2007/08 Season Review - August
August was arguably one of the most eventful months in the 2007/08 season at Deepdale. It was filled with cup upsets, transfer acquisitions, international call-ups, personal landmarks and one particular surprise departure.
On the first day of the month young and promising goalkeeper Andy Murphy joined Norwich Victoria on loan until the New Year in the aim of gaining valuable first team experience whilst the Youth department bolstered their ranks by appointing Nick Harrison as Assistant Director, with Jamie Hoyland moving to the position of First Team Coach.
Three days later, and a week before the big kick-off in the Coca-Cola Championship, North End played their final pre-season fixture at home to Mark Hughes' Blackburn Rovers. 
The Premiership outfit ran out comfortable winners, triumphing 3-0 at Deepdale thanks to goals from Andre Ooijer and Christopher Samba, who bagged two second half headers.
North End were boosted when Liam Chilvers and Youl Mawene inked new deals which will keep them at the club to at least 2010. The big Frenchman admitted that he "listened to his heart, it was an easy decision to make and there was no place like England away from his native homeland".
On the eve of the new season, Preston spent big when they clinched a deal to bring Darren Carter to Deepdale. The left-footed creative midfielder signed a four-year contract at the Club for a fee which eventually could rise to £1.25m. 
Carts was thrust straight into the spotlight the day later when he lined up in midfield alongside fellow new signing Kevin Nicholls in the opening Championship game of the season at home to Norwich City. The pair impressed but for all of Preston's dominance they could not grab the solitary goal which would have ensured the three points, with the match eventually finishing in a 0-0 stalemate.
Paul Simpson reacted by securing the signature of Newcastle United's high-rated starlet Andy Carroll on 14th August. The tall striker, dubbed 'the new Duncan Ferguson' by the Tyneside press joined on-loan until the turn of the year.
Carroll made his debut that evening coming on as substitute in North End's surprise 2-1 home Carling Cup defeat to League Two newcomers Morecambe, a result which Manager Paul Simpson described as "massively disappointing."
Wayne Henderson was named in the Republic of Ireland squad to face Denmark in an International friendly before PNE went in search of their first victory of the season at promotion favourites West Bromwich Albion a couple of days later.
The fixture signalled a quick return to the Hawthorns for Darren Carter, but he couldn't prevent Preston from succumbing 2-0 to the eventual league Champions, with second half strikes from Kevin Phillips and Ishmael Miller sealing PNE's fate.
Young striker Chris McGrail joined Accrington Stanley on a six-month loan deal in the same week that North End were told by a tribunal that they could eventually pay up to £1m for summer recruit Billy Jones, who had signed from Crewe Alexandra.
The week leading up to the Colchester home fixture on Saturday 25th August was dominated by the fact that club captain and defensive stalwart Graham Alexander would be making his 400th appearance for the club against the men from Layer Road.
Tributes from former colleagues and managers had flooded in for the Scotland international, but North End couldn't celebrate Grezza's fine achievement on the pitch as Geraint William's side produced a smash-and-grab at Deepdale, taking the points back down to Suffolk with a 3-0 win, which included a goal from the penalty spot from Teddy Sheringham. The game also marked the fourth and last appearance of the 2007/08 campaign in PNE colours for Wayne Henderson who was ruled out for the remainder of the season with withstanding back problem.
Following the Colchester match, North End Chairman Derek Shaw also announced that he would not be standing for re-election at the next AGM. 
As transfer deadline day approached, North End fans were taken aback on 30th August when they heard the news that Graham Alexander had moved across M65 and signed for Burnley in a deal worth £200,000. The surprise transfer signalled the end of an era at the club for Grezza, who had signed from Luton Town eight-and-a-half years prior.
Just as August was coming to a close, Paul Simpson made one final capture in the summer transfer window by adding Paul Gallagher to the North End squad. The skilful attacker, who had previously enjoyed success in this division with Stoke City a couple of years earlier, signed on-loan until the turn of the year and offered more competition in the forward line.
Log onto PNE.Com on Friday for the September instalment of the 2007/08 review at Preston North End.
