A strong end to the 2020-21 campaign that saw Preston win their final four games gave the club little choice but to make interim boss Frankie McAvoy their new permanent head coach.
North End were unbeaten in five to see out the campaign, in fact, keeping a clean sheet in four of those matches, though that was only enough for a mid-table finish.
The previous campaign was ultimately a disappointing one for the Lilywhites, but they will go again on August 7 with a home match against Hull City.
Before then, McAvoy’s men have five friendlies to play, including a couple of games in Scotland next week against St Johnstone and Celtic.
First up is this trip to neighbours Bamber Bridge, with the connections between the clubs pretty obvious considering the Brig play at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused havoc with English football’s lower leagues over the past 18 months, but Bamber Bridge will hope the 2021-22 campaign can be played out in full.
Jamie Milligan’s side take on local teams Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool this month, so they are certainly not lacking in high-profile opponents to gear them up for the new season.
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All 1,3000 tickets for the Preston game sold out straight away, with each person in attendance having to take a lateral flow test upon entering.
Debutant Jamie Thomas scored in Bamber Bridge’s 1-1 draw against Barnoldswick Town in their first pre-season game, following on from a 6-0 win against Rimington FC, so they are slightly ahead of Preston in terms of their preparations
