If he couldn't stand the heat, Ian Holloway stayed in the kitchen: Blackpool's promotion to the Premier League 10 years on

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be dipping into the archives to bring you STEVE CANAVAN’S Gazette reports from a decade ago on Blackpool’s remarkable journey to the promised land.

Ten years ago today, boss Ian Holloway was coming clean over his unusual way of dealing with pre-match nerves...

Ian Holloway’s kitchen has never been cleaner – it’s his way of coping with the tension of the Seasiders’ play-off chase.

Ahead of today’s penultimate Championship match at Peterborough, the Blackpool boss revealed he deals with end-of-season nerves by getting stuck into the cooker.

“Last weekend I found myself up at 6.45am because of the nerves,” said Holloway, whose side probably need to beat relegated Posh to keep their top-six dream alive.

“I made a coffee and all of a sudden I am scrubbing the floors.

“I tidied up all the kitchen. I don’t know why because it was pretty tidy anyway!

“It looks immaculate and if I get in one of those moods again it will just keep getting cleaner.

“I had to make sure I did it before we set off for Peterborough because there was no point waking up early in my hotel room and starting tidying that. They pay people to do that.”

Pool are the only club outside the top six who can still snatch a play-off berth.

They have to overtake either Swansea ( two points above them) or Leicester (four above), who travel to Shef field United and Preston respectively today.

Holloway added: “ It is a funny scenario. Everybody’s hopes and dreams, including my own, are 90 minutes away from failing or being prolonged.

“ If we win today we’ll have another 90 minutes. So how do I handle it? Do I hold my breath for that long? I don’t think so ... I’ll be dead.

“ It might be that we win our next two games and still don’t do it it but I want to win them.

“The Peterborough game is absolutely vital. It certainly won’t be easy, especially with so much riding on it.”

Aside from Hameur Bouazza (groin), the Seasiders have a fully fit squad and will be cheered on by an estimated 1,500 Pool fans.

Among them will be Mark Hempleman and Caroline Vanhecke. This happy couple are getting married, after romance blossomed over a pie and a marginal offside decision while watching the Seasiders.

They are having a stag and hen do today in Peterborough, of course, so both can attend the game.

Neither of them grew up as Blackpool fans. Londoner Mark, who supported Spurs as a boy, said: “ I got disillusioned with the Premier League, Sky TV and all the different kick-off times.

“I had a relative in Chorley, who told me some wonderful stories about Blackpool FC, so I decided to start following them instead.”

Mark joined BASIL the Blackpool Association of Supporters in London and persuaded girlfriend Caroline to go to a game.

They have been going to Pool matches for the last decade, despite living in 350 miles away from Bloomfield Road in Kent.

The pair will be joined on their stag and hen do by the 200 members of BASIL.

The organisation arranges travel to Pool games for its southern-based members every week.

“ I just hope we get the result we want to make it a perfect weekend,” added Mark.