Milestone at 'special' Preston North End a long time coming for Irish defender

The Irishman played his 150th league game for PNE against Watford at the weekend, an achievement seven years in the making.

Cunningham first joined North End in 2015 as a free agent from Bristol City upon promotion to the Championship but departed for Cardiff City in the Premier League three years later.

He returned to the club initially on loan in 2021 but the move was quickly turned permanent.

The 31-year-old was not aware how close he was to 150 games but is proud once he sits down to reflect.

He said: “It's nice when you just kind of sit down. Coming over as a 16-year-old boy and the dream is just to play professionally, you do just kind of take it for granted.

"150 league appearances for this club is special because I've always said Preston holds a special place in my heart.

"It is nice, you do get a bit of time once you get home and I didn't actually realise it until I saw it on social media.

"I was sat on 149 towards the end of last year, it's nice. It gives you more motivation to get more appearances.

"The next milestone you're thinking about is right, can I get to 200? I feel good in myself and it's nice to hit that marker and get the league minutes under my belt this season. Hopefully there is more to come.”

Cunningham is still fully focused on his football, despite his long service to his career and even now having a young family.

He’s looking to keep pushing on, right until the end of his playing days.

“There are different zones you find yourself in as you go through your career. My daughter is 11 months old now, family is very important to me and that takes a lot of focus too.

"But having been over here for 16 years now, football has always been the dictator of my life.

"I wouldn't have it any other way until the end of my career and then it's onto the next chapter, whatever that may be.

"It's been a great few years and I really hope there is a lot more to come still.”