The new Footyrider bus service launches for the first time this Saturday and the Deepdale Duck will be travelling to the ground at various times before the game, giving away freebies as he goes. As part of the launch of the Footyrider service and the newly revamped 2008/09 matchday programme, any fans that catch the same Footyrider bus that the Duck is sitting on will be able to enjoy their journey whilst browsing a free copy of the programme.*

The footyrider service will make it even easier for fans to get to the historic first home league fixture with the Invincibles Pavilion in operation. Whatever Footyrider bus you get on, the service will take you to the ground and back again for just £2, on production of a MyPNE membership card.

It could ultimately save fans pounds on petrol and parking and the hassle of driving to and from the ground and finding a parking space. PNE are therefore urging fans to 'go green and use the footyrider scheme!'

'The cost of fuel'... 'reducing your carbon footprint'... 'parking chaos'... statements we hear and read across the media every day at the moment, but with the footyrider service PNE and Stagecoach are doing something about it!

Preston North End is committed to making matchday travel to Deepdale as easy and hassle-free as possible with the Soccerbus partnership with Lancashire County Council already in place and continuing to operate alongside this new scheme, however, by offering the footyrider scheme, the Club believes an efficient, regular transport service will be hugely beneficial to many supporters.



Speaking about the new initiative General Manager Ben Rhodes said: "The footyrider service is a fantastic new venture which offers fans regular transport to the ground on matchdays. We know that many fans travel independently in their own cars or park a distance from the stadium.

"We wanted to remove this hassle for all supporters, whether attending alone or with a family, by offering a safe and reliable transport service. By leaving their cars at home, fans are also helping the environment and saving money on parking and petrol. We anticipate the footyrider service will be a very friendly and enjoyable method of travel, allowing PNE fans to get to the game together".

The footyrider service 19 departs from Stand 70 at Preston Bus Station to get to Deepdale Stadium. Buses run from the station every ten minutes and after the match, a bus will be outside the ground to transport supporters back to the Bus Station, with Stagecoach's scheduled services also running passed the ground. Supporters can then change onto their relevant bus home from the Bus Station all included in the £2 price!



For any evening or Sunday fixtures a footyrider shuttle service will run from the Bus Station Stand 70 to the ground approx every ten minutes, for one hour, starting 75 minutes prior to kick-off.

After matches, two buses will collect supporters from outside the ground, one leaving approximately ten minutes after the final whistle just to the Bus Station, and one leaving around 15 minutes after the final whistle, which will operate via the Bus Station, then continue onto Ribbleton Lane, past Gamull Shops, through Grimsargh and into Longridge, using the same route as the Citi 1 bus.

"Much is made of transport, traffic and parking issues at the moment," added Rhodes. "And we wanted to try and make a statement of intent in our actions to to improve the ease and cost of getting to Deepdale and we believe this partnership can do that successfully."

A £2 footyrider ticket will be available to any supporter that shows a valid MyPNE membership card to the driver. Cards are free to all ages and offer numerous discounts both with the Club and many local partners including McDonalds, Odeon Cinema, Tenpin and Chiquito Restaurant.

The service operating to Longridge will be numbered PNE1, all other journeys between the ground and bus station will operate as Citi 19.

The boundary for the area of the footyrider and the service on those routes is as follows: Longridge (Citi 1), Blackburn (X59), Hesketh Bank (Citi 2), New Longton (Citi 2A/2B), Penwortham (Citi 3), Wesham (Service 61/61A), Lea Post Office (Service 68), Clayton Green (Service 125/6). The FootyRider will not be valid on Service 40/41 or 109.

*While stocks on the buses last. Strictly one programme per footyrider ticket issued. Only valid when shown on the same bus the Deepdale Duck travels on.