How Wembley heartbreak made Blackpool's first play-off success even more sweet
ON THIS DAY IN 1992 (May 23): Blackpool beat Scunthorpe United on penalties to win the Fourth Division play-off final.
A past taste of Wembley heartbreak made a play-off victory even sweeter for Tony Rodwell and his Blackpool teammates back in 1992.
Today (May 23) marks the 34th anniversary of the Seasiders’ victory on penalties against Scunthorpe United, following a 1-1 draw in regular time, to win promotion to the Third Division.
Dave Bamber had put Billy Ayre’s side ahead during the first half, before Tony Daws levelled the scores after the break at the national stadium.
Rodwell was part of the starting XI that day, having made the move to Bloomfield Road back in 1990 - at a time where things were flat for the team in Tangerine.
"They'd just been relegated and the mood of the club was a bit down,” he said.
“I’d just been at Colne Dynamoes who had been very successful, but had gone out of business. It was a good move for me, but I expected more of an upbeat time when I first arrived.
“They had this plan for a new stadium - that’s what they were trying to sell to everybody. Billy Ayre was the assistant manager - and he went: ‘Look they’re not interested, they just want to play football.’
“That was my first impression of Blackpool, and Billy made a big one straight away.
“While Bloomfield Road was old fashioned and a bit run down, you could see why great players had been there. Even the mood around the place, you felt like things could take off and it could only get better.”
Although Rodwell’s first season with Blackpool ended with a play-off final, it proved to be one to forget for the Seasiders as they suffered 5-4 defeat on penalties against Torquay United, after drawing 2-2 in regular time, with the winger being one of the players to miss from the spot.
“We finished in third, and we missed out on the last day at Walsall when it was in our own hands to be promoted,” he added.
“We stayed over the night before, but then we also stayed on the night of the final. It was depressing to lose on penalties and then having to go back to the hotel, having to get up for breakfast and get on the coach.
“When we got to the final again, no matter how the game finished, we were getting on the coach and going back to Blackpool.
“For the first one, a lot of people at the club hadn’t been to Wembley, so it was good to plan to make a real day of it, but the second one was business.”
The year Blackpool were on the right end of a shootout, Rodwell made sure that he was well clear from any spot kick duties.
“Dave Bamber got flack for missing his penalty, but hadn’t been very well the night before and didn’t want to play; being the leading goalscorer he had to play him,” he noted.
“After we got through the semi-final, we both said: ‘There’s no way we’re taking penalties.’
“When the final whistle went after extra time, we took our boots off. Luckily we didn’t get to sudden death.”
The victory over Scunthorpe started a trend of play-off wins for Blackpool, with the 1992 group sharing a special bond around that moment.
“We’re all still good friends and meet up for special occasions,” Rodwell stated.
“It made it 10 times better that we knew how it felt to lose - it’s horrible. It’s hard to describe, it was surreal. We got back on the coach, had a sing song, and went out in Blackpool.
“When you lose to a team who finished behind you, it gives you a kick up the backside, so we really did enjoy the second time.
“You don’t realise how many finals the club has been in since we started it - it’s really good, especially when others quite close by can’t get to a final.”
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