title: 2017–18 Preston North End F.C. season
text: # 2017–18 Preston North End F.C. season
  
  The 2017–18 season was Preston North End's third consecutive season in the Championship, in their 138th year in existence. Along with competing in the Championship, the club also participated in the FA Cup and EFL Cup. The season covered the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.
  
  ## Squad
  
  | No. | Name | Pos. | Place of birth | Age | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee | End |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
  | 1 | Declan Rudd | GK | Diss | 32 | 85 | 0 | Norwich City | 1 July 2017 | £966,000 | 2020 |
  | 22 | Chris Maxwell | GK | St Asaph | 32 | 71 | 0 | Fleetwood Town | 1 July 2016 | Free | 2020 |
  | 28 | Matthew Hudson | GK | Southport | 24 | 1 | 0 | Academy | 1 July 2015 | Trainee | 2020 |
  | 31 | Callum Roberts | GK | South shields | 23 | 0 | 0 | Academy | 1 July 2017 | Trainee | 2018 |
  | Defenders ||||||||||||
  | 3 | Greg Cunningham | LB | Galway | 32 | 110 | 4 | Bristol City | 27 July 2015 | Undisclosed | 2019 |
  | 5 | Tom Clarke | CB | Sowerby Bridge | 35 | 214 | 14 | Huddersfield Town | 22 May 2013 | Free | 2020 |
  | 14 | Darnell Fisher | RB | Reading | 29 | 35 | 0 | Rotherham United | 27 July 2017 | Undisclosed | 2021 |
  | 15 | Calum Woods | RB | Liverpool | 36 | 79 | 0 | Huddersfield Town | 1 July 2014 | Free | 2019 |
  | 17 | Tommy Spurr | LB | Leeds | 35 | 24 | 1 | Blackburn Rovers | 1 July 2016 | Free | 2019 |
  | 20 | Ben Davies | CB/LB | Barrow-in-Furness | 27 | 47 | 1 | Academy | 25 January 2013 | Free | 2021 |
  | 23 | Paul Huntington | CB | Carlisle | 35 | 245 | 17 | Yeovil Town | 22 May 2012 | Free | 2018 |
  | 32 | Josh Earl | LB/LW | Liverpool | 24 | 20 | 0 | Academy | 1 July 2017 | Trainee | 2020 |
  | Midfielders ||||||||||||
  | 4 | Ben Pearson | CM/DM | Oldham | 28 | 84 | 1 | Manchester United | 11 January 2016 | £115,000 | 2020 |
  | 7 | Daryl Horgan | RM | Galway | 30 | 44 | 4 | Dundalk | 1 January 2017 | Free | 2019 |
  | 8 | Alan Browne | CM | Cork | 28 | 164 | 15 | Free agent | 1 January 2014 | Free | 2020 |
  | 10 | Josh Harrop | AM/CF | Stockport | 27 | 39 | 4 | Manchester United | 3 July 2017 | Undisclosed | 2021 |
  | 11 | Daniel Johnson | AM | Kingston | 30 | 149 | 23 | Aston Villa | 23 January 2015 | £50,000 | 2019 |
  | 12 | Paul Gallagher | AM/WG | Glasgow | 38 | 222 | 32 | Leicester City | 16 June 2015 | Free | 2019 |
  | 19 | John Welsh | CM | Liverpool | 38 | 176 | 3 | Tranmere Rovers | 14 May 2012 | Free | 2018 |
  | Forwards ||||||||||||
  | 21 | Louis Moult | CF | Stoke-on-Trent | 31 | 11 | 2 | Motherwell | 1 January 2018 | Undisclosed | 2021 |
  | 24 | Sean Maguire | CF | Luton | 29 | 25 | 10 | Cork City | 24 July 2017 | Undisclosed | 2021 |
  | 27 | Connor Simpson | CF | Guisborough | 23 | 1 | 0 | Hartlepool United | 11 January 2018 | Undisclosed | 2020 |
  | 29 | Tom Barkhuizen | RW/SS | Blackpool | 30 | 64 | 14 | Morecambe | 1 January 2017 | Free | 2020 |
  | 37 | Callum Robinson | WG/CF | Northampton | 28 | 121 | 23 | Aston Villa | 4 July 2016 | Free | 2020 |
  | 39 | Billy Bodin | RW/CF | Swindon | 31 | 19 | 1 | Bristol Rovers | 3 January 2018 | Undisclosed | 2020 |
  | Out on Loan ||||||||||||
  | 2 | Marnick Vermijl | RB | Peer | 31 | 54 | 4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 31 August 2016 | Undisclosed | 2019 |
  | 6 | Andy Boyle | CB | Dublin | 32 | 12 | 0 | Dundalk | 1 January 2017 | Free | 2019 |
  | 13 | Eoin Doyle | CF | Dublin | 35 | 44 | 7 | Cardiff City | 1 July 2016 | Undisclosed | 2019 |
  | 18 | Ben Pringle | CM/LM | Newcastle upon Tyne | 34 | 14 | 0 | Fulham | 4 July 2016 | £255,000 | 2019 |
  | 25 | Kevin O'Connor | LB | Enniscorthy | 22 | 9 | 0 | Cork City | 24 July 2017 | Undisclosed | 2020 |
  | 30 | Melle Meulensteen | CM | Nijmegen | 24 | 0 | 0 | Academy | 1 July 2017 | Trainee | 2018 |
  
  * All appearances and goals up to date as of 7 May 2018.
  
  ### Statistics
  
      As of 7 May 2018
  
  | No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
  | 1 | GK | ENG | Declan Rudd | 18 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 3 | DF | IRL | Greg Cunningham | 21 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 4 | MF | ENG | Ben Pearson | 34 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 5 | DF | ENG | Tom Clarke | 20 | 2 | 14+4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 7 | MF | IRL | Daryl Horgan | 21 | 2 | 2+17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
  | 8 | MF | IRL | Alan Browne | 47 | 8 | 38+6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 |
  | 10 | MF | ENG | Josh Harrop | 39 | 4 | 11+27 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
  | 11 | MF | JAM | Daniel Johnson | 36 | 3 | 25+8 | 3 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
  | 12 | MF | SCO | Paul Gallagher | 34 | 2 | 22+10 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  | 14 | DF | ENG | Darnell Fisher | 34 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 15 | DF | ENG | Calum Woods | 18 | 0 | 11+5 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 17 | DF | ENG | Tommy Spurr | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 19 | MF | ENG | John Welsh | 11 | 0 | 5+4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 20 | DF | ENG | Ben Davies | 35 | 1 | 33+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  | 21 | FW | ENG | Louis Moult | 11 | 2 | 3+7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 22 | GK | WAL | Chris Maxwell | 31 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  | 23 | DF | ENG | Paul Huntington | 47 | 1 | 45 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 24 | FW | IRL | Sean Maguire | 25 | 10 | 19+5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
  | 27 | FW | ENG | Connor Simpson | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 29 | FW | ENG | Tom Barkhuizen | 47 | 8 | 43+3 | 8 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 32 | DF | ENG | Josh Earl | 20 | 0 | 16+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | 37 | FW | ENG | Callum Robinson | 43 | 8 | 31+10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  | 39 | FW | WAL | Billy Bodin | 19 | 1 | 14+3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | Player(s) out on loan: ||||||||||||
  | 2 | DF | BEL | Marnick Vermijl | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  | 6 | DF | IRL | Andy Boyle | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  | 25 | DF | IRL | Kevin O'Connor | 9 | 0 | 4+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  | Player(s) who left the club: ||||||||||||
  | 9 | FW | ENG | Jordan Hugill | 29 | 10 | 26+1 | 8 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
  | 16 | MF | ENG | Liam Grimshaw | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  | 27 | FW | ENG | Stephy Mavididi | 11 | 0 | 4+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  
  ### Goals record
  
      As of 7 May 2018
  
  | Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | 24 | | CF | Sean Maguire | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
  | 1 | — | | CF | Jordan Hugill | 8 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
  | 3 | 8 | | CM | Alan Browne | 6 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
  | 3 | 29 | | WG | Tom Barkhuizen | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
  | 3 | 37 | | WG | Callum Robinson | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
  | 6 | 10 | | AM | Josh Harrop | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
  | 7 | 11 | | AM | Daniel Johnson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
  | 8 | 5 | | CB | Tom Clarke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
  | 8 | 7 | | WG | Daryl Horgan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
  | 8 | 12 | | CM | Paul Gallagher | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
  | 8 | 21 | | CF | Louis Moult | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
  | 11 | 3 | | LB | Greg Cunningham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | 11 | 20 | | CB | Ben Davies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | 11 | 23 | | CB | Paul Huntington | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | 11 | 39 | | LW | Billy Bodin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 55 | 5 | 2 | 62 |
  
  ### Disciplinary record
  
      As of 7 May 2018
  
  | Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total | Total |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | 4 | | CM | Ben Pearson | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
  | 2 | 14 | | RB | Darnell Fisher | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
  | 3 | 11 | | AM | Daniel Johnson | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
  | 3 | 23 | | CB | Paul Huntington | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
  | 5 | — | | CF | Jordan Hugill | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
  | 6 | 12 | | CM | Paul Gallagher | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
  | 7 | 3 | | LB | Greg Cunningham | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
  | 7 | 8 | | CM | Alan Browne | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
  | 7 | 19 | | CM | John Welsh | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
  | 10 | 10 | | AM | Josh Harrop | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
  | 10 | 15 | | RB | Calum Woods | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
  | 10 | 20 | | CB | Ben Davies | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
  | 13 | 32 | | LB | Josh Earl | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
  | 13 | 39 | | LW | Billy Bodin | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
  | 15 | 1 | | GK | Declan Rudd | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
  | 15 | 29 | | WG | Tom Barkhuizen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
  | 18 | 5 | | CB | Tom Clarke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
  | 18 | 6 | | CB | Andy Boyle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
  | 18 | 24 | | CF | Sean Maguire | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
  | 20 | 37 | | WG | Callum Robinson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
  | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 105 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 5 | 0 |
  
  ### Contracts
  
  | Date | Position | Name | Contract Length | Status | Expires |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 13 September 2017 | LB | Josh Earl | 3 years | Signed | June 2020 |
  | 16 October 2017 | RB | Calum Woods | 2 years | Signed | June 2019 |
  | 23 October 2017 | WG | Callum Robinson | 3 years | Signed | June 2020 |
  | 22 March 2018 | CB | Ben Davies | 3+1⁄2 years | Signed | June 2021 |
  | 22 May 2018 | RB | Darnell Fisher | 3 years | Signed | June 2021 |
  | 1 June 2018 | CB | Tom Clarke | 2 years | Signed | June 2020 |
  | 6 June 2018 | GK | Matthew Hudson | 2 years | Signed | June 2020 |
  | 6 June 2018 | CF | Sean Maguire | 3 years | Signed | June 2021 |
  | 8 June 2018 | CM | Paul Gallagher | 1 year | Signed | June 2019 |
  
  ## Transfers
  
  ### Transfers in
  
  | Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 July 2017 | GK | Declan Rudd | Norwich City | £966,000 |
  | 3 July 2017 | AM | Josh Harrop | Manchester United | Undisclosed |
  | 24 July 2017 | CF | Sean Maguire | Cork City | Undisclosed |
  | 24 July 2017 | LB | Kevin O'Connor | Cork City | Undisclosed |
  | 26 July 2017 | RB | Darnell Fisher | Rotherham United | Undisclosed |
  | 1 January 2018 | CF | Louis Moult | Motherwell | Undisclosed |
  | 3 January 2018 | RW | Billy Bodin | Bristol Rovers | Undisclosed |
  | 11 January 2018 | CF | Connor Simpson | Hartlepool United | Undisclosed |
  
  ### Transfers out
  
  | Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 July 2017 | CF | Jermaine Beckford | Bury | Released |
  | 1 July 2017 | GK | Anders Lindegaard | Burnley | Released |
  | 1 July 2017 | RB | Clive Smith | Free agent | Released |
  | 8 August 2017 | CF | Stevie May | Aberdeen | Undisclosed fee |
  | 31 August 2017 | DM | Liam Grimshaw | Motherwell | Mutual consent |
  | 31 January 2018 | CF | Jordan Hugill | West Ham United | £10 Million |
  
  * ↑ Jermaine Beckford joined Bury following his release from the club.
  * ↑ Anders Lindegaard joined Burnley following his release.
  * ↑ Liam Grimshaw joined Motherwell following his release from the club.
  
  ### Loans in
  
  | Start date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | End date | Ref. |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 4 August 2017 | CF | | Stephy Mavididi | Arsenal | 3 January 2018 | |
  
  * ↑ Mavididi's loan was cut short, so he could join Charlton Athletic.
  
  ### Loans out
  
  | Start date | Position | Name | To | End date |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 31 August 2017 | CF | Eoin Doyle | Oldham Athleitc | January 2018 |
  | 8 September 2017 | CF | Myles Mason | Sutton Coldfield Town | 6 October 2017 |
  | 8 September 2017 | CM | Melle Meulensteen | Lancaster City | January 2018 |
  | 8 September 2017 | CM | Oscar O'Neil | Bamber Bridge | 6 October 2017 |
  | 9 January 2018 | CM | Ben Pringle | Oldham Athletic | 30 June 2018 |
  | 25 January 2018 | LB | Kevin O'Connor | Fleetwood Town | 30 June 2018 |
  | 30 January 2018 | CB | Andy Boyle | Doncaster Rovers | 30 June 2018 |
  | 20 February 2018 | FW | Michael Howard | Cork City | 30 June 2018 |
  
  ## Pre-season
  
  ### Friendlies
  
  As of 7 June 2017, Preston North End have announced seven pre-season friendlies against Bamber Bridge, Stockport County, Morecambe, Accrington Stanley, Burnley, Fleetwood Town and Newcastle United.
  
  ## Competitions
  
  ### Championship
  
  **League table**
  
  | Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 5 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 67 | 45 | +22 | 76 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
  | 6 | Derby County | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 70 | 48 | +22 | 75 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
  | 7 | Preston North End | 46 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 73 | |
  | 8 | Millwall | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 56 | 45 | +11 | 72 | |
  | 9 | Brentford | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 62 | 52 | +10 | 69 | |
  
  * ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to the Premier League.
  
  **Result summary**
  
  | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  
  Last updated: 7 May 2018. Source:
  
  **Results by matchday**
  
  | Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Ground | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
  | Result | W | D | L | W | D | D | W | W | D | W | D | D | L | L | L | L | D | W | D | W | W | W | D | D | W | L | D | D | W | W | D | D | D | L | W | W | L | W | L | L | L | W | W | D | W | W |
  | Position | 7 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
  
  **Matches**
  
  On 21 June 2017, the league fixtures were announced.
  
  ### FA Cup
  
  In the FA Cup, PNE entered the competition in the third round and were drawn away to Wycombe Wanderers.
  
  ### EFL Cup
  
  On 16 June 2017, Preston North End were drawn an away tie against Accrington Stanley in the first round.
  
  ## Summary
  
  | Games played | 49 (46 Championship, 2 FA Cup, 1 EFL Cup) |
  | - | - |
  | Games won | 20 (19 Championship, 1 FA Cup, 0 EFL Cup) |
  | Games drawn | 16 (16 Championship, 0 FA Cup, 0 EFL Cup) |
  | Games lost | 13 (11 Championship, 1 FA Cup, 1 EFL Cup) |
  | Goals scored | 64 (57 Championship, 5 FA Cup, 2 EFL Cup) |
  | Goals conceded | 51 (46 Championship, 2 FA Cup, 3 EFL Cup) |
  | Goal difference | +13 |
  | Clean sheets | 15 (15 Championship, 0 FA Cup, 0 EFL Cup) |
  | Yellow cards | 105 (102 Championship, 3 FA Cup, 0 EFL Cup) |
  | Red cards | 5 (5 Championship, 0 FA Cup, 0 EFL Cup) |
  | Worst Discipline | Ben Pearson 13 , 1 , 0 ) |
  | Best result | 5–1 vs Wycombe Wanderers, 6 Jan 18 |
  | Worst result | 0–3 vs Ipswich Town, 4 Nov 17 |
  | Most appearances | Paul Huntington (47) |
  | Top scorer | Sean Maguire (10) |
  | Points | 73 |
  