


The fact that this season ultimately turned into another disappointment for PNE didn't
really surprise anyone after the appointment of Frank Mcavoy left most fans feeling a little
disgruntled that once again we had gone for the cheap option. It did make predicting a little
easier though, as most punters knew there would be more losses and draws than wins,
except for the occasional game when luck went our way. The removal of Mr Cliché (get
into channels, turn draws into wins...) suggested that a new manager - promising the Brazil
1970 team - would make predicting easier once again. However, after a few impressive
results, PNE returned to normality by losing games we expected to win, and winning some
we should have lost, leading to the inevitable just-below-mid-table finish. We've been here
many times before haven't we!
All this made the predictions competition a game of two halves, beginning with punters in the
top six spots bunched together, seperated by a handful of points, but changing after
December when Keith (sagwhite) and Gary (costablancawhite) began to slowly pull away
from the pack, turning the competition almost into a two horse race despite the efforts of
Paul (Bedford white) and Marcus (pom). Eventually it came down to the top two to fight it
out, but even then nothing was simple as, with PNE's erratic form the last 8/9 games
(omiting the usual spanking at Fulham), all matches seemed to offer a possible win, draw
or loss, so Predictions Points were few and far between. Eventually, Keith staggered over
the line, not with swashbuckling predictions of 6 pointers but with just enough one's,
three's and four's to fend off the challenge of Gary in what was another low-scoring
competition.
Keith had taken the lead in the 18th game and stayed top until the end of the season. He
becomes the first punter to win the famous trophy three times following previous
successes in 2012-13 and 2018-19, and allows Spain to continue to punch above its
weight against the "big two" of England and Australia.
The remaining top six after Keith & Gary were: Steve (Tricky One), Paul (Bedford White),
last years champion Mark (walrus) and former champion Mike (pneireland), and it was only
the second time in the history of the competition that all the podium places were filled
without a single representative from the southern hemisphere.
A modicum of salve for the wounded pride of those Downunder came in the result of the
PP cup competiton, where Marcus (pom) lifted his first PP trophy after a close-fought
campaign in which just a single point seperated the top four punters. Marcus now has his
first title after a few close shaves and backed that up with a 7th place finish in the league
competition.
And so the world-famous and much-travelled PP Trophy heads off for another year to
Madrid where, after a third success in the competition, Keith can now look forward to even
greater fame and fortune. Talks regarding a proposed film of his life from humble
beginnings in the back streets of Deepdale to three times winner of the prestigious PP
Trophy are ongoing with Warner Brothers, so watch this space!
Well played all, and thanks for taking part. Here's to the next campaign.
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The PP board and the press descended on Keith's house for the trophy presentation 



Let's not forget the Cup Competition winners either. 
The All time PP Leaderboard. 
And of course the lavish awards ceremony went off with a bang!. 
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