Preston North End's January Turbulence: FA Cup Heartbreak Amid Transfer Activity

Preston North End's start to 2026 has been a mix of disappointment and anticipation as the Championship side navigates the January transfer window while dealing with an early FA Cup exit. Currently sitting fourth in the Championship table, Paul Heckingbottom's team is firmly in the promotion hunt, but recent events have tested their resolve.

The Lilywhites suffered a shock defeat in the FA Cup third round on January 9, falling 0-1 to League One outfit Wigan Athletic at Deepdale. In front of 14,366 fans, Preston dominated possession with 69.5% but struggled to create clear chances, managing just two shots on target. The game's decisive moment came in the 75th minute when Wigan's 18-year-old Harrison Bettoni cut inside from the right and fired a left-footed shot that deflected off Andrew Hughes and past goalkeeper Daniel Iversen.

Wigan nearly doubled their lead late on when Callum Wright missed a penalty in the 84th minute after Pol Valentín fouled Maleace Asamoah in the box. Preston pushed for an equalizer, with Sam Tickle making a crucial save from Alfie Devine's header in stoppage time, but Brad Potts was ruled offside on the rebound. The visitors held firm to secure a famous upset, advancing to the fourth round.

Heckingbottom was candid in his post-match assessment, telling BBC Radio Lancashire: "From the first minute, we weren't playing how we want to play. It's just a frustrating performance. You get them, but you don't want to have them." He highlighted lapses in organization despite the team's usual strengths. On the other side, Wigan boss Ryan Lowe, returning to his former club, praised his side's game plan: "The game plan worked a treat. We limited them to very few chances against a fantastic team who are flying high in the Championship."

The defeat came on the heels of a solid 2-0 league win over Bristol City, underscoring Preston's inconsistency in cup competitions. With the FA Cup dream over, focus shifts back to the Championship, where upcoming fixtures could define their season.

Adding to the January drama is transfer activity at Deepdale. In a significant outgoing, Iceland international midfielder Stefan Thordarson has departed for Bundesliga 2 side Hannover 96 for an undisclosed fee. The 27-year-old, who joined Preston from Danish club Silkeborg in 2024 on a three-year deal, made 64 appearances and scored three goals during his time with the club. His last outing was as a substitute in December's 2-1 victory at Oxford United. The club issued a statement wishing him well: "He departs Deepdale with the club's best wishes."

Thordarson's exit follows the recall of young talent Harrison Armstrong by parent club Everton, leaving gaps in midfield that Heckingbottom is keen to address. The manager has expressed his intent to use the window effectively, telling BBC Radio Lancashire: "We want to use the January transfer window to look at how we can get better."

On the incoming front, Preston are in advanced talks to sign 18-year-old Irish playmaker Cathal O'Sullivan as a free agent from Cork City. The Glanmire native, who made 21 appearances for Cork before suffering a second ACL injury in July, has agreed personal terms on a two-and-a-half-year contract. O'Sullivan, entitled to compensation for his former club under FIFA rules, will continue his recovery at Preston, with a potential return in April but more likely next season. He joins compatriots Robbie Brady and Will Keane at the club, following in the footsteps of other Cork alumni like Seáni Maguire and Alan Browne.

Rumors also swirl around potential deals, including a move for Franz Roggow from Hannover 96—possibly as part of a swap involving Thordarson—and interest from Celtic in striker Milutin Osmajic. As the window progresses, these moves could bolster Preston's squad depth for the promotion push.

Despite the FA Cup setback, Preston's strong league position offers hope. With key players like captain Ali McCann and forwards Layton Dobbin leading the charge, the Lilywhites aim to bounce back and secure a top-six finish. Fans will be watching closely as Heckingbottom navigates these challenges, hoping for a positive end to a turbulent month.

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Home of Preston North End FC

Opened 1878

Capacity 23,404

History (from Wikipedia)

The land on which the stadium stands was originally Deepdale Farm. It was leased on 21 January 1875[4] by the town's North End sports club and originally used for cricket and rugby. It hosted its first association football match on 5 October 1878.

Old Deepdale[edit]

As football grew in popularity, it became necessary to have raised areas, so the idea of football terracing was formed. In the 1890s Preston built the West Paddock, which ran along the touch line and a tent was erected to house the changing rooms.
By the turn of the century, crowds were regularly over 10,000 and in 1921 they had to expand again. The Spion Kop was built and the West Paddock was extended to meet the Kop end.
The pitch was removed to allow the building of the Town End, which was completed in 1928 but was destroyed by fire only five years later and had to be rebuilt.
The Pavilion Stand, a relatively small stand of two tiers holding the changing rooms and offices, was built and opened in 1934.
The record league attendance for Preston North End at Deepdale is 42,684 v Arsenal in the First Division, 23 April 1938.[2]
The women's team Dick, Kerr's Ladies also used to played at Deepdale, often beating men's professional teams in front of large crowds.[5]
During the 1960s and 1980s, big changes took place as roofs were placed on the stands, seating was installed and terracing extended.[citation needed]

Plastic pitch[edit]

In 1986, Preston North End decided to lay an all-weather pitch to try to generate some extra income for the club by renting the pitch to local teams to play on, to reduce the number of postponed matches as well as enabling the use of the Deepdale pitch as a training ground.[citation needed]
It was one of four football stadiums in the English league to feature a plastic pitch, but this proved to be unpopular with the fans and was finally ripped up in 1994, by which time it was the last remaining plastic pitch in the English league.[6]

Renovation[edit]

The original plans for the re-developed stadium were inspired by the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa, Italy.[7]
The regeneration of Deepdale began in 1995 when the old West Stand was demolished to make way for the new £4.4m Sir Tom Finney Stand which includes press areas and restaurants.
The next stand to be developed was the Bill Shankly Kop in 1998, followed by the Alan Kelly Town End in 2001, which replaced the popular Town End terrace. In 2008, a 25-metre screen was also erected on the roof of the Bill Shankly Kop.
The old 'Pavilion' stand, was replaced by the 'Invincibles Pavilion' for the 2008–09 season, named after the Preston North End team of the 1888–89 season who were the first League champions, the first team to complete the League and FA Cup Double, and the only English team to complete a season unbeaten in both League and Cup.[4][8] The Invincibles Pavilion includes a row of executive boxes and a restaurant which overlooks the pitch as well as the Stadium Control Room, PA Box and Big Screen Control Room and an NHS walk-in centre has also been built into the stand.

Deepdale is now an all-seater stadium with a total capacity of 23,404, as follows:[9]

  • Sir Tom Finney Stand: 7,893
  • Bill Shankly Kop: 5,933
  • Alan Kelly Town End: 5,859
  • Invincibles Pavilion: 3,719

Things to do in Preston.