How Preston North End's owner the Hemmings family created a net worth of £1.1bn | OneFootball

The Lilywhites has been in control of the entire Hemmings family since 2021 following the untimely passing of Trevor Hemmings

Preston North End once again find themselves in a similar position to the one that they have been in for the past however many years - Championship stability.

Ever since Preston won promotion to the second tier of football, nearly a decade ago, they have been a solid Championship outfit, but rarely much more than that.

They came close to securing a play-off spot in the 2017/18 season when they finished seventh, but they haven't been any closer to challenging for a spot in the Premier League since then, and it looks like it's going to be more of the same in the 2024/25 season.

The departure of Ryan Lowe after just one game certainly threw a spanner in their works, but bringing in Paul Heckingbottom will likely continue their ever-present status in the second tier, unless they go on some miraculous run.

Getting over that hump has always been a big challenge for Preston. The Lilywhites haven't been in the top tier of English football since the start of the 1960's. It's a challenge that's faced almost all of its owners, including, most recently, the Hemmings family.

The Hemmings family's involvement with Preston North End stretches back decades

Trevor Hemmings bought 51% of the club back in 2010 after Preston were served with a winding up petition by HM Revenue and Customs.

This wasn't the first time that he had been a part of the furniture at Deepdale, though. His involvement with the Lilywhites goes back to the 1970s when he was a director of the club.

In his first full season as owner (2010/11), Preston were relegated to League One. He was able to make up for it though when he got the club back to the Championship four seasons later, but the London-born businessman didn't get to witness his team play in the top flight during his lifetime.

Unfortunately, he passed away in October 2021, at the age of 86, with his son Craig taking over as chairman of the club.

The family still own Trevor's controlling stake in the club through the company Wordon Limited, but previous reports have suggested that they are open to selling if the right price is offered.

How Trevor Hemmings made his money

The fortunes of Hemmings were handed down to his family after his passing in 2021. Months before he passed away, he featured in The Sunday Times Rich List, who estimated his net worth to be £1.1 billion.

Hemmings started in his professional life as a builder, setting up a company in his 20's when he only had £12 in capital, according to the man himself.

In this trade he began to accrue quite a bit of wealth, before moving into the leisure and property sector.

At various points in his life, Hemmings owned the likes of Blackpool Tower, Pontins holiday camps and, of course, Preston North End.

He actually became a director of Pontins after selling his company to Fred Pontin.

He had a long history with owning racehorses too. Three Grand National-winners were owned by the tycoon - a number which equaled the record for most winners of the prestigious race at the time of his death, but that sport is not necessarily known for making much profit as an owner.

Almost all of his enterprises were based in the north west of England, where he grew up after being born in the nation's capital. His legacy lives on today through his family and through Preston.

Through his family, including his son and PNE chairman Craig, the horses still run under the name 'Exors Of The Late Trevor Hemmings', and is a director at a number of hotels around the United Kingdom - as well as the Blackpool Pleasure Beach amusement park.