Northern Wilderness - Preston North End

Colder than one of Roy Keane's stares

Entering new and uncharted territories brings with it an eager anticipation for the potential of new adventures ahead. A trip into the unknown can fuel your imagination at the potential for wondrous sights and unforgettable experiences. In part however, your heart begins to race and your adrenaline starts to rise because of that deeper, underlying feeling that can only be described as trepidation. Trepidation that any trip into the unknowns of the vast Northern wilderness out there can also be fraught with potential risks and hazards. Trepidation that any trip can bring with it a real battle for survival in a bleak and inhospitable climate. It is these very sort of away days that the skills of ‘Wilderness Bushcraft’ were designed for.

If the avalanche of snow that hit the UK at the beginning of the year has taught us anything, it’s that being prepared for the cold is the most valuable lesson that we can all learn. Dealing with a windswept ground in the North of England is no such exception. As I’m sure you can appreciate hypothermia is not a pleasant thing. This is the most valuable lesson that I can pass on from a trip to Deepdale where almost ‘arctic-like’ conditions were experienced. Wearing thermals, sensible footwear and maybe that extra pair of underwear are all precautions we can take and one might also like to consider gloves and a hat as a must. If you’re an inexperienced traveller to the wildernesses of the North, borrowing your Dad’s finest thermos flask is another sensible option.

If you are able to tackle the windswept conditions, Preston itself is an away trip that every football fan owes themselves to take at least once in their lifetime. Steeped in tradition and overflowing with history, Deepdale is a monument to a bygone era of English football, of cloth caps, wooden rattles and FA Cup ties that needed nine replays. That’s not to say that it doesn’t offer the 21st century fan a selection of home comforts, just that you get that appreciation for a more innocent and less corporate time for the beautiful game.

A trip into deepest, darkest Lancashire also allows those of you out there who like to explore a bit of culture on your day trips, to enjoy the National Football museum, a fine collection of historical artefacts from the rich tapestry of England’s football history. A quick warning to always be on your guard however, should you decide to leave the beaten track to go exploring you must always remember to be respectful of the locals. Warnings put up around the many fine watering holes near to the ground can sometimes read; ‘away fans not welcome – home fans only’. Don’t take it personally, there are many friendly greasy spoons to occupy your time and provide you with hospitality, but best to heed the local warnings if you want your visit to be a peaceful one.