Sheffield Wednesday’s pre-season friendly against Preston North End was set to be played behind closed doors at Preston’s training ground, rather than at Hillsborough. The arrangement meant supporters could not attend or watch the game publicly, making it a low-profile opportunity for both sides to prepare for the new season.

The match was scheduled for 18 July with a 1pm kick-off, following Wednesday’s trip to St George’s Park and friendly against West Bromwich Albion. It formed part of the Owls’ wider summer programme before training camps in Hungary and Austria, while Preston also used the fixture to build fitness and assess their squad.