Split loyalties for Pool legend Ormerod

Ormerod began his senior career with Stanley before later earning his first big move to Bloomfield Road in 1997.

In two separate spells with the Seasiders he became a club legend, helping them to the Premier League and becoming the first player to score in all four divisions of English football.

Media work now regularly brings him back to the Wham Stadium and he’s not sure how he will react to commentating on the two teams that proved the most important in his career going head to head.

“It’s going to be mad,” the 39-year-old said. “I don’t know what I’ll do.

“I suppose it’s like two of your exes who you are very fond of having a fight! It’ll be bizarre for me but I’ve been looking forward to it.

“It’ll be a good game but I’ll take a draw.

“Every player probably has a favourite club that is really special to them and for me that’s Blackpool. I had a fantastic spell the first time before I left for Southampton and when I went back I remember saying that if I could have half as good a time as the first time I’d be a happy man. As it turned out, it was even better. It was stuff I couldn’t have dreamed of.

“It’s still the first result that I look for. But once I’ve seen it I always look for the Accrington result next. That will always be the case.”

Ormerod could see one of his old team-mates turn out in unfamiliar colours for the game, with former Blackpool hero Gary Taylor-Fletcher having recently signed on non-contract terms.

“It might be weird for me but I reckon it’ll be even weirder for Fletch,” Ormerod said. “He was at Blackpool a long time and achieved great things with them.

“I never played a first team game against Blackpool myself although I think I played a reserve game against them for Preston. I was injured for the league game so I don’t know what it’s like to play against a former club. I certainly think it’ll be weird for Fletch if he’s involved though.”

Taylor-Fletcher made 215 appearances for Blackpool.

He signed for Accrington at the beginning of the month on non-contract terms and, unsurprisingly, went on to score on his first start in Accrington’s 4-1 EFL Trophy win against Chesterfield.

He was then an unused substitute in last Saturday’s 1-1 league draw against Cheltenham Town.