Football News - Blackpool FC promoted to English Premier league after 3-2 victory at Wembley
Last updated 24/05/2010 16:08:11
Blackpool FC promoted to English Premier league
Blackpool, down to average gates of four figures, displayed why football remains a game for optimists as well as the moneyed men.
You can throw millions at a football club and still not taste the success relished by Blackpool at Wembley yesterday when, with a team of loan players and unfancied stars, they overcame Cardiff City 3-2 in the play off final to claim their place amongst the big boys.
It doesn't matter that, in all likelihood, their place in the Premier League is unlikely to last more than single season but ask any Blackpool supporter, player or their charismatic manager Ian Holloway and they won't take offence and they won't care.
They are celebrating as Kings of the Optimists today and looking forward to crossing swords with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs.
You won't be able to get one of the 11,000 tickets for home games for love nor money.
Talking of money the experts reckon that winning the play off is worth £90 million to Blackpool and, if they are clever, they have set themselves up for a long time.
They would be daft to go out and spend, spend, spend when they are almost certain to come straight back down but they can go down with money in the bank and carry on the rebuilding programme that Holloway began mid season when he turned the famous seaside town club around.
Holloway says winning Saturday's Championship play-off final against Cardiff would be life-changing for the whole town.
He said: "If we can get people to Bloomfield Road then everybody will prosper. It's not just our lives we're trying to change; it's everybody in the town."
Cardiff led twice in a thrilling game but saw the Tangerines fight back to seal a 3-2 win in the sunshine.
"I cannot tell you what a difference this will make for people in Blackpool. They're going to get so much money from the Premier League," said Holloway
He added: "We spoke about all sorts of things before the game. We knew about the quality Cardiff had and we're learning as a group that we have to believe in ourselves.
"I'm so proud, not just for my team but for the area we come from. I can't believe this. It's outstanding.
"I have never worked with a group of people who deserve this more. I can't put this into words. I'm bursting with pride."
Cardiff, bidding to become the first Welsh side to play in the Premier League, led twice through Michael Chopra and Joe Ledley.
But the Bluebirds were pegged back by a goal apiece from Charlie Adam and Gary Taylor-Fletcher before veteran striker Brett Ormerod cracked the winner in first-half stoppage time.
The victory seals one of the most unlikely promotions to the highest tier in English football in recent years as Blackpool, who were in the bottom division just nine years ago, had been tipped as favourites for relegation from the Championship this season.
"I can't put it into words, it's unbelievable," stated Adam, the star of this rag, tag and bobtail outfit,"All the lads deserve enormous credit, we've worked so hard and now we've earned the right to play at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and so on.
"We'll enjoy the occasion, enjoy the summer, but next season can't come quickly enough."
Ormerod, who scored what turned out to be the winner just before half-time, also struggled to put his feelings into words.
"I'm absolutely speechless," he said,"We got written off at the start of the season but the gaffer has come in... he deserves knighting I tell you.
"It's the gaffer who has put the belief in the lads, we've never stopped fighting and this is the result of all that."
Blackpool - whose average home crowd of 8,611 was the second-lowest in the Championship this season - will be the smallest club in the top flight since the formation of the Premier League in 1992.
Midfielder Keith Southern added: "This is one of the best days of my life. The lads have run through brick walls for the club this season.
"We always felt we had goals in the team and the boys never know when they're beaten.
"Never in a million years did we believe this could happen at the start of the season. But it shows what can happen with a bit of belief."
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