What Wembley occasion meant to ex-Blackpool FC and Southampton figure after previous absences

Brett Ormerod bagged the winner to send Blackpool to the Premier League on this day (May 22) in 2010.

It was a moment that the forward will always be remembered for, as he enjoyed his second promotion in Tangerine, after being on hand with a goal in a 4-2 victory over Leyton Orient in the Third Division play-off final nine years prior at the Millennium Stadium.

In the years in between, the 49-year-old had represented the likes of Southampton, Leeds United and Preston North End, before returning to Bloomfield Road in 2009.

The Seasiders fell behind twice in their Championship play-off final meeting against Cardiff City, at Wembley with Charlie Adam and Gary Taylor-Fletcher snatching equalisers, before Ormerod made it 3-2 in first half stoppage time.

Having previously missed out on opportunities to feature at the national stadium during its rebuild, the Blackpool legend admits stepping out on the pitch was a dream in itself, while the outcome of the match took things to a whole new level.

“No disrespect to the Millennium because it’s an unbelievable stadium, but playing in the FA Cup final with Southampton in 2003, when the roof was closed against Arsenal, I felt like I had missed out on Wembley,” he said.

“Every kid would’ve told you that they wanted to play there, so I felt like I missed my chance.

“When I came back to Blackpool from Preston, I was 33, and if I’m honest - I was winding down.

“I didn’t expect it at the beginning of the season, so it was great to get that opportunity to play at Wembley and to score the winner.

“I didn’t sleep that night. We had the after party, and I remember Crains (Stephen Crainey) saying: ‘What have we done?’

“I went to bed that night, and just stared at the ceiling because my adrenaline was going. My youngest was about three, so I just waited for him to wake up at 7am and I went downstairs with him.

“It took me a long time to get off that, and it was surreal. I remember coming out of the hotel to get into the car, and the press was everywhere - it was madness, but great madness.”

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