Lancashire

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  1. Heckingbottom reacts to Preston's draw at QPR

    Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after his side began the Championship season with a 1-1 draw at QPR.

    "It's a good point overall when you're away from home and you go behind," Heckingbottom said.

    "To come back and be the stronger team in the second half, I'm pleased with.

    "Average first half but much more intent and aggression and how we want to play in the second half.

    "I've always said it will take a good team to beat us when we play with that mindset."

  2. The back of a police officer's jacket. It is a yellow-green high-visibility jacket with the word POLICE in capital letters on a blue background on it

  3. Burnley lose to Lazio in final pre-season friendly

    Mattia Xancellieri runs with the ball against BurnleyGetty Images

    Burnley lost 1-0 to Lazio at Turf Moor on Saturday in their final pre-season game before their Premier League campaign begins next weekend.

    Summer signing Max Weiss saved a second half penalty but was beaten by Matteo Cancellieri late on at the end of a quick break from the Italian side.

  4. Crawshawbooth - junction of York Street and Burnley Road. A small public square is on the left, with a stone-built three-storey building on the street corner opposite a terrace of small shops.

  5. An exterior shot of St Anne's Church in Woodplumpton. The church sits behind a small graveyard, which is overhung by tall trees.

  6. A future-shaping summer for North End

    Jack Bridge
    Fan writer

    Preston North End fan view banner
    Thierry Small playing for Preston North End during their friendly against LiverpoolGetty Images

    If you're a Preston fan, you'll know the 2024-25 season was not one for the faint-hearted.

    We spent far too much of it glancing nervously over our shoulders, the play-off chatter of previous years replaced by the far less glamorous business of staying up. We got there - just - but not before the winds of change swept through Deepdale.

    Ryan Lowe's early-season exit felt like the end of a chapter. In came Paul Heckingbottom, a man who wasted no time telling it straight: the Championship is a "crazy" division, and Preston needed to toughen up if we were going to survive in it.

    This summer has been all about laying foundations. Pre-season friendlies might not make headlines, the results are something we and Heckingbottom should pay little interest in. We saw a mix of the old guard and new faces, with a few academy lads making appearances too.

    The nine signings so far haven't been about flashy names; they've been about the right characters - something we've been good at over the past few years. Thierry Small's arrival, for example, brings pace and bite to a backline that will need both, and some potential to be a valuable asset.

    Of course, we've said goodbye to a few too. It's never easy watching familiar names move on - it begs the question, are we going to miss those 12 goals from Emil Riis, or the leadership of Ryan Ledson? There's been a measured, not reckless approach to the window so far but I feel like we still need a little more.

    As a fan, you can't help but dream — that's the deal we sign up for. I'm not predicting miracles but if we can sprinkle some creative sparkle and add a sharper edge up top, we might just swap those nervous glances down the table for ambitious ones up in what is the most competitive Championship we've seen in a long, long time.

    For now, it's hope mixed with a bit of healthy caution — which, if you've followed Preston long enough, feels like home.

  7. Dozens and dozens of tuppaware are stacked on a metal counter. The left half are filled with rice, the right half are filled with a red curry.

  8. Planes fly around Blackpool Tower - there are 7 planes and their white trails flying up above the tower

  9. Armando Broja in action for Chelsea

  10. Burnley complete Broja signing

    Armando Broja celebrates while playing for ChelseaGetty Images

    Albania striker Armando Broja has completed a move to Burnley from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee.

    The 23-year-old has eight goals in 76 Premier League appearances across spells at Southampton, Everton, Fulham and Chelsea.

    "I am really excited to be here as a Burnley player," Broja said. "I'm feeling good, I'm ready and I'm excited about the challenge of playing for this club.

    "I can already feel the support from the fans – I can tell you all that I will be giving my all every time I pull on the famous Claret shirt."

    "It's a really positive time to be joining this club ahead of the start of the new Premier League season. I can't wait to get going!

    The forward is Burnley's ninth signing since returning to the Premier League.

  11. Altrincham sign defender Sassi on loan

    Altrincham have signed Blackpool centre-back Dan Sassi on loan until the end of 2025.

    The 21-year-old is yet to make a league appearance for Blackpool and spent the second half of last season on loan with AFC Fylde.

  12. Close up of Leonie Wilkinson who has blond hair, brown eyes and brown eyebrows wearing a cream top and beige scarf with red, white and black patterns standing in front of a white cupboard. She is smiling.

  13. 'Burnley's Pointer took my autograph book away with England' - fan stories

    A black banner that reads My Club My Passion in white block capitals. On the right hand side, a dark-haired woman raises her fists to her shoulders in celebration in front of a yellow background

    You have been sharing your stories and photos about why you love Burnley.

    Here is a final selection of your submissions, but do make sure you scroll down this page to see all the best responses from throughout the week:

    Ian: I have supported Burnley for over 70 years.

    One of my outstanding memories is asking Ray Pointer for his autograph. He took my book with him and not only got the rest of the team but took it to all the away games including England games till the end of the season.

    Imagine players doing that today!

    Young Burnley supporter dressed in a Burnley kit.

    Eric: My grandad took me on The Turf circa 1966, and we had to take a wooden box with us so I could stand on it to see the game. We stood in the old Longside - I don't remember any of the game but I was hooked.

    My first away game was at Preston when we won the old second division, I can still recall the noise when Colin Waldron scored. I went to the FA Cup semi in 1974 but Malcolm Macdonald broke my heart that day.

    Oliver: It's my dad's team. We didn't live nearby at the time but he took my brother and I up to Turf Moor to watch a game. Sat around where he used to stand on the Longside and it was great hearing his memories. We lost, but the atmosphere was amazing and that's what ultimately matters.

    I caught the bug from him.

  14. Two Red Arrows fighter planes, with red livery and a white triangle and red, white and blue bullseye symbol on their undercarriages, cross paths in the air while billowing out blue and red smoke

  15. A generic view of the River Ribble, showing flat, calm water surrounded by large trees on the banks

  16. A graphic image featuring four Polaroid style photos

  17. Sonny Cox celebrates scoring for Exeter City

  18. The sandy and grey bricked promenade and sea wall leading on to the sand and grey rock beach at Cleveleys. The white waves of the sea lap the shore in the background

  19. Preston boss 'feels' for injured Thompson

    Andy Bayes
    Sports editor, BBC Radio Lancashire

    Heckingbottom: ‘We know what we’ve got, let’s go and do our business…’

    Preston North End start the new season without summer signing Jordan Thompson who will be missing for the next couple of months following ankle surgery.

    Speaking about the injury, boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's another couple of months for Jordan. I think I said at the time that he had a misdiagnosis after the final game of last season [for Stoke City].

    "He has had an operation now to sort it out and is in recovery which is hard for him because when you come to a new club, you want to start well and it is only when he got to a certain point that he realised something was wrong, so I feel for him."

    Robbie Brady is also missing for a couple of weeks with a calf injury while Brad Potts will be assessed ahead of tomorrow's opening-day trip to QPR (15:00 BST).

    Ahead of the game, Heckingbottom added: "I want to get going. Once these league games get underway, that is when you start getting proper feedback about the players.

    "With the teams that have come up and come down, I have not got a clue how this Championship [season] is going to go. Our expectation for every game is to go and try to win."

    Debuts could be handed to summer signings, Daniel Iversen (Leicester), Odel Offiah (Brighton), Pol Valentin and Michael Smith (Sheffield Wednesday), Thierry Small (Charlton), Daniel Jebbison (Bournemouth, loan), Andrija Vukcevic (FC Juarez).

    Heckingbottom said he was "delighted" by the business the Lilywhites have done this summer - click here to listen to his full interview via BBC Sounds.

    BBC Sounds banner

  20. A street view of cars driving along a single carriageway road with trees on left and houses plus bus shelter on the right.

  21. A mugshot of Mark Bocker, who is staring impassively towards the camera.

    • UK
    The Manannan ferry moored in Douglas Harbour with the beach and the promenade in the background and hills in the distance.

  23. Google streetview of the grey and white Art Deco building with purple barriers set up in front.

  24. Chelsea's Broja gives green light to Burnley move

    Nizaar Kinsella
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Armando BrojaGetty Images

    Chelsea striker Armando Broja is expected to complete his transfer to Burnley in the next 24 hours.

    The 23-year-old has taken a few days to weigh up the move and negotiate the terms of his contract after a club-to-club agreement thought to be worth up to £20m was made over the weekend.

    Broja is excited about a first permanent move away from Stamford Bridge and keen to play regular first-team football.

    It will be Burnley’s third signing from Chelsea this summer. Midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu joined this week and a loan move for Bashir Humphreys was made permanent for a combined £55m.