Blackpool midfielder wants team-mates to write their own history: Ten years on from the Seasiders' Premier League promotion

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, the Blackpool squad wanted to write their own history at Bloomfield Road...

Keith Southern says the class of 2010 are determined to write their names into the Seasiders’ history books.

Pool’s past is littered with iconic figures like Jimmy Armfield, Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen.

Southern admires them all but insists the current squad are desperate to pen their own chapter.

“It’s a club with such a great past that it would definitely be nice to get back up to the top flight,” said the midfielder.

“We’ve had some great players here – Alan Ball, Jimmy Armfield and so many more – but the lads want to write their own piece of history.

“We’re not sick of hearing about the history because it’s so important and the fans are quite rightly proud of what this club has achieved in the past.

“But that’s the thing, it is in the past, so let’s try to achieve something in our own right and make names for ourselves.”

Southern has been at the club since 2002, joining when the Seasiders were in League One.

Steve McMahon was in charge and promotion didn’t look likely anytime soon.

He makes no secret of how much playing at the top level would mean to him.

“I’ve been at the club a long time and for the first four or five years we had no success. We were fighting relegation from League One,” he said.

“But in the last three to four years, the club has had a transformation off the pitch.

“We are going places and there is an ambition now that wasn’t there seven or eight years ago. It would mean everything to me to play in the Premier League.

“Before Sunday’s game, the gaffer said that he was 29 before he played in the top division and he thought it had passed him by. Well, I’ve just turned 29 and maybe that’s an omen. We all have dreams. Mine is to play with Blackpool in the Premier League and the dream is still alive.”

Southern’s best moment in a Pool shirt so far was the 2007 Wembley play-off win.

And he doesn’t think making the Championship play-offs matches that... yet.

“For me this doesn’t top the achievement of getting to Wembley and winning the League One play-off,” he said.

“I say that because we achieved something that year.

“I know there is far greater quality in this league and, yes, we have achieved something, but we haven’t won anything yet or done something to push the club forward next season.

“If we got to the Premier League this place would take off, wouldn’t it? We’ve achieved 70 points and a play-off place but if we go out to Forest no-one will remember what we’ve done.

“Football is about winners and losers. In 2007 we were winners and hopefully this year we’ll be winners again.”