Blackpool's Aldred awaits '˜best moment of our lives'

Tom Aldred says walking out on to the hallowed Wembley turf will be the best moment of the Blackpool players' lives.
Tom Aldred in airborne action at LutonTom Aldred in airborne action at Luton
Tom Aldred in airborne action at Luton

The former Accrington Stanley defender, who joined the Seasiders in 2015, will realise a dream by playing at the national stadium in the League Two play-off final against Exeter on Sunday.

That’s after the Seasiders saw off Luton Town in an extraordinary semi-final clash, eventually triumphing 6-5 on aggregate.

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The players put their bodies on the line to get the job done, with a winner in added time summing up the determination and character in the dressing room.

That fighting spirit was summed up by Aldred, who made a crucial clearance from underneath his own crossbar just minutes before Gary Bowyer’s men won it with a 95th- minute own goal by Hatters keeper Stuart Moore.

Aldred said: “The lads went through the pain barrier and it was by far the best moment of my career. I’m sure a lot of the lads will echo that.

“When I cleared that one in the last few minutes, I don’t even know how it went over the bar. It was just written in the stars.

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“Then to get that goal at the end was just unbelievable. You’re not going to get a better way to go to Wembley.

“To be fair to them, Luton are a good team and we’ve had some real battles with them, but to go to Wembley in that sort of manner is the best feeling ever.”

Aldred sustained an injury early on in the second leg at Kenilworth Road and was visibly struggling at the final whistle, but he says nothing was going to force him off.

“I knew I was never going to throw the towel in, so I just kept battling on and on,” he said. “Fortunately I got through the game and we got the result to go with it.”

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Pool are gearing up to face the Grecians at Wembley having stood 15th in the table in February, which shows their desire to achieve their ultimate goal.

The 26-year-old Aldred added: “Individually and as a group we’ve dug in this season and weathered every storm. We’ve always kept going.

“It’s a dream, an absolute dream to now play at Wembley. We want to play there and we want to go and win.

“We’ve earned our right to be there and Wembley is going to be the best occasion of our lives.”

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Aldred made his 100th appearance in a tangerine shirt in the 3-1 win over Leyton Orient on the last day of the regular season – a win which secured Pool’s spot in the play-offs.

He has played a leading role in a defence that kept 15 clean sheets during the 46-game season, besides having the third-best defensive record in League Two.