Preston North End was part of the twelve football teams that made up the English Football League in 1888 , and were the first team ever to win the English Football League . Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston , Lancashire , currently playing in the second tier of English league football , The Championship . They were a founding member of the English Football League in 1888 and were the first English football champions .