THE INVINCIBLES NEARLY

Preston North End was the team of the 1880s and in 1888/9 The Invincibles won the first "Double"; that is winning the First Division Football League Championship and the FA Cup in the same season.
The Football League was founded in 1888-9, so the chance of doing the "Double" was not possible!

In the Autumn 1887 they whopped Hyde 26-0 in the First Round of the Cup, still a record score, with eight Preston players scoring. The team asked the Hyde goalie for his autograph after the game because he had played so well, seriously! The photo is of PNE March 1888.

Preston led the way in professionalism at this time, enticing players away from the mills and over the border, turning vigorous exercise into a science. As the Football League had been formed with twelve teams filling the season's fixture card, the amateurs were nearly a fading force. Can you name the original 12 FL members?

Some amateurs, including the Old Carthusians (old boys of Charterhouse School), were still shining bright in the FA Cup with the OCs gaining a First Round 5-0 win over Hanover United.

Preston then took two ties in the Second Round to beat Everton 6-1 but this game was announced to be "void" and they then had to play Bolton Wanderers, winning 9-1. What ever the circumstances , they won through. The Carthusians by this time beat Watford Rovers 3-1 away.

In Round Three the Public Schoolboys beat the Old Brightonians, another "posh lot", some might say and Preston (the working class heroes) beat Halliwell 4-0.

Round Four saw the posh chaps get a Bye...favouritism for the elite classes obviously, but wait, Preston got one too.

In Round Five Preston beat Aston Villa away 3-1 and the Carthusians beat Bootle 2-0.
Round Six-WBA 4 Old Carthusians 2;-Professionals versus Amateurs! Sheffield Wednesday 2 Preston 4.

Leaving behind Crewe Alexandra in the semi-final 4-0, Preston then fell at the final fence losing the West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at the Oval on March 24. 19,000 watched the game. So confident were the Preston team of winning, that they asked if they could have a photo taken of them with the cup before the game. Referee and FA President Major Francis Marindin suggested that they should win it first. He was right.

Preston eventually did the double the following season, but that is a story for tomorrow.