Seasiders prepare to enter the cauldron to face champions-elect Newcastle United - 10 years on from Blackpool's promotion to the Premier League

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.

On this day 10 years ago, the heat was on for the Seasiders as they prepared to head into the cauldron...

Ian Holloway believes this season is his best ever as a football manager and he’ll crown it in style if he becomes the first boss to leave table-toppers Newcastle United with three points.

The Seasiders manager is under no illusions about how tough tomorrow’s game will be against a team already promoted to the Premier League and aiming to take a giant step towards winning the Championship title.

Chris Hughton’s Magpies will be cheered on by more than 50,000 fans inside the footballing cauldron that is St James’ Park.

But Holloway, whose team are a point from a play-off spot, cannot wait.

“I don’t think I will ever in my career – and I’ve been a manager for more than 1,200 games now – experience a game like this, with an atmosphere like this,” he said.

“It will be party time for them but I’m not going there to party. I am going to do a job.

“Is it any bigger than any other game this season? I’m not sure but it is probably more important because the games are running out.

“We are going to a place where we need to do something that no-one else has done .... win.

“But I don’t fear that. I look at it as an opportunity to show everyone in the football world what our team is about because I think I have a really good team.”

Stephen Crainey is continuing to struggle with a knee problem and will have a fitness test.

Hameur Bouazza’s groin problem has flared up again, ruling him out. He has been sent overseas to see a specialist recommended by the Algerian FA.

His loss has been offset by the return of Brett Ormerod, who will wear a protective cast over his fractured hand.

Holloway will take every member of the squad to Newcastle because he wants them all to sample the atmosphere.

“I’ve played at St James’ Park myself and I know what it’s like,” he added.

“But I don’t think I’ll have ever experienced anything like tomorrow.

“Normally quite a few thousand of them have a grudge about something. This time they won’t because their season has been way above expectation.

“They went to the pits of the earth by being relegated to the Championship and they’ve bounced straight back. Chris Hughton deserves all sorts of plaudits but I want to go there and smack them off the face of the earth if we can.

“I believe we’ll have to be at our best and they’ll have to be a bit sloppy, but anything is possible.”

Play-off rivals Leicester city and Swansea City are also in action but Holloway isn’t concerned about that.

“I know the four games Leicester and Swansea have got,” he said.

“But forget ifs, buts and maybes – I think we are going to have to win at Newcastle.

“Heartbreakingly, we could win all four games and still not get what we want. If we do that, it would be very cruel.

“But how could I be too disappointed anyway because this is probably the best season I’ve ever enjoyed as a football manager. I have to say that.

“I ended up second in the division below, when I was in charge at QPR.

“That meant an awful lot to me because that club went into administration. I sorted it out and got it back up on half the money the previous manager had.

“Here at Blackpool, everybody knows our budget compared to the likes of Newcastle and Middlesbrough, so that speaks volumes for how well the lads have done.”