IN six years of covering Blackpool FC, the most I've ever got upon visiting the ground for, say, a press conference is a cup of tea and a chocolate digestive ... and the digestive is usually on the stale side.

Imagine my amazement, then, to arrive at Bloomfield Road for what was dubbed 'Sponsors' and Media Day' on Wednesday to be ushered into an upstairs lounge and served a four-course meal.

There was even a choice between saddle of lamb – whatever that is – and roast beef. We never got that in League One.

The sponsors were presented with signed balls and shirts from manager Simon Grayson and had the chance – once they'd polished off their saddle – to mingle and chat with the players.

Then came the team picture, an occasion which traditionally provides the jokers of the squad the chance to see how many photos they can mess up.

For instance, Ben Burgess removed a boot and placed it on Gary Taylor-Fletcher's shoulder – a moment which made it on to the final official shot. Just as well there is such a thing as airbrushing.

SPEAKING of Burgess, the Seasiders resident trainee journalist is writing a very entertaining column for the News of the World.

Burgess, who credits me for teaching him everything he knows about journalism (I made that bit up but I'm sure it's true), revealed this little nugget in his latest blog.

"We played Huddersfield a couple of seasons ago, and as the gaffer was giving us our final instructions before we ran out, Claus Jorgensen suddenly shouted: 'What's that coming from the ceiling?'

"To everyone's utter amazement, there was someone in the roof space dangling his phone down to record what was being said! The guy managed to scurry away before we could get our hands on him and we went on to win the game."

I sense an FA investigation coming on, though given their track record it will be at least four or five years before they get round to doing anything.

HERE'S a nice story about a Blackpool fan who made the trip to QPR the other week.

The Seaside supporter writes: "I had an amusing interlude with some Gooners on my train from London Bridge.

"On seeing my club crest, one leaned over and said: 'What have you been playing in, then? That Johnstone's Paint thingy?' Cue much merriment.

"'No', said I, 'we leave that to lower league rubbish like Leeds.' Cue appreciative laughs – everybody hates Leeds after all.

"'So who have you been playing?' 'QPR, drew 1-1.' There's then a silence and eventually one of them said: 'Did you get promoted last season then?' So I explained it was our second season ... blah, blah.

"Then one of them chastised me for not asking how their team had got on. I replied, truthfully, that I wasn't that interested.

"They didn't like this much and said that we 'small' clubs were all the same – eaten up with jealousy.

"My final retort was: 'Small club or not, we did something last season that you won't manage this season – we took four points off Hull.'"