West Lancashire Derby - Players and Managers

Players and Managers

At least 41 individuals have represented both Blackpool and Preston North End at some point in their careers. 26 of these moved directly between the two clubs. One such example is Tony Ellis, who had two spells with Preston, in 1987–1989 and 1992–1994, and was Player of the Year in his final two seasons with the Lilywhites. During his second spell at the club, he scored a hat-trick for Preston at Bloomfield Road in a 3–2 Preston victory. However, after a much-publicised fall out with Preston manager John Beck over a new contract and his role within the club, Ellis signed for Blackpool for £165,000.

Players moving directly between the two clubs was more prevalent in the first half of the 20th century. Albert Brown moved from Preston North End to Blackpool in 1905, and Benny Green did the same in 1913. Billy Tremelling moved in the opposite direction in 1930, as did Jimmy McIntosh and Dickie Watmough in 1937. As part of the same deal, Frank O'Donnell exchanged the white of Preston for Blackpool tangerine, and his brother, Hugh, followed him two years later. In 1967, Ray Charnley moved from Bloomfield Road to Deepdale. Gerry Ingram, in 1968, was the final player to move between the clubs for a period of 26 years, when he moved from Blackpool to Preston.

Most recently, Brett Ormerod joined Blackpool from Preston in 2009, beginning a second spell with the Seasiders.

Players who have moved directly between the two clubs:

• Tom Bradshaw: Blackpool (1896), Preston North End (1896 and 1902)
• Laurence Halsall: Blackpool (1897), Preston North End (1897–1899)
• Wilf Gillow: Blackpool to Preston North End
• Lawrence Cook, Blackpool (1904), Preston North End (1905–1906)
• Albert Brown: Preston North End (1904–1905), Blackpool (1905–1906)
• Herbert Crossthwaite: Preston North End (1905–1906), Blackpool (1906–1907)
• Benny Green: Preston North End (1911–1913), Blackpool (1913–1915)
• Billy Mercer: Preston North End (1919–1924), Blackpool (1925)
• Peter Quinn: Blackpool (1910–1920), Preston North End (1920–1922)
• Bobby Crawford: Preston North End (1921–1932), Blackpool (1932–1933)
• Billy Tremelling: Blackpool (1925–1930), Preston North End (1930–1937)
• Jimmy McClelland: Preston North End (1929–1930), Blackpool (1930–1933)
• Albert Butterworth: Blackpool (1932–1933), Preston North End (1933–1935)
• Jimmy McIntosh: Blackpool (1935–1937), Preston North End (1937–1946), Blackpool (1946–1948)
• Dickie Watmough: Blackpool (1934–1937), Preston North End (1937)
• Frank O'Donnell: Preston North End (1935–1937), Blackpool (1937–1946)
• Hugh O'Donnell: Preston North End (1935–1939), Blackpool (1939–1946)
• Billy McIntosh: Preston North End (1946–1948), Blackpool (1948–1951)
• Kit Napier: Blackpool (1960–1963), Preston North End (1963–1964)
• Ray Charnley: Blackpool (1957–1967), Preston North End (1967–1968)
• Gerry Ingram: Blackpool (1967–1968), Preston North End (1968–1971)
• Andy McAteer: Preston North End (1977–1986), Blackpool (1986–1988), Preston North End (1988–1989)
• Tony Ellis: Preston North End (1987–1989 and 1992–1994), Blackpool (1994–1997)
• Gary Parkinson: Preston North End (1997–2001), Blackpool (2001–2002)
• Brett Ormerod: Preston North End (2006–2009), Blackpool (2009–2012)

Note: Andrew Lonergan joined Blackpool on loan from Preston North End in 2003, but he did not make any appearances for them.

Players who have appeared for both clubs at some point during their career:

• Fred Griffiths: Blackpool (1899–1900), Preston North End (1902)
• James Mitchell: Blackpool (1914–1915), Preston North End (1920–1922)
• Gordon Milne: Preston North End (19??-1960), Blackpool (1967–1970)
• Mel Holden: Preston North End (1972–1975), Blackpool (1978–1979)
• Barry Siddall: Blackpool (1983–84 and 1986–1989), Preston North End (1992–1993)
• Mike Conroy: Preston North End (1993–1995), Blackpool (1998–1999)
• David Eyres: Blackpool (1989–1993), Preston North End (1997–2000)
• Mike Flynn: Preston North End (1989–1993), Blackpool (2003–2004)
• Colin Greenall: Blackpool (1980–1986), Preston North End (1992–1993)
• Colin Hendry: Preston North End (2002, loan), Blackpool (2002–2003)
• Michael Jackson: Preston North End (1997–2004), Blackpool (2006–2008)
• Adam Nowland: Blackpool (1998–2001), Preston North End (2005–2008)
• Brett Ormerod: Blackpool (1997–2001, 2009–present), Preston North End (2006–2009)
• Marlon Broomes: Preston North End (2002–2005), Blackpool (2008–2009)
• Matt Hill: Preston North End (2005–2008), Blackpool (2011–2012)

Six players who played for one club went on to manage the other:

• Sydney Beaumont, who played one league game for Preston North End in 1911–12, was manager of Blackpool for the 1927–28 season
• Sam Allardyce, who played for Preston North End from 1986 to 1989 and also in 1992, was manager of Blackpool from 1994 to 1996
• Paul Simpson, who played for Blackpool from 2000 to 2002, was manager of Preston North End from 2006 to 2007
• Phil Brown, who played for and coached Blackpool under Allardyce between 1994 and 1996, was named manager of Preston North End in January 2011.
• Michael Appleton, who played for Preston North End between 1997 and 2001, was appointed Blackpool manager in 2012.
• Simon Grayson, who both played for and managed Blackpool, was appointed Preston manager in February 2013.

Prior to the 4 April 1958 derby at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool manager Joe Smith commented: "Every time we play Preston, something nearly always happens. This was one weekend when we wanted something like a full-strength team. Still, I expect the two youngsters to play with enthusiasm." Preston won 2–1, but one critic wrote: "The good thing in the match from Blackpool's point of view was the showings of Starkey and Gregson. Starkey showed just what hard grafting can achieve, while his application of the game was most promising. Both can be developed."

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