The 50th anniversary of Blackpool's memorable promotion at Preston to be marked with celebratory dinner

Striker Fred Pickering scored a hat-trick in Blackpool's 3-0 win on April 13, 1970, to secure promotion to the top tier.

The result later assisted in Preston being relegated to the Third Division for the first time in the club's history.

The game was played in front of a crowd of over 34,000, with over 15,000 of those in attendance believed to be from Blackpool, with many more locked outside the stadium.

Blackpool FC's Former Players' Association has now arranged a 'Legends' Night' dinner to mark the 50th anniversary.

The event will take place at the Stanley Matthews Lounge at Bloomfield Road on Thursday, April 9.

John Cross, of the Blackpool Former Players' Association (FPA), said: "I am delighted to announce that we will be staging a 50th anniversary night - titled Promotion at Preston - where we will honour those players who played in the 1969/70 promotion season and also the 1970/71 First Division season.

"This is the fourth of the legends' nights that we have put on for the former players and supporters of our great club.

"I know that we have sadly lost a number of our players from these seasons but there are still a good number from around this time who, hopefully, will come along and have a really good night.

"Of the team that played on that great night at Deepdale, we still have with us Bill Bentley, Glyn James, Dave Hatton, Micky Burns, Tommy Hutchison and Henry Mowbray, who was an unused sub that night.

"Other players from around these seasons who are still around include Tommy Thompson, Tony Green, Alan Taylor, Kev Thomas, Rob Thomas, Johnny Johnston, Dennis Wann, John McNicholas, Gerry Ingram, Phil Kendrick, Terry Alcock, Gordon Milne, Graham Rowe, Ronnie Brown, John Hughes, Peter Nicholson, Neil Ramsbottom, Steve Harrison, Peter Suddaby, Alan Ainscow, Fred Kemp and Graham Oates."

The evening’s entertainment starts at 7pm for a 7.30pm starts.

Tickets for all former players are free (from all eras, not just the 1960s and 1970s) with additional tickets available to purchase for £15 each - which includes a hot pot supper.

Any profits from the evening with be split between the FPA, Gary Parkinson and local footballer Kenny Cram who has sadly contracted sepsis and has had a leg amputated at the hip.

"It really would be wonderful if you could come along and have a great time reminiscing about the good times here at Blackpool," John Cross added.

Former players are also invited to attend the home game against Rochdale the following day, on Good Friday.

The FPA are also involved in the planning of an event to mark the 10-year anniversary of Blackpool's promotion to the Premier League during the 2009/10 season.

To purchase your ticket, call John Cross on 07984 940879.