The 2017-18 campaign, under the astute management of Alex Neil, was a season of soaring hope for Preston North End as The Lilywhites surged to an impressive 7th-place finish in the Championship, narrowly missing out on the play-off spots. Leading the charge was the new Irish forward Seán Maguire, whose 10 crucial goals in his debut season anchored a side built on a relentless push for the top six. It was a pivotal year that cemented the club's status back in the second tier and remains a defining chapter of their ambition to return to the Premier League.