Michael Rathbone, commonly known in the footballing world as 'Basil', is a legend at Deepdale from two spells with the Lilywhites, firstly as a player in the late 80s and more recently the physio at the turn of the Millennium.

Two different eras provoked many different memories for the former full-back. Having joined in 1987 from Blackburn, a club he spent eight seasons with, Mick ended his playing days with Preston under the rule of a manager he had the most sincere respect for.

The Birmingham-born legend reminisced: "John McGrath is an outstanding memory from my time here. His manner, his charisma and his legendary team talks, the way he terrified yet inspired us.

"Even now when I see Sam Allardyce or Les Chapman the conversation always ends up about John McGrath. My years at Preston as a player were dominated by him and probably the fairly average performances on the pitch at the time.

"Even though I know that Sam Allardyce braces all the latest technology, when he took over as manager of Bolton he was almost ten years ahead of his time in terms of preparation and sports science. I'm sure that there is a big part of Sam, deep down that is owed to John McGrath.

"I honestly can't believe we played league games then on a plastic pitch. I think I probably had a grass burn non stop for four years on my knees and on my hips. One thing that sticks in my mind would be sitting in the dressing room at half-time, receiving the medicine of John McGrath and I'd be looking round to see every player with red strawberry burns.

"It wasn't an ideal surface but I know that when it got put down in the mid-eighties it made Preston a bit of money because they could use it with the community and it probably saved them from bankruptcy.

"The pitches have been refined now to a standard where we are playing World Cup qualifiers on them. That's where we are now and there is no doubt about it that if you can get Astroturf that is as good as grass, because of its durability, it will revolutionise everything.

"QPR's was the first and it was so hard to play on. The ball bounced 20 feet up in the air, Preston's, Oldham's and Luton's were slightly better however. When it was dry on Deepdale, it was alright but when it was wet and windy the ball would be like a bar of soap. It was just a weird experience and I still can hardly believe it."

Having decided to hang up his boots at the age of 33, Basil decided that a bash at physiotherapy was the next step in his career. This involved extensive studying, something he had prepared himself for in his earlier days at school, that was until a career in football came calling.

He added: "When I went to a grammar school, back in Birmingham back in the 70s I wanted to be a doctor. I was really interested in medicine and had planned to go to university and then medical school but at 16 I joined Birmingham who were my hometown club and the team I supported.

"When I look back I probably regret that and if I had my life again I would have probably gone to medical school. The point is that I always had an interest in medicine and when I finished playing I realised that I needed some qualifications so went to Salford University for four years and became a chartered physio and the rest is history.

"My second time with Preston, when I was qualified as a physio was probably even better. We had years of constant success, moving from the lowest division with Gary Peters to within 90 minutes of the Premiership when we got beat by Bolton.

"At the same time the ground was rising like a phoenix from the ashes. My first year as a physio the Sir Tom Finney Stand was being built, the second it was the Shankly Kop and then later the Alan Kelly Town End. Even the training ground was developed so we didn't have to get in our cars and travel to Myerscough.

"As the Club fought its way back into the big time, the infrastructure was being put in place. Every year we could come back and see a general improvement, the crowds were big enough, it was just fantastic time. I can honestly say that in my working life over the last 15 years, the time at Preston was special."

Basil left North End in 2002 for a position at Everton, one which he still occupies to this day. Despite still living in Blackburn, trips to Deepdale have been fairly limited over the last five seasons but whenever the opportunity does arise for a return he makes sure to stop for a word with the few remaining people he knows still involved with the Club.

"I've been back with Everton in the last two pre-seasons when we've played North End. Of course everything moves on and changes, if you go back a year after you've left you know ninety per cent of the people but when you go back after five years you know five per cent of the people. Now I only know Paul McKenna as a player, Brian Hickson the kit man and that is really it, everybody else has gone.

"But I have some fantastic memories, I've been ever so lucky to play for some great clubs. My hometown team Birmingham, then Blackburn, Preston and even Halifax was enjoyable and now I'm at Everton. Every side I have been involved with, in their own way, are special. The Lancashire clubs, the founder members, have a unique feel about them.

"I always tried to make people laugh, I still do. When I was approaching the end of my career I had a few bad injuries and I realised then that it is hard and it's important that the physio motivates and stimulates you. That is what I try to do, firstly at Preston and now at Everton."

This interview was taken from the official matchday programme, where you can find articles with many past PNE players from down the years. To pick up a backdated copy call into the official club shop now.