Preston Athletic F.C.
 | |||
| Full name | Preston Athletic Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Panners | ||
| Founded | 1945 | ||
| Ground | Pennypit Park,Prestonpans | ||
| Capacity | 1,500 (313 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Donald Reid | ||
| Manager | Paul Currie | ||
| League | East of Scotland League First Division | ||
| 2023–24 | East of Scotland League First Division,7th of 15 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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| |||
Preston Athletic Football Clubare aScottishfootballclub based in the town ofPrestonpans,East Lothian.The club are nicknamed the Panners and play their home matches atPennypit Park.The team play in dark blue.[1]
They were founding members of theLowland Football Leaguein 2013, but after being relegated in 2017 now play in theEast of Scotland League First Division.[2]
History[edit]
Founded in 1945, they were originally ajuniorclub and only entered the senior ranks in 1994 when they joined theEast of Scotland Football League.As a full member of theScottish Football Association,Preston are automatically eligible to enter theScottish Cup.They first qualified for the competition proper in2002–03,losing 1–0 at home toHamilton Academicalin the first round.[3]
The club applied unsuccessfully to join theScottish Football Leaguein 2000 and 2002. In 2008 Preston Athletic were one of five clubs to prepare an application for entry into theScottish Football LeaguefollowingGretnarelinquishing their league status, however they were again unsuccessful after losing out toAnnan Athletic.[4]
At the end of the2016–17 seasonPreston Athletic were relegated to the East of Scotland League, having spent four seasons in the Lowland League.[5]
Honours[edit]
East of Scotland Football LeagueFirst Division[3]
- Winners:2001–02
- Runners-up (2):1994–95, 2011–12
King Cup
- Runners-up:2017–18
Alex Jack Cup
- Winners:1994–95
Notable players and coaches[edit]
The first professional coach of Preston Athletic wasPaddy Buckley,[3]a formerAberdeenandScotlandstriker[6]whose son,Paddy Juniorwent on from Preston Athletic to play forThird Lanark,Wolverhampton Wanderers,Rotherham UnitedandSheffield United.[7]
References[edit]
- ^"Preston Athletic".Non League Scotland.Retrieved14 March2020.
- ^"East of Scotland Football Association & League".East of Scotland Football Association & League.Retrieved14 March2020.
- ^abc"History".Preston Athletic.Retrieved14 March2020.
- ^"Annan voted into Scottish league".BBC News. 3 July 2008.Retrieved29 November2009.
- ^Cameron Ritchie (29 April 2017)."New Preston Athletic bosses ready to get team on the up after difficult season".East Lothian Courier.Retrieved14 March2020.
- ^"Paddy Buckley".Aberdeen FC Heritage Trust.Retrieved14 March2020.
- ^"Buckley, Patrick McCabe".Wolves Complete History.Retrieved14 March2020.