Simon Grayson Spotify playlist

Image: Preston North End

As proud sponsors of Preston North End, we were delighted to find out in the summer that PNE's manager Simon Grayson is a bit of a music fan, and even more chuffed when he let us know he'd do a Spotify playlsit for us.

The former right back represented Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City during his career, winning a League Cup with the latter in 1997, before embarking on a management career which has seen him guide Blackpool, Huddersfield and Leeds United to promotion so far.

He'll be hoping this is the year he continues that record by taking PNE back to the Championship, and we've every faith that he will. You can listen to his choices, including Joy Division, Simple Minds, Motorhead and more, below.

We caught up with him quickly below to find out about why the music he picked meant what it has to him, and to see if any of the bands had come into contact with him via his footballing work.

Hi Simon, thanks for sharing your playlist with us! Are these songs that have been with you for years then or recent discoveries?

All the songs are songs that remind me of being a teenager, concerts or bands that's I've grown to like, others have poignant memories to me.

What is it about the music here you like?

There are different types of music which represent different stages of my life. Predominately though it's music with good guitarists and drums, and also how the music can lift you or get a crowd going when played live.

Who looks after the dressing room music at PNE? And who has the worst taste in the side?!

The younger lads, Bailey Wright and Josh Brownhill two examples, but recently I've changed it where every member of the playing and coaching staff choose one song and then it's played on shuffle. So it ranges from Elvis to modern dance music, but it's all good banter. 

We've seen Kaiser Chiefs in there; did you ever manage to meet them when you were Leeds manager? Have their been any other musicians you've come into contact with during your time in football?

I've become close friends with them over the last few years, they would come in my office before a game for a catch up, talk about football and music.

I've been lucky through football to get to know and meet a lot a lot of bands over the years, Kasabian through my Leicester days, Paul Heaton for probably 20 years, he knows more about players than most managers! The Killers was a one off highlight though.

The one band I would love to meet but never have is U2, I'm a massive fan of them.

Are there any other bands with a football heritage you're into? And what would be your favourite football related song over the years?

Certain songs bring back football memories, and for that reason they will always be special. 'Chelsea Dagger' by The Fratellis was played at Wembley when we got promoted with Blackpool, and then 'Paradise' by Coldplay was the same when I went up with Huddersfield

'I Gotta Feeling' by The Black Eyed Peas,  this was on in the dressing at Leeds before and after the game against Bristol Rovers. We needed to win to go up on the last day of the season, it was eventful to say the least! We had a man sent off but we managed to get the win, and the song reminds me of that euphoria (watch Jermaine Beckford score the goal that took Leeds up that day above).

What's been the best gig you've gone to recently?

I go to V festival every year. Over the summer I saw Kasabian in Leicester and London, Paul Heaton in Manchester, and recently the Pigeon Detectives, who are good Leeds lads. 

Finally you've led the mighty North End to promotion dreamland, and to celebrate you've been given an unlimited budget, not to build a new team but instead to get the ultimate concert at Deepdale to celebrate.

Not only that they've somehow bagged a Delorean meaning you can back in time and get a performer from any point in their career, including people now dead. What five artists would you go for, and why?

U2. As they are my favourite band going back to old stuff in the eighties. Elvis, as Glynn Snodin (PNE assitant manager) absolutely loves him and would probably get up on stage and sing n dance with him, even though he dances the same to Elvis as he does to The Killers! 

Kaiser Chiefs would bring energy n life to the party, i'd definitely need  Paul Heatons fantastic voice , finishing with 'Happy Hour'. And then finally  The Killers, I've seen them many times and not yet seen them play a bad gig. So many great songs