The Everton manager is preparing for a significant homecoming as the club makes the trip north for a Carabao Cup second-round encounter with Preston North End on Wednesday.
The fixture holds special significance for the 63-year-old, who brought his playing days to a close at Deepdale before eventually taking charge of the Lancashire side.
The Scottish manager spoke warmly about the valuable foundation the club provided him and recounted conversations with Sir Tom Finney, a revered figure in English football history and a Preston icon.
Despite the emotional context, Moyes faces pressure from the club’s leadership. Chief executive Angus Kinnear made it clear before the campaign began that the manager was expected to prioritise cup competitions as the club aims to break a trophy drought that will stretch to 32 years without silverware this term.
For Moyes himself, the competition offers a chance to strengthen his Everton legacy, with his current contract at Hill Dickinson Stadium entering its final 12 months and no talks about an extension having taken place.
Yet preparations have inevitably brought back cherished memories stemming from his deep roots with Preston. When the manager first took over in 1998, his immediate priority was ensuring survival in the third division. He subsequently guided the club to promotion and came within a single match of reaching the top flight, only to experience play-off final disappointment against Bolton Wanderers in 2001. He departed for Everton the following year for the first of his two spells with the Merseyside club.
Reflecting on that period, Moyes described Preston as an outstanding opportunity and expressed gratitude to the board members who backed him, particularly chairman Bryan Gray and Derek Shaw. He explained how the side progressed through the divisions before falling at the final hurdle against Sam Allardyce’s Bolton side in pursuit of Premier League status. The experience proved invaluable, and he would encourage aspiring managers to work their way up through the league system rather than being thrust into challenging situations prematurely. His prior involvement as a player, assistant and coach at the club gave him an understanding that proved advantageous during his tenure, making it an exceptional learning environment and a wonderful institution to be associated with.
Though he never witnessed Finney perform live, the manager spoke about him with great respect while describing their interactions.
Moyes explained that Finney represented the very heartbeat of Preston and remains central to the club’s identity. The pair would meet for tea on Friday afternoons ahead of fixtures, with Finney offering encouragement in those early days. His legendary status endures. When discussing his reputation for dribbling past opponents, Finney revealed how defenders would concentrate their efforts on one flank, prompting him to attack down the opposite side. Their conversations also covered Finney’s rivalry with Stanley Matthews as both competed for recognition as Britain’s finest player of their era. Finney recounted how opponents attempted to physically challenge him, yet he would simply shrug off such tactics. It seemed nothing could unsettle him, with solutions to whatever defensive strategies opponents employed. Moyes acknowledged he missed Finney’s playing career, having only seen brief footage, but recognised him as an outstanding individual who symbolised everything Preston represented.