‘Deepdale Digested’ was John’s alternative view of North End

Preston supporter John Smith has never been shy of an opinion or two, especially when it comes to his beloved North End.

- by Craig Salmon

For more than a decade, the long-time fan has been a regular contributor to the Lancashire Post during the football season with his weekly PNE column.

Providing a thought-provoking article about his favourite team has been a way of life for the 64-year-old ever since he created one of the club’s first-ever fanzines in the late 1980s.

Deepdale Digested was first produced in 1989; handwritten, photocopied and folded in half before being stapled together.

Priced at 25p per copy, Smith eventually sold enough copies to buy an old typewriter and take the production of his publication to the next level.

“It was the summer of 1989 when I decided to join the explosion of football fanzines and produce something relevant to Preston North End,” said Smith.

“PNE had no fanzine at all but I did it mainly for laughs to be shared between friends and work colleagues.

“It was not done as a commercial venture and any profit I made was to be ploughed into buying materials for future issues.”