Pearce: "I almost joined Preston"
By Jamie Bradbury
Monday, 28 March, 2011
Three Lions Coach looking forward to match at Deepdale.
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See England's next home game against Iceland in Preston on 28 March
Tickets are available from Deepdale ticket office right up to kick-off on Monday evening priced £10 for adults and £5 for children
Watch the FATV interview with Stuart Pearce
As Stuart Pearce prepares to bring his England Under-21s side to Preston for a meeting with Iceland, he looked back on when, as a player, he nearly signed for the club.
Pearce was playing for Newcastle United when he was offered an opportunity at Deepdale by then manager David Moyes. However, the left-back, who played 78 times for his country, had to reject the approach but wonders what might have happened had he made the switch.
"I nearly played for Preston towards the end of the ‘90s," Pearce told FATV. "David Moyes was the manager and they were in the play-offs at the time looking to get into the Premier League.
"I was umm-in and aah-ing whether to go, I was at Newcastle at the time and my wife had just had our first child, so in the end I declined the opportunity. But I often wondered what it would have been like to go and work with David.
"He’s a manager I respect greatly and at the time it would have been good to get some first team football, but it was a decision I had to make at the time and whether it was the right one I’ll never know."
On Monday night, Pearce's Young Lions will be playing in Preston in their penultimate game before this summer's UEFA European Under-21s Championship. Iceland are the opponents and they too will be looking to weigh up their options as another of the eight teams in their summer's tournament in Denmark.
"In qualification Iceland came out of a group that was won by the unbeaten Czech Republic, who are probably the best side in Europe right now," explained Pearce. "Germany were also in that group, so they had to do well to get through to the play-off.
"They have proven themselves to be a strong side and having seen them play numerous times I’m expecting a tough game.
"But in addition to preparing us for what might lie ahead in June, there’s also a sub-plot to this game, as Iceland are also in our qualification group for the 2013 campaign."
"We're looking forward to it, and at a place like Preston with their great tradition, it will be great to bring the team to a town that loves its football for such an important preparation match for us."
Click here to watch the FATV interview with Stuart Pearce
Tickets for the game at Deepdale are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children.
To buy visit the ticket office at Deepdale, call 0844 856 1966 or online at www.mypne.com .