Preston want vandals shopped

It was only at the end of last season when Preston went crazy over something and nothing during their play off defeat against Leeds, but the damage their fans are causing has now led to them appealing to their supporters to name and shame those responsible.

“It is very disappointing because our fans have always been known for their excellent behaviour,” Chairman Derek Shaw said. “It is only a very small minority of individuals who are responsible but we need to stamp it out before it gets any worse, and the only way to do that is to identify the people responsible. If court action is taken, they will be banned from Deepdale as well.”

The damage caused at Burnley is worse than that caused at either Stoke or Derby and Burnley's Facilities Manager Doug Metcalfe said: “It is the worst damage by visiting supporters that any of the staff here can remember. Millwall came and did some damage [that was in 2000] but not to this extent.

“We have had staff working on repairing the stand for the past week or more and still they haven't finished, it is difficult to put a cost on the work but it doesn't come cheap.”

The trail of destruction, apart from the seats, continued into the concourse where toilets and other fixtures were badly damaged, a hell of a lot of damage caused by what Shaw describes as a very small minority.

And Shaw added: “To be honest I am a little surprised because normally our away fans have a terrific reputation throughout football. We do not want our club getting this sort of reputation. It is not like Preston North End and we need to stop it here and now."