Preston then had to wait until 1994 when they were in the basement division for their second attempt in the play offs. In a memorable semi final in which Preston overturned a two goal first leg defecit at Deepdale, John Beck took his troops to Wembley for the first time since the 1964 Cup final. Unfortunately, they were to be denied in the final by a Marton O'Neill Wycombe side.
Preston were back a year later but this time under Gary Peters who fell short of promotion after the Whites were defeated by Bury in the play off semi final.
The next time was in 1999 when David Moyes took Preston into the Division 2 (League One) play offs where they were narrowly defeated in the semi final over two legs by Gillingham.
After promotion, Moyes then took Preston to their highest finish for some time in 2001 as they ended up fourth and in the Division 1 (Championship) play offs. They defeated Birmingham on penalties in a memorable semi final but were denied at Cardiff by Sam Allardyce's Bolton side.
Billy Davies then took Preston into the play offs in 2005 where they overcame Derby in the semi final only to be denied by a Bobby Zamora goal for West Ham in the final.
A year later Billy Davies took Preston back to the play offs but only to be denied in the semi final by a Leeds team managed by Kevin Blackwell who coincidentally will bring his Sheffield United side to Deepdale this Friday evening.