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Preston North End centre half Paul Huntington has signed an extension to his contract until the summer of 2022.

The Lilywhites’ No.23, who joined the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2012, will take his time at the club to ten years with this new deal.

Since signing on a free transfer from Yeovil Town, he has gone on to make 292 appearances and is closing in on becoming the 26th player to play 300 or more competitive games for the club in its 140-year history, where he will join the likes of Alan Kelly Senior, Sir Tom Finney and most recently, current team-mate Paul Gallagher.



In those games he has also contributed 18 goals, including the second in the club’s 2015 League One Play-Off Final victory over Swindon Town at Wembley.

Speaking after completing the paperwork, the 33-year-old defender said: “I’m obviously delighted to sign, it’s a club that I have been at for a long time now and next year will make it my tenth year.

“It’s a very special club to me and I think everybody knows what it means to me being a part of this club and this group of lads as well.

“I’m delighted with it and I’m looking forward to cracking on and doing as well as we can this season.”

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Rudd has surgery

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Reading at home on the box 24/1/21

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Blackburn away on telebox

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Big Mick in at Cardiff

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PNE U18 1 Blackpool U18 4

The youth side were beaten 4-1 by Blackpool at home in the North West Youth Alliance league on Saturday.

The young Lilywhites took the lead early on in the match when Jacob Holland-Wilkinson got on the end of a through ball and slotted in.

But goals from Brad Holmes, Michael Fitzgerald and a Rob Apter brace turned the game around for the visitors.

There was one enforced change to the team that faced Oldham last weekend, with Jacob Slater coming in for the injured Lewis Coulton at left back.

The opening goal of the game came after just six minutes when PNE’s number one Oliver Lombard smashed a long ball forward, which was not dealt with by the Tangerines, and Holland-Wilkinson nipped in round the back to capitalise.



The visitors equalised ten minutes later when a throw-in from the left fell to Apter and he played in Holmes. From there, the striker placed a shot into the bottom right corner.

As PNE looked to respond to the setback, captain Ben Dooley burst down the right well, but his cross found only the gloves of Charlie Monks in the Blackpool net.

Soon after, Holmes’ movement allowed him to find space down the right flank to cross to Luke Mariette, who headed his effort just wide of the left post.

Both sides were finding room in the opposition’s box – Apter attempted to chip Lombard at one end but didn’t put enough on the effort, whilst Rodwell-Grant went close with a strike at the other.

Blackpool took the lead when some good work down the left wing by Prince Yelegon won his side a corner, from which Fitzgerald tapped in.

The visitors were not looking to settle, and midfielder Tayt Trusty showed nice control in the box to work an opening, but shot straight at Lombard.

PNE fought back with Slater stinging Monks’ palms with a left-footed effort and Lewis Leigh testing the ‘keeper from distance, but the home side headed into half-time behind.

A substitution at the break saw Noah Mawene replace Aaron Bennett.

A bright start to the second 45 nearly brought an equaliser. First, Dooley played in Leigh smartly down the right, and Blackpool only just managed to clear his ball in. Then a cross from the left was deflected off a defender and could’ve gone anywhere, but ended up going wide.

It wasn’t long however before the lead was extended by Apter. The midfielder cut in from the right to the middle of the park and took aim from distance, placing a well-hit shot into the right corner of the goal.

There was nearly an instant response to the third when Dooley and Leigh combined once more and the latter’s powerful strike from the right of the box hit the outside of the post.

The end-to-end nature of the contest continued and Apter was denied by Lombard, who palmed his effort over the bar, before Mawene put too much on his shot after the ball had fallen to him on the edge of the box.

Holmes was denied by a Joe Blanchard block but Blackpool did score when Apter broke clear and found the net for his second.

Further changes were made by both teams with Mikey O’Neil and Dana de Oliveira Amaral taking to the pitch for the hosts in place of Rodwell-Grant and Dooley.

Mawene dinked a ball to the back post where Huddart was on hand to head towards goal, but the attempt was saved in what was the last meaningful action of the game.

Reflecting after the full-time whistle, Academy manager Nick Harrison said: “I think overall it was a poor performance and probably our worst of the season.

“Normally if it’s not a result that we wanted we talk about how we played well but we couldn’t take our chances, but I don’t think that was the case today.

“They’ve trained well all week, but they’ve got to do it when it matters and overall at the elite level, it matters when game day comes along, so that’s really disappointing.”

Harrison believes his side were made to pay by the visitors for the mistakes they made.

“I think Blackpool were very clinical so we’ve got to give them credit, but the goals come from really bad errors, whether that be from someone giving the ball away further up the pitch when they don’t need to, or just bad errors from individuals at the back,” he told PNE.com.

“Sometimes you get away with them and today we didn’t. At this level our players shouldn’t be making those mistakes – it’s simple passes, touches or decisions to make.”

In last week’s narrow defeat, Harrison had been encouraged by the fighting spirit his team had displayed. However, he felt this was lacking this time out.

“I think the positives are that we started both halves well, we moved the ball well and we looked threatening so that’s what we need to continue with and build on, but when it didn’t go right for us and we couldn’t find the answer, we kind of gave up and that’s not the mentality we want – it’s not acceptable.

“If you can’t score you’ve got to make sure you don’t give up and give the opposition easy goals. If it’s not going quite right, then we’ve got to keep going and young players can’t afford to give up.

“We’ve got to learn that we can’t afford to make mistakes at this level because we get punished and we’ve got to be more ruthless and keep at it.”

PNE U18 line-up: Lombard; Seary, Huddart, Blanchard, Slater; Dooley (Amaral, 68), Leigh; Nicholson, Holland-Wilkinson, Bennett (Mawene, 46); Rodwell-Grant (O'Neil, 68).

Subs not used: Mfuni, Duggan.

Referee: Mr J Gillett.

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PNE U18 3 Accrington Stanley U18 0
Preston North End U18s got back to winning ways after a 3-0 victory against North West Youth Alliance league opponents Accrington Stanley on Saturday morning.

First half strikes from Kyi Nicholson, Joe Rodwell-Grant and Ben Dooley were enough to secure all three points for the Lilywhites, playing under wet and windy conditions.

PNE started the game brightly, looking to put last week’s derby defeat behind them early on, and they almost got the opener of the game inside the first 90 seconds when Noah Mawene had an effort flash just wide.



Ten minutes later, PNE were starting to dictate the tempo of play and create chances, first through Joe Rodwell-Grant, and then a long-range effort from Ben Dooley had the keeper’ troubled.

The best chance of the opening stages fell to Jacob Holland-Wilkinson after he danced through the Stanley defence before striking the ball straight at Jack Buckley in the Reds' goal.

Accrington thought they had opened the scoring on 27 minutes only to be denied via a last-ditch challenge from Josh Seary.

The Lilywhites did go in front moments later after the ball fell nicely to Kyi Nicholson, who slotted coolly home through Buckley’s legs to break the deadlock.

Stanley responded well to going behind, forcing a crucial block from Joe Blanchard followed by a smart save by Oliver Lombard to keep PNE in a winning position.

The moment of the match came on 34 minutes after a long ball upfield was controlled expertly by Joe Rodwell-Grant. The in-form forward collected the ball with the outside of his heel before turning and unleashing a powerful shot into the bottom right corner.

North End had the ball in the net again a minute later after a smart attack but unfortunately this time it was ruled out for an offside.

As the first half drew to a close and the weather worsened, North End grew in confidence and added a third goal on 39 minutes. Ben Dooley found himself unmarked in the box and made no mistake with his effort, smashing it through the hands of the helpless Stanley No.1.

The Lilywhites' dominance continued in the second half as Dooley and Jacob Slater went close to adding a fourth for the hosts. Rodwell-Grant also had an effort tipped over the bar.

Stanley’s biggest chance of the game fell to forward Owen Davenport, who failed to get on the end of a tantalising cross by winger Oliver Patrick.

On 65 minutes, PNE made their first change of the game and it was a double switch for goalscorers Rodwell-Grant and Dooley, who were replaced by Mikey O’Neill and Dana Amaral.

Moments later, Academy manager Nick Harrison turned to his bench again, this time sending on Teddy Mfuni and Aaron Bennett in place of Noah Mawene and Lewis Leigh.

Welsh youth international Bennett almost made an instant impact, only to be denied by a sliding challenge by Stanley centre back Jasper Newton.

Bennett was at the heart of things again for North End when he was unlucky not to find the net with his great effort 10 minutes from time.

A rampant first half display and a professional second half performance from Harrison’s men secured the three points, and speaking after the game, youth team boss Harrison described the win as ‘a really good result’.

Nick said: “It was a really good performance and a really good result.

“We also had the bonus of a clean sheet, which is something I have been challenging the players to get as we have been conceding too many goals in the last few games, so of course I’m delighted with the clean sheet and the goals we scored.”

Nick reflected on Kyi Nicholson's opening goal as being a ‘vital moment’ in the win.

“We always like to challenge the players, so for them to respond and get the first goal of the game it was a vital moment for us.

“I think it gave the players the confidence to go on and create further chances throughout the game and we probably should have scored a lot more than we did.”

Harrison also spoke of the inclusion of the three U16 players in the starting XI; defenders Josh Seary and Jacob Slater, and midfielder Noah Mawene.

“This is something we have been doing all season," Nick continued.

“We want to accelerate the best players into the squad and give them a chance, so it was nice to see them perform and develop but I thought the senior players done a good job because sometimes they have to help the younger players.

“I thought every player played their part today and showed their quality when we needed them too.”

PNE line-up: Lombard; Seary, Huddart, Blanchard, Slater; Dooley (Amaral, 65), Leigh (Mfuni, 72); Nicholson, Mawene (Bennett, 72), Holland-Wilkinson; Rodwell-Grant (O'Neil, 65).

Subs not used: Duggan.

Referee: Mr L Corns.

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PNE U18 2 Morecambe U18 1

Preston North End U18s made it back-to-back wins on Saturday after a 2-1 victory against Morecambe in the North West Youth Alliance league.

Second half strikes from Joe Rodwell-Grant and Jacob Holland-Wilkinson were enough to secure all three points as Nick Harrison’s men continued their fine winning form.

A youthful starting XI, which included four U16s, was made-up of five changes from last week's win against Accrington Stanley, as schoolboys Kian Taylor and Kitt Nelson and second year scholars Teddy Mfuni, Dana Amaral and Mikey O'Neil came into the side.


Bryan Ly of Morecambe had the first chance of the game on seven minutes as he unleashed a thunderous strike that cannoned back off the inside of the crossbar and back into play, before the loose ball was cleared by Harry Huddart.

The Shrimps came close to scoring again moments later, only to be denied by the outstretched foot of Oliver Lombard in the North End goal. The visitors threatened again ten minutes later, striking the bar for the second time in the match.

As the half went on, PNE began to grow into the game and came close to scoring themselves on 25 minutes, Joshua Seary drilling an effort hard and low that was parried by the opposition 'keeper, unfortunately O’Neil couldn’t reach the rebound.

After a close encounter, similar to the first half of the previous meeting between the two sides back in September, the teams entered the half-time break goalless.

The Lilywhites started the second half on the front foot and immediately looked more comfortable playing with the wind on their side, after a tough first 45 playing against it
Within the first ten minutes of the restart, PNE had two half chances to take the lead, first through Holland-Wilkinson who was denied via a last-ditch block, then through Amaral, who couldn’t generate enough power in his header to beat the 'keeper.

The game burst into life on the hour mark as PNE were awarded a penalty after Holland-Wilkinson was brought down by a Shrimps defender. Joe Rodwell-Grant made no mistake with the spot kick, sending opposition 'keeper Mendes the wrong way.

Two minutes later and the ball was on the penalty spot again, but this time it was the visitors who had the chance to score from 12 yards, and Ly dispatched expertly to make it 1-1.

The Shrimps looked to undo all North End's good work in a matter of minutes and almost took the lead, only to be denied by Lombard again, who was on inspired form to keep the scores level.

On 75 minutes, PNE went in search of a winner by introducing Levi Lewis for Nelson, as the Lilywhites pushed to turn one point into three.

Lombard, who had a busy game between the sticks, was called into action again, this time producing a fine double save to help set up a dramatic final ten minutes as both sides showed no signs of settling for a point.

As the clock struck 88 minutes, Rodwell-Grant looked like he had won it for the home side after he headed home from close range, only to be denied by the offside flag in what looked a very tight call, much to PNE's frustration.

But deep into added time, there was to be a winner and it was Holland-Wilkinson who supplied it, squeezing the ball home after a scrappy goal line scramble; no need for goal line technology for this one!

A strong performance from a young North End side ensured they came away with a much deserved three points.

Speaking after the game, Academy manager Nick Harrison said he was ‘pleased with his really young team’.

“I am really pleased with the performance,” said Nick.

“We had four U16 players starting the game, a game that was played in really hard conditions. It was very physical at times and we had to battle for every ball and our young players stood up to that.”

North End were much changed this week compared to last weeks fixture after Nick announced the squad had been suffering from injuries and COVID related absences.

“We have suffered a few injuries this week to some of the older lads, some lads are also self-isolating, so we have had to bring in a few of the younger players today, but they are more than good enough, as we have seen today; they took their opportunity.”

Building on last weeks win, Nick has high praise for his side’s performances, adding the only difference from their slight dip in from is that they have been more clinical in recent weeks.

“We have been taking our chances and stopping the silly goals we were conceding. In terms of the results, the performances have still been good.

“In the last two games the players have been more clinical and improved in them areas, we are always looking to progress, improve and challenge the players, and we will continue to do that.”

PNE line-up: Lombard; Seary, Mfuni, Huddart, Slater; Taylor, Amaral; O'Neil, Nelson (Lewis, 75), Holland-Wilkinson; Rodwell-Grant.

Subs not used: Wallbank, Pedley, Best, Green.

Referee: Mr J Wareham.

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Fleetwood Town U18 5 PNE U18 1

The youth side were defeated on the road at Fleetwood Town in the North West Youth Alliance league on Saturday.

North End took the lead through Jacob Holland-Wilkinson, who scored after Mikey O’Neil had picked him out in the box.

The home side turned the game around though, going ahead before half-time and extending their advantage after the break to win 5-1.

It was a much-changed side from the win against Morecambe, with Kyi Nicholson, Lewis Leigh, Joe Blanchard, Ben Dooley and Noah Mawene returning to the team.

A bright start saw North End win a free-kick in Fleetwood’s half within the first minute. Leigh opted to try his luck from the set-piece, but the goalkeeper claimed his effort.

The hosts quickly had the ball up the other end and their first attempt of the game was fired over the bar from just inside the 18-yard box.

The first major opportunity fell PNE’s way when a cross from the left was met by Joe Rodwell-Grant. His header found Mawene, who was brought down strongly, prompting penalty claims from the PNE frontline. Play was waved on though.

The promising opening continued with Leigh swinging in a corner and hitting the far post. The ball bounced back out and was cleared by the hosts.

The young Lilywhites were rewarded for their attacking endeavour when O’Neil put a teasing ball across the box, which Holland-Wilkinson controlled and then placed into the bottom right corner.

Chances for a second goal followed. Rodwell-Grant first crossed low after winning out against two defenders, but neither O’Neil nor Mawene could get a touch on the ball, and then minutes later, Mawene missed a one-v-one opportunity.


Youth Team
Rodwell-Grant Disappointed By Response
21 February 2021
It was Fleetwood who scored next though. Cian Hayes beat the PNE defence to a cross and he turned in the box before firing into the net.

Left back Billy Batch then gave his side the lead, finishing accurately into the side netting with a left-footed strike after he’d been played through.

PNE could’ve been level at half-time, but Holland-Wilkinson’s shot from a corner was blocked on the line.

Josh Seary replaced Nicholson at the break in the first substitution from either team.

Shortly after the restart, Fleetwood capitalised on a mistake at the back and striker Enoch Takpe netted a third.

North End searched for a way back into the game and Seary placed a cross into the corridor of uncertainty, but no one in a blue shirt could get on the end of it to tap home.

Aaron Bennett came on for O’Neil and nearly had an instant impact. The ball bounced to the winger inside the box, but he failed to get his foot over it and his shot went over the bar.

A slice of bad luck saw North End fall further behind. Lombard produced a great save with his legs to stop a shot from close range, but Fleetwood worked the ball back out to the edge of the box and from there a shot took a crucial deflection for an own goal.

A double change saw Dana Amaral and Levi Lewis enter the fray, with Ben Dooley and Jacob Slater coming off.

Leigh went close with a strike from range, but Danny Edwards rounded off the scoring at the other end when he slotted home from inside the box.

Academy manager Nick Harrison felt his side should’ve been the side ahead at the halfway point of the game but were made to pay for errors at both ends of the pitch.

“It was a really strange and frustrating game,” he said. “We started the game really well and probably should’ve gone 2-0 up.

“Then I think we made some really schoolboy mistakes which leads to their first two goals. That gave them belief and confidence when it really should’ve been ourselves going into half-time with a brighter result.

“The game could’ve ended up 5-5. Both teams created chances, we didn’t take ours and Fleetwood were clinical and punished us.

“There was a lot of mistakes all the way round the pitch that led to their goals, some really poor decisions from us and the players lost their way a little bit.”

Harrison had a strong message for the youth side after the full-time whistle.

He added: “It’s not good enough to concede five goals, nowhere near good enough, and at the same time, we can’t keep missing all these chances, some really clear chances.

“Even in the second half, we put a couple of balls across the face of goal in the six-yard box that we’ve got to get on the end of.

“Goals change games and we can’t afford at this level to miss those chances and make the mistakes we did for their goals.”

The youth side are currently scheduled to have a two-week break from competitive action, next travelling to Accrington Stanley on 6th March, where they will be looking to bounce back.

“Anytime that you’re on the wrong end of a result you’ve got to go back to basics and keep working hard and believing,” Harrison continued.

“I thought there were some real positives from the game, we did create and we did dominate in parts, but we want the right results and a good performance throughout the game so that’s what we’ll keep striving to achieve.”

PNE line-up: Lombard; Nicholson (Seary, 46), Huddart, Blanchard, Slater (Lewis, 79); Leigh, Dooley © (Amaral, 79); O'Neil (Bennett, 68), Mawene, Holland-Wilkinson; Rodwell-Grant.

Subs not used: Duggan.

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Accrington Stanley U18 0 PNE U18 6

Noah Mawene struck a hattrick as Preston North End U18s earned an emphatic 6-0 win away at Lancashire neighbours Accrington Stanley.

The son of North End legend Youl Mawene was joined on the scoresheet by Joe Rodwell-Grant, Aaron Bennett and Ben Dooley, who all scored one apiece.

It was a strong response from the young Lilywhites after going two weeks without a league game, having lost last time out against Fleetwood Town, despite creating plenty of opportunities in front of goal.

Rodwell-Grant and Lewis Leigh retained their places from that day’s starting line-up, having both since enjoyed the experience of being substitutes for the first team in midweek at Millwall.

There were four changes to the side that faced the Cod Army a fortnight ago, though, as Josh Seary, Levi Lewis, Teddy Mfuni and Aaron Bennett came into the side for Jacob Slater, Harry Huddart, Mikey O’Neil and Jacob Holland-Wilkinson.

Huddart was the 21st man in the first team squad on Saturday for AFC Bournemouth’s visit to Deepdale.

Speaking after the victory, Academy manager Nick Harrison told PNE.Com: “The difference between the previous game was that we took our chances and were clinical. Yesterday, our performance was very good.

“On the ball, we passed it with purpose and we created lots of chances. The scoreline probably should have been more than six and obviously we protected our own goal and getting a clean sheet is just as important as scoring the goals that we did.

“Any time you get a clean sheet, it just gives you a platform for when you score goals which is how you end up winning games.

“That’s the challenge we pose to the players every session and every game, we want to work hard when we haven’t got the ball, work hard as individuals in a team and we want to score goals as individuals in a team. We did that in abundance yesterday, which is really pleasing.”

After seeing Mawene hit three of the six goals on the day, the Academy manager also spoke of his satisfaction to see the youngster flourishing, along with a number of U16 players getting their opportunity in the youth team this season.

“We’re really pleased for Noah, it’s something that we’re encouraging him to do is to score more goals – that’s five goals in his last three games now. It’s something that we’ll continue to challenge him with.

“What we have done this year is accelerated the growth of a number of U16 players. Yesterday, we had four involved again and I think that’s been the story of our season.

“There’s been a plan behind that; we only took 17 scholars over this period because we know we’ve got very good players coming from behind. It’s giving them the opportunity to play and they’re taking it.”

That has also seen opportunities for some scholars to train and travel with the first team this season, with Rodwell-Grant and Leigh not the only youngsters to have been among the substitutes for Alex Neil’s senior side this term.

Lewis Coulton and Jacob Holland-Wilkinson have also been on the bench for the first team earlier in the campaign, with Ben Dooley having the opportunity to travel and a number of other players training with the Lilywhites’ senior squad.

Nick added: “When some of the scholars get opportunities in and around the first team, that does open up places, but the spaces will always open up for players who are doing well, regardless of numbers.

“That’s the challenge for all the players, to be better than the people around you. It doesn’t matter what level, U18s or first team, that’s what football is all about. They’ve got to keep developing and keep pushing each other to progress and develop.”

PNE line-up: Lombard; Seary (O'Neil, 60), Mfuni, Blanchard, Lewis; Dooley, Leigh (Amaral, 46); Nicholson, Mawene, Bennett (Green, 60); Rodwell-Grant (Taylor, 67).

Subs not used: Duggan.

Referee: Mr J Ryan.