THE Swinging 60s came like a breath of fresh air to the nation, with the new style of music and the trendy fashion scene.

Four lads from Liverpool - John, Paul, George and Ringo - a skinny lass with a front tooth missing and orange hair called Cilla Black and a group from London called The Rolling Stones stole the limelight.

Carnaby Street set the fashion trend and Jean Shrimpton was the catwalk clothes horse as everyone changed fashion styles and haircuts.

So how did football compete? Easily.

The crowds flooded through the turnstiles and provided their own pre-match entertainment with an array of the current pop songs. The Deepdale terraces rang out with the hits of the day.

Having been perpetual runners-up in the previous decade, Preston North End went in search of overdue honours - but it all went immediately wrong as they finished bottom of the table in 1961.

They were relegated along with Newcastle United and have never to this day returned to the top flight.

Jimmy Milne replaced Cliff Britton as manager but North End struggled to regain First Division status.

In 1964, however, the town was in high spirits again as the twin towers of Wembley Stadium beckoned once more.

Yes! Preston were again in the FA Cup final, with footballer of the year Bobby Moore and West Ham United providing the opposition.

North End were the underdogs as not a single person outside of Preston gave them a chance against the First Division outfit.

Ten minutes into the match Doug Holden put Preston one up. But, while the fans were still celebrating, John Sissons put the Hammers level.

Howard Kendall, the youngest player to appear in an FA Cup Final at 20 days short of his 18th birthday, took control of midfield and it came as no surprise when Alec Dawson put Preston back in front 2-1.

West Ham were rattled but recovered for Geoff Hurst to net a second equaliser.

Then, tragedy for Preston fans in injury time as Peter Brabrook floated over a cross to the far post. The North End defence was all over the place and in came Ronnie Boyce to crash in the winner wide of Kelly.

The team coach which toured Preston after the final, once again, didn't have the silverware on board.

Bill Shankley, once a Preston player, came back to Deepdale, left a cheque for £40,000 and drove off with North End winger Peter Thompson to Liverpool.

However, in 1966 the entire country celebrated as England beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley to win the World Cup.

Preston battled away in the Second Division and in 1967 Blackpool joined them as they were relegated along with Aston Villa.

But the decade ended tragically for Preston North End. They were relegated to the Third Division. The town was in mourning and it didn't help matters what arch rivals Blackpool were promoted back to Division One.

Next week, we shall look at 1970-80, and how two of England's World Cup heroes would be appointed managers of Preston North End.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.