Sunday 15 February 2015 16:09, UK
Manager Simon Grayson wants Preston to mark the first anniversary of Sir Tom Finney’s death by causing another big shock in this year’s FA Cup – beating Manchester United at Deepdale.
Finney, Preston’s greatest ever player with 210 goals in 473 appearances between 1946 and 1960, died on Valentine’s Day last year aged 91.
The League One club face a huge task against Louis van Gaal’s side in the fifth round on Monday night and Grayson said: "This football club has got fantastic history and tradition.
"It's quite poignant that this weekend is the first anniversary of his death so it would be a fantastic way to mark what he did for this football club.
It's quite poignant that this weekend is the first anniversary of his (Finney's) death so it would be a fantastic way to mark what he did for this football club.
“There's always one shock and a hero – hopefully it's going to be a Preston North End player. You've got to go into a game like this and enjoy it. Our players may never get the chance to play against the likes of Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie ever again.
“The one thing you have to say to them is to have no regrets. We know the task that's against us because of what they are and what they're capable of doing, but we've got nothing to lose and they've got everything.”
Grayson has led a side to a momentous FA Cup victory over United before - ending Leeds’ near-30-year wait for a win at Old Trafford in 2010.
“Every time I go to Leeds people remind me about it,” he added. “It's a different football club, different personnel, but I'll draw from the experience.
“What a great feeling it was to win at Old Trafford that day. You don't get the opportunity to do that very often and I want to try to replicate it if possible. You have to have that belief that you can do it.”
