternoon off work or school and to be fair, 2,007 was an attendance some clubs would have been pleased with at a weekend.

Three months later, North End played Bury on a midweek afternoon in the Freight Rover Trophy.

Only 768 supporters came through the turnstiles but at least the majority saw a rare victory in a miserable campaign - Nigel Greenwood and Vernon Allatt scored in a 2-0 win.